Dermatology Services

Skin is your pet’s largest organ and needs to be taken care of properly. Skin problems are common in dogs and cats. They are often caused by hormonal disorders, allergies, infections, or parasites such as fleas and mites. It is important to pay close attention to your furry friend’s skin to catch any issues so they can be resolved early on. Your pet could be in pain and experiencing discomfort if their skin issues are not treated.

I’ve noticed my pet scratching excessively lately. What should I do?

Excessive scratching could be a sign of an allergic reaction to food, insect bites or items in their environment like pollen, poison ivy or lawn chemicals. Scratching might look like your pet rubbing against objects, biting or licking themselves often. Your pet could also develop patches, scabs, scaling, redness, inflammation, lumps, or bumps on their skin. Hair loss or bald patches could be linked to allergies, fleas or an illness. Yeast infections could explain constant ear scratching or licking their paws. It’s best to contact us at 604-824-5848 so we can diagnose and treat the skin issue.

Should I try to treat my pet’s skin issues at home first?

Though your attempts to treat your pet’s skin issues might be well-intentioned, it might cause more problems in the long run. Skin issues can cover a wide-range of diagnoses. Home remedies might seem like an easy fix but they do not address more serious conditions that could be linked to your furry friend’s symptoms. It’s best to consult us first before deciding on a course of treatment for your pet.

What can I expect during my pet’s visit about their skin issues?

Our experienced veterinarians can often diagnose a skin problem by simply examining your pet. Some dermatologic diseases or conditions do require additional procedures to ensure we make the correct diagnosis. Depending on your pet’s symptoms and the results of our physical exam, we may run blood work or perform a urinalysis (urine test), skin scraping (analysis of a skin sample), or biopsies (examination of tissue).