Does your dog or cat seem constantly itchy? Have you noticed unusual redness, flaking, or bald patches on their skin? Are they licking and chewing their paws, or scratching their ears? Is your cat overgrooming himself?
Skin problems are a common concern for pet owners, and can cause significant discomfort and frustration for your pet. They are actually one of the most frequently seen medical ailments among furkids in Singapore.
Our dedicated veterinary dermatology team at Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery is here to provide comprehensive and compassionate care for all your pet’s skin woes. We also offer medical grooming services — which include skin diagnostic tests, customised skin treatments, and hypoallergenic vet-approved shampoos — at the Medical Grooming Centre located in Yishun.
Get detailed consultations for skin issues and customised treatments, be it for skin infections, allergies, inherited diseases, chronic skin diseases, or other conditions.
Recognising the Signs of Skin Issues
Early diagnosis and treatment of pet skin problems are essential to improve your pet’s comfort and well-being. We have many services and methods that can help them feel better.
Here are some common signs that might indicate a skin issue such as allergies, parasites, hormonal imbalance, and more:
• Constant itching or scratching: Common signs of itch in pets include frequent scratching of the skin or ears, as well as licking and chewing of the paws.
For example, cats tend excessively groom their fur, while dogs may lick or bite their toes. Excessive scratching can lead to bleeding, hair loss, and secondary infections.
• Redness or inflammation: Red, irritated, or inflamed skin may indicate a localised reaction to allergens, irritants, insect bites, or infections. You might notice your furkid focusing on scratching or licking specific red and inflamed areas for relief.
• Hair loss: Excessive hair loss, thinning fur, or bald patches can be a symptom of various skin problems. This could be caused by intense scratching due to allergies or itching, underlying infections, hormonal imbalances, or even stress.
• Flaking or scaling: Dry, flaky, or scaly skin — it can appear as white or greyish flakes on the animal’s fur, and can sometimes be accompanied by redness or irritation.
• Crusting or scabbing: Crusting or scabbing on the skin can be a sign of infection, particularly bacterial infections like pyoderma. These often appear as raised, red areas with a yellow or brown crusty surface. They can also be caused by excessive scratching or chewing at irritated areas.
• Unusual odours: A yeasty smell, metallic scent, or foul odour emanating from your pet’s skin or ears can indicate an infection or other skin condition. A sudden or noticeable change in your pet’s overall smell could also be a sign.
Itchy Ears — A Common Skin Concern
Don’t let itchy ears bug your pet! Ear problems are a common skin concern as they cause furkids irritation and discomfort. Signs include head shaking, redness, discharge, or a strong odour.
Food or environmental allergies, ear mites, infections, and foreign objects can be culprits.
Our dermatology team can diagnose the cause through examination and tests such as ear cytology, otoscopic examination, and microbial cultures. Treatment often involves ear cleaning with a vet-approved solution and medications like antibiotics or anti-fungals.
Regular cleaning and vet checkups can help prevent ear issues in the first place.
Want to learn about the basics of caring for your furkid’s ear health, the factors causing ear infections, what an ear cytology test involves? Read our article: Keeping your pet’s ears healthy.
If you notice any signs of ear discomfort, schedule an appointment for a swift solution!
Types of Skin Conditions We Treat
Our experienced veterinary team has extensive knowledge and expertise in treating a wide range of pet skin conditions, including:
• Allergies: Environmental allergies, food allergies, and flea bites are common causes of itchy skin in pets. We offer comprehensive allergy testing and customised treatment plans to manage these conditions. Read more about allergies in this article by the Medical Grooming Centre: Skin allergies in pets.
• Skin infections: Bacterial and fungal skin infections can lead to itchiness, redness, and fur loss.
• Parasites: Fleas, mites, and other parasites can irritate your pet’s skin and cause significant discomfort.
• Autoimmune skin diseases: These conditions occur when the body’s immune system attacks healthy skin cells.
• Yeast infections: Yeast overgrowth can cause skin problems, particularly in areas with folds or moisture.
