Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic Blog

Pets can be affected by skin diseases at any age, but older animals may be more prone to certain issues simply because of their age. Excluding chronic issues that have been present for extended periods of time, dermatological challenges that occur in pets older than age seven are increasingly common. In fact, the appearance and quality of a senior pet’s skin are sometimes linked to other age-related disorders. 

A regular grooming regimen is a must for pets. Besides keeping them looking and feeling their best, grooming gets you up close and personal with your pet’s skin  and fur, allowing you to easily spot lumps, bumps, parasites, or anything else out of the ordinary.

Along with brushing, bathing, nail trimming, and (hopefully) tooth brushing, pet ear cleaning is an essential part of any grooming regimen. Messing with your pet’s ears may sound daunting, but with a little practice it will become like second nature.

In general, cats typically don’t benefit from having their ears cleaned – instead, check their ears for dirt and debris, and remove any by wiping with a damp cloth.

Your pet’s paws are more than just adorable. They are what allows for those romps in the fields, a good swimming session, digging in the dirt, and even some special bonding moments. Who can resist that gentle paw in your lap when you least expect it?

Paws are certainly tough, but they also take a beating. Paws come into close contact with the world around them, and are constantly exposed to moisture, allergens, irritants, and other dangers. It’s no wonder that paw problems in pets aren’t uncommon.

The best part of pet ownership is all the extra hair – said no one ever. While shedding is an expected part of pet ownership, there are some situations in which the hair in your home is more than normal.

At Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic, we know that shedding can be a pain, but we also know how to diagnose and treat excessive shedding.

Normal Hair Growth

It is totally normal for pets to shed hair. No matter if your dog or cat has long hair or short, smooth or wiry, a sleek single coat or a fluffy double, shedding happens. 

Hair grows in a four stage process which includes:

At Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic we enjoy a good myth-busting blog. It is so much fun to see common misconceptions debunked. We are no strangers to battling misinformation in our day-to-day job either, so we decided to embark on our own myth busting session specific to the allergic pet.

Common Myths About the Allergic Pet

When we sit down with pet parents at their animal’s appointments, we hear lots of common misconceptions. While we are sure that there are others, some of the most frequent myths that we must debunk include:

“Why do my pet’s paws smell like Fritos?” This is a surprisingly common question that we get here at Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic. No, you aren’t imagining things and, no, your dog isn’t getting into your stash of salty treats (at least, we hope not!).

We believe strongly in empowering pet owners with as much knowledge as possible about their pets. Whether it helps identify a future health problem or is just a fun bit of party trivia, finding out why your pet’s paws smell like Fritos is worth the effort!

Anyone with a basic understanding of physiology knows that the immune and endocrine (hormone) systems are essential for normal body function. These two systems are carefully regulated by the body, and if not regulated properly, skin or internal disease can develop and  lead to trouble.

At the Animal Skin and Allergy Clinic, hormone and immune-mediated skin problems in pets make up a reasonable part of our practice. Luckily, if these issues plague your pet, we know just what to do.

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