Pet Dermatology
Your pet’s skin is a key indicator of overall health. At My Animal Veterinary Clinic in Toronto, we care for dogs and cats with skin, coat, and ear issues, helping identify causes of itching, rashes, hair loss, or recurring ear infections and creating a care plan tailored to your pet.
What is Pet Dermatology?
Pet dermatology focuses on diagnosing, treating, and preventing skin, coat, nail, and ear conditions in pets. While allergies are a common cause and can develop at any age, other potential causes include infections, parasites, hormonal disorders, and even cancer.
Common Skin & Ear Issues
- Allergies: Environmental, food-related, or flea allergies that cause itching, redness, or hair loss
- Bacterial or Fungal Infections: Including pyoderma, yeast infections, and ringworm
- Parasites: Fleas, mites, or ticks, causing skin irritation and secondary infections
- Ear Infections: Otitis externa caused by bacteria, yeast, genetic predispositions (ear canal conformation and/or excess wax or hair), or lifestyle (e.g. swimming)
- Dermatitis & Hot Spots: Inflammation, dry or moist sores, or areas of self-trauma from scratching or licking
- Hair Loss & Coat Abnormalities: Patchy fur, dull coat, or slow hair regrowth
- Seborrhea or Oily/Dry Skin: Scaly, flaky, or excessively greasy skin
When to Seek Care
- Persistent itching, scratching, or licking
- Red, inflamed, or scaly skin
- Hair loss or a patchy coat
- Recurrent ear infections
- Odor, discharge, or discomfort from the ears or skin
- Sores, bumps, or unexplained rashes
- Darkening of the skin or copper-coloured staining of the fur
- Dragging or scooting their hind end
Early evaluation can prevent discomfort, secondary infections, and chronic conditions.
Treatment Options & Management
- Diagnostic Testing: Skin scrapings, cytology, blood testing, cultures, allergy testing and other tests to determine the cause and guide treatment
- Medications: Topical therapies, medicated shampoos, oral antibiotics, antifungals, anti-inflammatories, antiparasitic treatments, and anti-allergy medications such as antihistamines, steroids, or other immune-modulating drugs
- Ear Care: Cleaning with a safe, veterinarian-approved product, medicated ear drops, and ongoing management for recurrent ear infections
- Immunotherapeutic Agents: Includes targeted anti-itch injections (e.g. Cytopoint) or customized allergy injections designed to gradually reduce your pet’s sensitivity to environmental allergens and minimize allergic reactions over time
- Allergy Management: Dietary changes, immunotherapy, or environmental adjustments to reduce flare-ups
- Preventive Care: Regular grooming, skin and coat supplements, monthly flea/tick prevention, a balanced diet and routine check-ups
- Ongoing Monitoring: Skin conditions often require long-term management, including follow-up veterinary exams, with care plans customized for each pet
Frequently Asked Questions
What causes skin problems in pets?
Skin issues can result from allergies, parasites, infections, hormonal imbalances, cancer, genetics, or environmental and lifestyle factors. In many chronic cases, multiple factors contribute to the condition.
Are ear infections common in pets?
Yes. Ear infections are among the most frequent conditions seen in veterinary care. They often occur alongside allergies, moisture, or anatomical predispositions. Our veterinarians perform thorough exams, including recheck appointments, to ensure the infection has fully cleared. Using specialized equipment, we can examine deep into the ear canal because not all infections are visible from an external inspection. Proper diagnosis and follow-up care help prevent recurrence and chronic or irreversible changes to the ear canal.
Do pets with skin conditions need ongoing care?
Some conditions, like allergies or chronic infections, require long-term management. Plans are customized to keep your pet comfortable and healthy.