Dermatology

Dermatology is a field within veterinary medicine that focuses on the treatment or management of conditions relating to a pet's skin, ear, hair, and nails.

Dermatological problems in pets can range from allergies to skin cancer, ear infections to hair loss. Skin conditions can also be a sign of an underlying internal disease, so it is incredibly important to keep a close watch on your pet’s dermatological health, stay up to date with regular wellness visits, and seek help from a trained professional if it is suspected that something might be wrong.

Symptoms of dermatological problems in pets

Many dermatological conditions have very similar symptoms, making it difficult to pinpoint the root cause of their issues yourself. Therefore, it is important to check-in with your local veterinarian if you notice your pet showing any of the following signs:

Common signs of a skin condition:

Excessive scratching/itching
Excessive licking, chewing, biting of feet, legs, or skin
Red, irritated, inflamed skin, scabs, or sores
Scooting or rubbing on surfaces
Hair loss
Frequent ear infections

Common signs of an ear condition:

Head shaking
Unusual, foul odor
Sensitivity around ear
Redness & inflammation in & around the ear
Brown or black grainy substance build-up inside the ear (looks like coffee grounds)
Decreased ability to hear
Loss of balance

Common signs of a nail condition:

Frequent broken/split nails
Difficulty walking
Sensitive paws
Color change in the nails
Excessive licking, chewing, or biting of the paws and/or nails
Misshapen or curved nails

Most primary care veterinarians can help with the itches, scratches, cuts, and bruises that come with being an active pet. Many of our family pet clinics have in-house laboratories to help diagnose skin abnormalities and infections, along with caring veterinarians who will help recommend treatment options that best suit the needs of your pet and family lifestyle.

Common dermatological condition treatments in pets

Depending on your pet's diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend:

Treatment for parasite infestation
Allergy injections or oral medication
Hormone treatment
Antibiotic or antifungal medications - topical, oral, or both
Specialized diet
Mass removal surgery and/or chemotherapy
Removal of a foreign body or an ingrown nail - sometimes surgery is required, depending on the positioning of the object and the risks of further bodily damage.

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General Practice Dermatology

The most common dermatological conditions treated by primary care veterinarians include:

Allergies

Environmental Allergies - pollen, dust, grass
Food Allergies - chicken, beef
Flea Allergies

Parasite infestation (e.g. fleas, ticks, ringworm, ear mites, mange)

Most pet parasites like to live on the skin of pets and feed on their blood. They cause intense skin irritation, and some can even transmit diseases like Lyme disease.
It is important that no matter where you live, you have your pet on some type of parasite preventative.

Fungal, bacterial, or yeast infection

Whether on the skin or inside the ears, these infections can be caused by a variety of factors like having cuts in the skin, poor hygiene, moisture buildup, and parasites 

Moisture build-up (especially in ears)

If the inside of ears is not fully dried following a bath or going swimming, and the patient has an underlying allergy, the moisture left contributes to the perfect environment for bacteria, yeast, and fungi to grow causing a painful ear infection for your pet.  

Physical trauma

Includes deep cuts and lacerations that need to be medically cleaned and potentially stitched to allow your pet’s skin to fully heal without complications. 
Also refers to trauma of the ears which could include tears or swelling due to a bite wound or getting caught on something.

Foreign bodies

Sometimes vets find the strangest objects lodged inside pet’s ears, often when they are sharing the house with small playful children! Dirt, dust, sand, and stones can also get stuck inside pet's ears after time spent outside.  
It is important that if you suspect there could be foreign material stuck inside your pet’s ear that you bring them to your family veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist to have them removed safely as there is high risk or infection and physical damage.

Ingrown nails

These typically occur if a pet’s nails are not trimmed regularly, the nail grows too long and begins to curl back and start growing into the foot pad. It can be incredibly painful and lead to infections and even lameness.  
Ingrown nails are seen more often in older pets whose nails grow faster and thicker.

Quick Dermatology Facts

What is a veterinary dermatologist?

