Allergies & Dermatology

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

There are many factors that can impact the health of a companion animal’s skin, and the resulting symptoms can range from minor discomfort to outright pain. You don’t want your loved one to suffer and neither do we! 

The professional allergy and dermatology services at Smyrna Animal Hospital will help get your loved one as healthy on the outside as on the inside.

Diagnosing the Problem

To help your pet feel better, we must first identify the precise cause. We may be able to determine what’s wrong by simply examining your pet, or we may need to look a little deeper. Diagnostic tests, such as blood work, skin scrapings, and biopsies, help us get the answers we need to move forward with a cure.

Some dermatological concerns we routinely assist with include:

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

Developing a Treatment Plan

Once we’ve pinpointed the problem, the next step is deciding how to best treat it. In some cases, we may recommend something as simple as applying a topical cream. More complex situations may call for a longer-term strategy or involve a combination of treatment methods. 

Signs of a possible skin problem include:

• 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 or symptoms, it’s time to call Smyrna Animal Hospital and schedule an appointment. We can help your loved one live a more comfortable life.