Dermatology
Have you noticed your pet licking, chewing, biting, or scratching excessively? Has your pet been displaying signs of hair loss or developing scabs or dandruff? Have you noticed a change in your pet’s skin, coat color, or texture? Is there a bad odor coming from your pet’s skin or ears?
All dogs and cats occasionally scratch, which is perfectly normal. However, when the scratching continues for several days, or the skin and coat begin to suffer, it may indicate they are experiencing an allergic reaction to something in their environment. Reactions are typically triggered by food allergies, fleas, and substances in their location such as dust, pollen, and grass. Other causes of itching may be caused by an infestation of tiny mites such as sarcoptic mange (scabies), or demodectic mange (demodex).
If you have noticed any of the above conditions, don’t ignore the symptoms and think that the problem will go away on its own. Call us at East Poplarville Veterinary Clinic so that our experienced veterinarian can examine your pet, determine the cause of the skin irritation, and decide on the best course of action. Depending on the diagnosis, skin conditions may be treated with medicated shampoo, oral medications, or changes in diet.
Whatever the cause, the sooner your pet is examined and treated, the sooner you and your companion will feel better.