972.437.9499
office
972.680.9233
fax
12101 Greenville Ave
Suite 114
Dallas, TX 75234
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday-Friday
7 am - 6 pm
By
Appointment Only
OUR DOCTORS:
Cheryl K. Harris, DVM, ACVIM (Internal Medicine, Oncology)
Glen King, DVM, ACVR (Radiation Oncology, Radiology)
David S. Rolfe, DVM, MS, ACVIM (Internal Medicine)
Héctor J. Encarnación, DVM
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Canine and Feline Dermatology Topics
Canine and Feline Dermatology and Allergy Info & FAQ&##39;s
Information Regarding Treatment of Ear Infections
Ear infections can be caused by a variety of different factors.These include:
allergies, parasites, abnormalities in the skin, and anatomical or breed related
abnormalities.
Most ear infections start in the outer ear and with time can spread
to the inner ear. When the infection progresses from the outer
to the inner ear, aggressive treatment and sometimes surgical treatment
may be required. Veterinary Specialists of North Texas offers superior
service in the diagnosis and treatment of ear disease.
We have:
- A board certified dermatologist and allergist that specializes in ear disease.
- A video otoscope that allows for visualization of the entire ear canal, ear drum, and occasionally the middle ear. Using the video otoscope we can take images from inside the ear for reference and follow-up purposes, take biopsy samples if required, clean the ear and apply medications.
- We have access to digital radiography, CT scans and MRIs that are interpreted by board certified veterinary radiologists.These diagnostic techniques aid us in determining the extent of the ear disease (i.e. whether or not the middle ear is involved or whether a tumor invades bone), prognosis, and best form of treatment for each individual patient.
Information About Allergy Testing
Most animals are different from people in that when pets have allergies,
they manifest
their allergies as skin and or ear problems and not typically as respiratory
problems. Serum blood testing and intradermal allergy testing
exist.
Most veterinary dermatologists use intradermal allergy testing because it is a more sensitive test and considered the ¡°gold standard¡± in human medicine. Intradermal allergy testing involves shaving the side of the animal, making dots to mark the injection sites and injecting small amounts of allergens at specific dilutions under the skin.
The goal of the allergy test is to identify specific allergens (i.e. molds, grasses, weeds, environmentals, insects, etc) that are causing your pet to have an allergic reaction.
The IDAT is read at specific time periods to determine which allergens that your pet is allergic to.
Once the allergens are identified then an allergy vaccine or immunotherapy is made up which is specific for your pet. It is important to note that no skin testing or blood testing reliably diagnoses food allergies. The only way that this type of allergy can be accurately be diagnosed are using specialized hypoallergenic diet trials containing a novel or hydrolyzed food ingredients.
Skin Diseases in Animals
- Allergy- Most of the allergic diseases that occur in dogs, cats and horses affect the skin. Cats and horses may also experience a respiratory component (asthma in cats and COPD in horses) to their allergies. The types of allergies affecting the skin include: air-borne substances, insects, and food ingredients. Most allergies can be diagnosed with hypoallergenic diets and intradermal skin testing.
- Parasites- A variety of different parasites can cause skin disease in animals. These parasites include mites, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, Culicoides, and juvenile forms or parasitic worms.
- Infectious diseases- Many different agents can cause infectious diseases in animals. These agents include bacterial, fungal, viral and protozoal disease. Some of the most common infectious diseases are Staphylococcal bacterial infections in dogs and ¡°ringworm¡± in cats.
- Chronic or recurrent ear infections- A variety of different causes exist for chronic or recurrent ear infections. Ear disease is more common in dogs and less common in cats and horses. Evaluation and treatment of ear infections falls under the expertise of a dermatologist, which is different than in human medicine.
- Diseases of the feet, footpad and nails- Allergies, infection, parasites, tumors, autoimmune and metabolic imbalances are just a few of the causes for dermatologic abnormalities of the feet, footpad and nails. A dermatologist is experienced in recognizing, diagnosing and treating these types of diseases.
- Autoimmune - Autoimmune skin disease is a condition where the body¡¯s own immune system mounts an attack on the skin. In these situations this problem occurs because the immune system views the skin as foreign. Dermatologists are trained and well versed in diagnosing and being able to treat a wide variety of autoimmune skin diseases.
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Veterinary Specialists of North Texas & Animal Cancer Center
12101 Greenville Ave., Suite 114
Dallas, TX, 75243
972.437.9499
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