Skin and Ear Health Solutions for Dogs and/or Cats

Orthopedic Health

Disclaimer: *** An in-person assessment, diagnostics, and treatments by a licensed Veterinarian should be done for all medical assessments. This Article is not intended to replace the above-mentioned in-person veterinary assessment and medical advice. ****

Why does my pet have an ear infection? And what do I do? Or does my pet have an ear infection, and what do I do? First and foremost, we want to consult with your local veterinarian, such as Liberty Vet Pets Veterinary Hospital and House Call Services, and go over if your pet has an ear infection and/ or a skin issue. 

HOW DOES MY PET’S EAR INFECTION or SKIN ISSUE GET DIAGNOSED?

EAR INFECTIONS: 

1. Ear Cytology: Here at Liberty Vet Pets, we suggest taking a swab from your dog or cat’s ear to send to the lab for further assessment. The Ear Cytology is accessed microscopically at the lab for bacteria, yeast, and/ or ear mites. 
2. Ear Culture and Sensitivity: Our Veterinary Hospital and Home Visit Services also normally suggest doing an ear culture and sensitivity. We take an ear swab and send it to the laboratory. The lab will grow out a bacterial culture, identify any potential bacteria, identify them, expose them to different antibiotics, and report to the Veterinarian what the bacteria are sensitive to or resistant to. Sometimes, if your Veterinarian has already started a medication for your pet’s ear infection, additional treatment may have to be added to the treatment plan depending on what the culture and sensitivity results say. Remember, there can be more than one pathogen leading to an ear issue. The preferred way to know is to take samples of debris from the ears and do the above-mentioned diagnostic tests. Also, if your pet had a past pathogen in the ear before this does not mean that it is still the same pathogen with subsequent ear and/ or skin infections.
3. Here at Liberty Vet Pets Veterinary Hospital and Home Visit Services, we are dedicated to educating our clients about preventive medicine, diagnostics, and treatments for your furry family member(s). We believe in a thorough approach to getting to the root of what is causing a problem or taking preventive measures so we can help heal and extend your furry family members' good health and lifespan. Being proactive in health care is KEY to avoiding a crisis of health and/or advanced disease processes. 
4. Note: the ear is its own organ, but is also part of the skin system, as it is coated in skin, so some topics may or may not overlap.

SKIN PROBLEMS: 

Itchy Skin, Skin Lesions and Masses Oh, My… : ( This may present itself in many different ways. Always consult with your veterinarian, such as Liberty Vet Pets, in person so that they can make an appropriate assessment of your pet’s skin condition and perform diagnostics and/ or treatments.) In any case, with humans who are young, elderly, or immune-compromised, or who are concerned that they may be exposed to a Zoonotic Skin disease (a small number of animal diseases can be contagious to humans or other animals), always consult with your human Doctor and/or Dermatologist.

1. Skin Infection: For example, you may be noticing redness, irritation, pus, raised lesions, etc. Infections may be due to such things as yeast and/ or bacteria versus others. This may be diagnosed in many different ways, such as under the microscope, visual inspection v. Culture and Sensitivity v. Other. (see above for description of importance of a culture and sensitivity test) 
2. Itchy Skin: For example, your pet may be excessively licking, grooming, or scratching an area. Many pet parents may be surprised that often a clinical sign of this is excessive paw licking v. Rectal licking v. other. Some areas of licking in some cases may also have salivary staining, a discoloration to the normal tint of the fur, often an orangey or yellowish brown or tan color. Some animals may have no evidence of salivary staining at all. There are many conditions of the skin that can lead to itchy skin, such as ectoparasites (example fleas, mites, etc.), environmental contact causes such as home insulation, food allergies, airborne allergens, topical allergies (atopy/ atopic dermatitis), and more. The Liberty Vet Pets team servicing the mainline, Philadelphia, and some of the surrounding areas is here to guide you and educate you to help improve your pet’s skin condition and/ or ear issue, and aims to provide helpful solutions. Please see below for itchy skin solutions. Please click on links for more about food allergies and atopy (airborne allergies: like pollens and ragweeds ect). Fleas can also cause itchy skin from the saliva of the flea.  A pet will groom itself and invariably while doing so, accidentally ingest the flea, which can lead to the pet getting intestinal tapeworms that will need to be treated by a dewormer recommended by your Veterinarian treating your pet.

   Solutions: 

   1. Please consult with one of our Veterinarians about anti-histamines
   2. Apoquel (labeled for dogs): This is a medication that interferes with the cascade of some of the events in your pet’s body that can lead to itchy skin. Please click on the link for more info: https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/apoquel

      Video about Apoquel: Please click on the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHgh8cJ0bjI

   3. Cytopoint (labeled for dogs): Cytopoint is an injection that we can give at our Vet office or during your home visit appointment. Cut and paste link for more information: https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/cytopoint

      Click on the link below for the video for Cytopoint

      

      Cytopoint by Zoetis

   4. Steroids: Not used that frequently anymore in many Veterinary practices due to side effects
   5. Immunosuppressants: Infrequently used, but can be helpful. Consult with your Vet about the pros and cons and contraindications of this drug class.
   6. Flea Prevention: We recommend only using veterinary-grade flea prevention for safety and efficacy. 

      Dogs: Preventative once a month chew (given typically every 30 days year-round) NexgardPlus (Prevents against fleas, ticks, and heartworms and most of the intestinal parasites) or Simparica Trio (Prevents against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and most of the intestinal parasites). Link: https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/simparica-trio?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paid_search&utm_campaign=pos_00032_000726&utm_content=specific&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=17051609901&gbraid=0AAAAADcXs02DUW35LpXcXfWlg-jHgTSQz&gclid=CjwKCAjw1N7NBhAoEiwAcPchpxGi5AYiXGdwgsTqCshffeQXYkYk_fVbYaQ0lHAOwyvM-AtmQNRYaBoCF3cQAvD_BwE  

      Simparica Video: 

      Nexgard (Fleas and Tick only prevention): Link for Nexgard Plus: https://nexgardforpets.com/nexgard-plus

      Nexgard Plus Video Link: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/5Iqe/nexgard-plus-the-one-you-want

      Cats: Revolution Plus (Prevents against fleas, ticks, heartworms, most of the intestinal parasites, and ear mites): this is given topically between the shoulder blades, typically every 30 days year-round. (Yes, even indoor cats can get fleas; it is like saying outdoor-only cockroach or spider, there is no such thing. Fleas are the size of sesame seeds, and they can jump and easily infest your house, even if you live on the 40th floor! