Pet Dermatology

There are many different ailments that can affect your companion animal's skin. Whether it's a rash, an infection or something else, the symptoms are always unpleasant. Don't let your pet suffer! Take them to Dublin Veterinary Hospital for our professional pet allergy and dermatology services.

First, we will diagnose the problem and identify the precise condition, thanks to our in-house laboratory. Next, we will develop a custom treatment plan specifically for your pet to achieve the best possible results. This may require a topical cream or potentially a combination of different treatment methods.

Allergies can require more work to manage, potentially through lifestyle changes such as switching foods.

Ear problems are not uncommon in the pet community. These conditions can result in a variety of painful symptoms, and some of them can grow increasingly serious without prompt treatment. Here at Dublin Veterinary Hospital in Dublin, we not only treat these ear problems -- we also offer preventative checkups and home care recommendations to prevent them from happening in the first place.

A dog ear infection may be caused by a wide range of irritants, pests like ear mites and/or germs that enter the ear canal. Constant scratching and head shaking can also lead to burst of blood vessels under the skin and leads to ear Hematoma formation. Bacteria, allergens or other foreign matter can also enter the ear directly, creating redness, swelling, itching and pain. Serious ear infections may even lead to temporary or permanent hearing loss.

Allergies are another important factor. While in humans, allergies often lead to runny eyes or nose, in pets we often see "runny skin" or a local rash or an ear infection. Many food or environmental allergies result in excessive ear wax production. Yeast and Bacteria that normally live in the ear use this as a food source, causing an ear infection. 

Fortunately, many forms of cat or dog ear infection can be prevented through a combination of regular home hygiene practices and periodic wellness evaluation at our veterinary clinic. By inspecting pets' ears and washing them gently with a veterinary-approved cleaner, owners can clear the outer visible part of the ear and ear flap of ear mites, fox tails or dirt that might foster bacteria. We can advise owners on proper home care techniques to promote cat or dog ear health.

Owners should also learn to recognize the signs of a possible deeper ear canal issue, such as shaking of the head, scratching at the ears, and health symptoms such as a foul odor, local inflammation or fluid discharge. If your pet does show signs of an ear problem, Dr. Chahal can perform a thorough examination of the ear, discover the underlying cause, and prescribe the proper medications or other treatments to resolve the issue and relieve your pet's discomfort. We can then discuss a wellness routine to help maintain a good ear health for life. Frequent ear issue season is upon us, please contact our office for more information.