Dermatology - Vet in Red Deer | Cedarwood Veterinary Hospital

Request Appointment

Dermatology Care

For your beloved companion.

Skin Conditions

Skin and ear problems are common in pets and often cause chronic discomfort. Many skin issues with different underlying causes look similar, making diagnosis tricky. Our veterinarians see dermatology cases every day, and can provide the knowledge and experience you need to get your pet on the road to recovery.

If your pet has a skin disorder, you may notice the following:

Itching, chewing, or licking
Hair loss
Red, flaky, thickened, or crusted skin
Pimples or scabs
Yellow, tan, or dark ear debris with a foul odor
Matted or oily haircoat

Dermatology

Skin Conditions

Skin problems can be caused by parasites, bacteria, fungi, allergies, inflammation, autoimmune disease, endocrine disease, or cancer. Your veterinarian can narrow down the underlying cause and determine the best treatment with some simple diagnostics tests, including skin scraping, skin cytology, and fungal culture. If these tests are inconclusive, we may also biopsy the affected skin and recommend blood or urine testing to look for underlying systemic infection or disease.

Our team can diagnose and treat the following skin concerns:

Environmental, food, or flea allergies
Fleas or skin mites
Lick granuloma
Pyoderma (i.e., bacterial infection)
Hormone-related hair loss
Seborrhea (i.e., oil gland disorders)
Anal gland abscess
Ringworm
Lupus, vasculitis, and other autoimmune diseases
Nail disorders

Dermatology

Ear Infections

Your pet’s ears have an L-shaped canal that makes them prone to infection and discomfort. Inflammation because of allergies can cause chronic infections, and may be the only sign your pet has an allergy. Pets who have narrow ear canals, including pugs and shar-peis, and who develop obstructive polyps are also prone to chronic ear infections.

Our Cedarwood Veterinary & Animal Emergency Hospital veterinarians can find and correct the underlying problem causing your pet’s ear infection, and prescribe effective, long-lasting ear medications to clear the infection. Pets with severe, chronic ear infections can develop changes that lead to hearing loss, or require surgery to provide your pet comfort.