• Hormonal skin disorders: Skin problems can sometimes be linked to hormonal imbalances, such as hypothyroidism.
• Congenital skin conditions: Certain breeds may be predisposed to specific skin disorders. We can offer management strategies for these conditions.
• Alopecia and fur loss: Excessive shedding, thinning fur, or bald patches could indicate alopecia and may be a symptom of various skin problems.
• Skin abscess: A skin abscess is an infected pocket of pus under the skin, and usually feels tender and looks red and swollen. They can affect many species including dogs, cats, rabbits, hamsters, and guinea pigs. Read more about skin abscesses in hamsters and the symptoms to watch out for.
• Furunculosis: Also known as “boils”, furuncles are painful pus-filled bumps on the skin. For dogs, these tend to recur, typically on the nose, around the anus, back, abdomen, legs, paws, and muzzle. Learn more in this article: Furunculosis in pets.
• … And many other skin concerns.
If you notice or suspect a skin issue that is not on this list, please feel free to reach out to us to find out more.
WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 for the Upper Thomson branch, or 8809 0787 for the Yishun clinic.
Our Approach to Pet Dermatology
Pet skin issues can often be complex and frustrating. Our team offers a comprehensive and customised approach to diagnose and treat your pet’s skin condition effectively.
Here’s what you can expect:
1. Detailed consultation: We begin with a thorough consultation, where the veterinarian will discuss your pet’s medical history, diet, lifestyle, and any observed symptoms.
2. Comprehensive examination: A complete physical examination will be conducted, focusing on the skin, coat, and any visible lesions. Note that some skin issues are also secondary to a more systemic problem.
3. Diagnostic tests: Depending on the suspected cause, we may recommend various diagnostic tests, such as skin tape test, cytology (microscopic examination of skin cells), fungal cultures, parasite check, allergy testing, or blood tests.
Allergen testing is specific and will generate a report on the type of food your pet may be reacting to (e.g. the HESKA Food Reaction Test), or whether he or she has any environmental allergies (e.g. HESKA Allercept IgE test).
4. Customised treatment plan: Once a diagnosis is confirmed, we will develop a personalised treatment plan tailored to your pet’s specific needs. This may include:
• Medications: Depending on the diagnosis, medications such as antibiotics for infections, anti-itch medications for allergies, or medicated shampoos may be prescribed.
• Dietary changes: Food allergies can be a significant contributor to skin problems. We can recommend appropriate dietary modifications and trials to identify potential food triggers and reduce the animal’s reactivity to certain foods.
• Hypoallergenic shampoos and sprays: Specialised shampoos and sprays can soothe irritated skin, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. We use vet-approved shampoos that are gentle on sensitive skin.
• Dietary supplements: Omega-3 fatty acids and other supplements may be recommended to support your pet’s skin health.
• Lifestyle modifications: Depending on the cause, we may suggest changes to your pet’s grooming routine or environmental factors that might be triggering allergies.
• Immunotherapy: Injectable or oral immunotherapy can enable your furkid to build immunity against allergens. This works by training your pet’s immune system to not recognise the allergens as foreign and then to not react to them.
Pet skin problems can take an emotional toll on both furkids and their owners. We prioritise open communication with all owners and will work together with you to provide the highest quality dermatological care for your pets.
Schedule an appointment today!
Contact us today to book an appointment at Paws N’ Claws Veterinary Surgery, at our Yishun or Upper Thomson vet clinic, to discuss your pet’s skin concerns.
In addition, our team also offers dedicated medical grooming services for dogs, cats, and exotic pets including rabbits and guinea pigs, prioritising their skin health. What is medical grooming? It includes skin diagnostic tests, customised skin treatments, and uses hypoallergenic vet-approved shampoos. If required, it may also include veterinary advice and consultation.
Our friendly and knowledgeable team of veterinarians, medical groomers, nurses, and technicians will gladly address any questions you may have. We are here to help you make an informed decision about your pet’s care.
If you have questions or would like to book an appointment, WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).
Alternatively, please fill in the form below to send us a query.
