Allergies

Is your pet’s itchy skin bothering you both at night?

There are many different ailments that can affect a companion animal’s skin. Whether it’s a topical problem, like a hot spot or rash, or something deeper like an infection, the symptoms can be unpleasant. You don’t want to see your furry friend suffer like that, and neither do we! That’s why Sarasota Animal Medical Center offers professional pet allergy and dermatology services as part of our comprehensive system of care. We want to help get your loved one be as healthy on the outside as on the inside.

Diagnosing the Problem

The first step toward helping your pet feel better again is identifying the exact condition he or she is experiencing. Our hospital is outfitted with an in-house laboratory, which allows us to run a number of diagnostic tests quickly and efficiently while you wait. We may be able to tell what’s wrong just by examining your pet, or we may need to investigate further. Blood work, skin scrapings and biopsies help us get the answers we need to move forward with a treatment plan.

Some of the dermatological issues we can assist with include:

• Allergies (food and/or environmental)
• Infections (acute or chronic)
• Parasites
• Dermatitis
• Hormonal disorders
• Autoimmune diseases
• Tumors
• Skin cancer

Creating a Treatment Plan

In order to best to treat the problem, we will consider a number of unique factors. This allows us to develop a tailor-made approach just for your pet, designed to achieve the best possible results. Depending on the situation, we may recommend something as simple as applying a topical cream, and for more complex conditions we may look at a combination of treatment methods.

Allergies require a little more work to manage. Once we understand the cause of your pet’s reactions, we will work toward a solution that will eliminate outbreaks as much as possible. Some allergies can be managed through lifestyle changes, such as switching food products, while others may require a longer-term strategy. Our recommendations will be based on your pet’s specific needs.

Look out for these signs of a possible skin problem:

• Excessive scratching
• Scabbing or flaking of the skin
• Hot spots
• Shedding more than usual
• Biting, chewing or licking at the affected area
• Bumps or lumps on or under the skin

If you notice any of these signs, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Give the caring professionals at Sarasota Animal Medical Center a call. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.