Pet skin, ear and allergy treatment
Skin disease is one of the most common conditions in dogs and cats — and in Southern California, allergens are present year-round.
What we see
Common skin conditions in pets
- Allergic dermatitis caused by environmental or food allergens
- Ear infections, often associated with allergies or moisture
- Bacterial, fungal or yeast skin infections
- External parasites such as fleas, ticks and mites
- Autoimmune skin diseases, where the immune system attacks the skin
- Skin tumors or abnormal growths
Early diagnosis and treatment are important to relieve discomfort and prevent the condition from worsening.
How we find the cause
Dermatology services we provide
- Allergy testing
- Ear disease evaluation and video otoscope examination (a camera look inside the ear canal)
- Treatment of chronic skin conditions
- Food allergy management and dietary plans
- Flea and flea allergy treatment
- Cytology and impression smears (looking at skin and ear samples under a microscope)
- Skin scrapings to detect mites and parasites
- Skin biopsies for complex skin conditions
- Surgical treatment of skin tumors when necessary
Allergies
Testing and treatment
Allergies are very common in dogs and cats, especially in Southern California where environmental allergens are present throughout the year.
We offer blood-based allergy testing to identify reactions to environmental triggers such as pollen, grasses, dust mites and molds, as well as certain food ingredients. Once allergens are identified, treatment may include:
- Allergy immunotherapy (allergy shots or oral drops)
- Anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medications
- Nutritional support and omega-3 supplements
- Dietary management for food allergies
How allergy testing works
Allergy testing is serum-based and sent to a specialized outside laboratory; it is not run in-house. We do not perform intradermal allergy testing. Based on the results, we can then provide allergen-specific immunotherapy tailored to the patient.
The goal
Finding the cause and keeping your pet comfortable
Our goal is to identify the cause of your pet’s skin condition and develop a personalized treatment plan to improve comfort and long-term skin health — rather than treating the same flare-up again every few months.
If your pet is experiencing itching, ear problems, hair loss or skin irritation, our team is here to help.
Hot spots
Hot spots and skin infections
A hot spot appears overnight and spreads fast. There is usually an underlying cause worth finding.
A hot spot (acute moist dermatitis) is what happens when a dog licks, chews or scratches one patch of skin until the surface breaks and bacteria take hold. Clipping the hair, cleaning the area and treating the infection clears it up. Finding out why the dog started licking or scratching that spot is what prevents the next one.
Looking at a skin sample under a microscope (cytology) here tells us what is actually growing, so we are not guessing. The underlying cause is usually an allergy, fleas or a painful joint being licked. If your dog gets one every summer, the hot spot is the symptom and the allergy is the cause.
A hot spot that appeared today can be treated today — see same-day wound care. If they keep coming back, see how we find the cause of recurring skin and ear problems.
Common questions
Questions we are asked
How do you test for allergies?
We offer blood-based allergy testing that identifies reactions to environmental triggers such as pollen, grasses, dust mites and molds, as well as certain food ingredients. Diagnostics such as cytology, skin scrapings and biopsies help rule out infection and parasites first.
My dog's ears keep getting infected. Why?
Recurrent ear infections are often associated with an underlying allergy or with moisture, rather than being a separate problem each time. We evaluate the ear — including video otoscope examination — and look for the underlying cause, because treating only the infection often means it comes back.
Can allergies be cured?
Allergies are managed rather than cured. Once the triggers are identified, treatment may include immunotherapy (allergy shots or oral drops), anti-itch and anti-inflammatory medication, nutritional support and dietary management. The aim is long-term comfort with as little medication as possible.
Related
Chronic ear infections
Why some ear infections keep coming back, and how we find the cause.
Read moreEar infection, seen today
A new ear infection, tested and treated at the same visit.
Read moreWounds and hot spots, seen today
We clip, clean and treat the wound or hot spot, and look for what caused it.
Read moreGet your pet comfortable again
Call (714) 274-9305 to schedule a dermatology consultation at 6937 Warner Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647.
- Address
- 6937 Warner Avenue
Huntington Beach, CA 92647 - Hours
- Monday – Saturday, 9 AM – 8:30 PM · Tue to 6 PMSunday: closed.
- Phone
- (714) 274-9305