Dermatology

Our pet’s skin helps to provide them with a protective outer layer that provides warmth and security from the world around them. Skin is not only your pet’s largest organ but it’s also the most exposed. As your pet’s veterinary team, we’re invested in maintaining your pet’s skin. If you have any questions about the type of dermatology care we provide, please contact us at 604-544-7387.

What are common skin issues you notice in pets?

There are a range of skin issues that can be linked to your pet’s itchiness and discomfort. Depending on what your pet is allergic to they may develop skin issues. Pets who are allergic to flea bites, specific foods, pollen or plants might develop severe itchiness or an infection. A bacterial infection can also cause your pet to be severely itchy. If you’ve noticed uncontrollable itching from your pet recently, it’s important to visit our hospital for treatment. It can be tempting to treat your pet’s skin issues with home remedies, especially when they’re in pain, but those can sometimes cause more harm than good.

How can I tell if my pet’s itching is connected to a health issue?

There are a few tell tale signs that warrant a discussion with our veterinary team, especially if you notice your pet:

• Continuously biting licking or biting one area of their skin
• Showing sudden hair loss or shedding
• Rolling or rubbing against objects more than usual
• Developing sores, redness or discoloured skin
• Emitting body odour

How will you treat my pet’s skin?

Before we decide how best to treat your pet’s skin, we need to do a careful examination of the culprit of the itchiness. First, we’ll decide if parasites like fleas are the cause of your pet’s skin infection. If not, we’ll look into food, environmental or hormonal causes of their skin problems. After we’ve discovered the underlying cause of your pet’s skin issues, we might recommend topical treatment, tablets or injectables.