Dermatology
Pet allergies are just as common as human allergies, but their symptoms manifest differently. While runny eyes and sneezing can occur with our pets, itchy skin and ear infections are a recurrent symptom of allergies in pets. Furthermore, pet’s skin can protect them from various diseases, but if that barrier is damaged, their health can be affected. When your pet continually scratches at an itch, they wear down the skin barrier, which can make them vulnerable to secondary infection.
Dermatology Services From Heineke Can Help with a Pet’s Skin Problems
At Heineke Veterinary Hospital in Alexandria, we use the most up-to-date diagnostics and treatments to address and alleviate a variety of skin-related problems. Issues on the surface can eventually affect your pet internally, so it helps to be proactive. Visit us right away if your pet has itchiness, flakiness, inflammation, build-up, discharge or any other unusual signs indicating a problem with their skin or ears.
SKIN CONDITIONS OUR PETS CAN EXPERIENCE
Knowing the exact condition that is ailing your pet is the key to treating it effectively. Issues we commonly see in pets include:
- Atopic dermatitis
- Allergies (food allergies, contact dermatitis, atopy)
- Ear infections
- Demodectic mange
- Flea allergy dermatitis
- Lick granulomas
- Hot spots
- Ear mites
- Sarcoptic mange
- Ringworm
- Seborrhea
AVAILABLE DERMATOLOGY TESTS & TREATMENTS
Different conditions call for different treatments. Once we fully understand your pet’s problem through expert analysis and/or diagnostic testing, we then prescribe the best treatments.
To diagnose a skin condition, we may use the following diagnostics:
- Allergy testing
- Skin biopsy
- Cytology
- Fungal culture
- Skin scraping
- Food elimination trials
Some of our treatment options include:
- Cytopoint – an injectable anti-itch medication
- Apoquel or Atopica – oral anti-itch medications
- Antibiotics to treat secondary infections
Fleas and ticks can hitch a ride on your pet when they are exploring the outdoors and find their way into your home. With flea and tick preventives, you can help to prevent these vector-borne diseases:
- Heartworm disease (mosquitoes)
- Lyme disease (ticks)
- Ehrlichiosis (ticks)
- Anaplasmosis (ticks)
- Rocky Mountain spotted fever (ticks)
- Tapeworm (fleas)
Untreated heartworm disease and Lyme disease can be life-threatening for pets. That’s why prevention is the best medicine. While heartworm is certainly treatable, it can still damage your pet’s health and is very costly. Ask our veterinarians and the trusted staff at Heineke Veterinary Hospital for more information and we will be happy to educate you on our in-house preventatives.