Board Certified Dermatologists have years of education, training, and experience focused solely on animals' skin, ears, hair, and nails. Their additional expertise and qualifications within this field allows them to tackle more complex or recurrent conditions, or those that require sophisticated technologies unavailable at primary care clinics.

Our skilled specialists in the Thrive Pet Healthcare network work alongside your primary care veterinarian to diagnose, manage, and treat your pet's advanced dermatological conditions with a hands-on, collaborative approach.

Does my pet need a specialist?

Many of our Thrive Pet Healthcare primary care clinics now have the technology to diagnose some less-common causes of dermatological issues in pets. However, due to the more complex nature of these conditions, and the need for closer management, pets whose skin, ears, hair, or nail problems stem from more difficult causes are often connected to a dermatologist to receive a more personalized, long-term treatment plan.

What does treatment look like for dermatological conditions?

A Dermatology consultation with either your family care veterinarian or a dermatology specialist will typically begin with a visual examination of your pet's problem area. Based on their findings, a variety of diagnostics will be performed, including skin scrapings, biopsies, bacterial or fungal cultures, and even a food elimination diet plan!

Once the cause of your pet's dermatological issues has been identified, your pet will receive one of the treatment recommendations above based on their unique needs. Make sure to meet regularly with your primary care veterinarian to prevent or diagnose these common issues!

What can a veterinary dermatology specialist help with?

Sometimes your primary care veterinarian needs a hand in diagnosing or treating a dermatological issue. These are the most common causes that require additional support from a veterinary dermatological specialist!

Some pets may have an autoimmune disease that causes their immune cells to mistakenly attack their body's healthy tissues. These can affect multiple areas of the body or just one bodily system. If a pet's skin is being targeted by their immune cells, they will often experience dry, crusty, erosive and irritated skin and will be much more prone to infections.

As with humans, pets are also at risk of skin cancer, particularly those with a short, thin coat and spend lots of time outside in the sun.

When caught early, veterinary dermatologists can typically remove some of the mass with a simple procedure, providing your pet with a high chance for a full recovery. If the tumor has spread to other areas of the body, your veterinary dermatologist will typically consult with an oncologists to determine your pet's need for more intensive cancer treatment.

Typically, hormonal issues that manifest on the skin are related to thyroid, adrenal (Cushing's Disease) or reproductive hormone production. Left untreated, these conditions can cause long-term health complications. However, these can be identified through blood tests and/or a urinalysis and can either be managed simply with medication or for some, cured through surgery.

Some disorders of internal organs, like the kidneys, liver, or pancreas, can manifest as dermatitis. You may notice signs on their skin before noticing any other symptoms of illness which is why bloodwork is often recommended. In other situations, the skin may be affected by the mismanagement of a long-term chronic illness.

There are many nutrients involved in helping to maintain healthy skin, nails, and hair growth. some of these include protein, biotin, zinc, omega fatty acids, and vitamin A. Depending on the nutrient(s) your pet is deficient in, the manifestations may look slightly different but typically you will see dry skin that is prone to cuts and tears, brittle nails, and potentially hair loss.

Dermatology

Dermatology is a field within veterinary medicine that focuses on the treatment or management of conditions relating to a pet's skin, ear, hair, and nails.

Symptoms of dermatological problems in pets

Excessive scratching/itching
Excessive licking, chewing, biting of feet, legs, or skin
Red, irritated, inflamed skin, scabs, or sores
Scooting or rubbing on surfaces
Hair loss
Frequent ear infections

Common signs of an ear condition:

Head shaking
Unusual, foul odor
Sensitivity around ear
Redness & inflammation in & around the ear
Brown or black grainy substance build-up inside the ear (looks like coffee grounds)
Decreased ability to hear
Loss of balance

Common signs of a nail condition:

Frequent broken/split nails
Difficulty walking
Sensitive paws
Color change in the nails
Excessive licking, chewing, or biting of the paws and/or nails
Misshapen or curved nails