Dermatology

Itchy Pet?

Did you know your pet’s biggest organ is the skin? Almost all pets and people at some time or another suffer from some sort of skin disorder. In fact, skin disease is one of the most common problems we see at our animal hospitals.

What causes skin problems?

Skin conditions can have their origins from many sources. Sometimes it is the skin itself, which is primarily affected. For example, if your pet has fleas or an allergy, the disorder may be confined to the skin. In other cases the skin problem may be a sign of an underlying problem, such as a thyroid tumour.

Determining the cause of skin problems, whether they are primary or secondary is critically important in finding an effective long term solution.

Unfortunately, this is often neglected and pets are placed on short term remedies, which mask the underlying issue and cause a recurring issue.

Our commitment to you and your itchy pet

At WellPet Vets we are committed to not only finding rapid relief for your pet, but also treating the underlying problem. We have advanced diagnostic tests available for your pet as well as sophisticated treatment and management techniques.

Why is my pet shaking its head?

Shaking and scratching at their ears is another common concern we are asked to address at our hospitals.

Having an itchy ear or sore and infected ear is not fun for your pet. For any of you that have suffered an ear infection before we are sure you can relate to the level of discomfort that this disease can have on your pet.

WellPet Vets can help!

At Wellpet we can treat and perform a number of treatment and management techniques to help alleviate the discomfort in your pets ears and to help prevent re-occurrence in the future.

Often long and hairy eared pets, pets that like to swim a lot, and pets that have ear mites will be prone to complications with their ears and are more likely to develop infections. Wellpet Vets can recommend a number of products in which will help kill and prevent mites, as well as teach you how to best care for your pets ears if you have a pet with long and or hairy ears to prevent ear infections.

What happens when you bring your pet to WellPet Vets

If your pet comes to the vet with sore, infected or uncomfortable ears, WellPet Vets will perform a physical exam and will then use an otoscope to look into your pets ears to check inside their ear and ear drum health. (About 50% of dogs that suffer from chronic ear infections will have ruptured ear drums and will then develop middle ear infections.)

The vet will then take a swab from inside their ear and perform cytology tests to look for a root cause or for infection in your pet’s ears. Specific and targeted treatment plans will then be developed for your pet’s problem.

In some pets, treatment can often be a long process, requiring specific and sometimes reoccurring treatment plans depending on the type of infection.

Long term preventative management for your pet’s ears may also be required (for example regular ear grooming to remove excess hair in the ears)

In some very severe cases, usually in instances where pets have chronic or reoccurring, untreated ear infections, irreversible damage can occur to the ear canal, surgery to remove the inner surfaces of the ear may then be required.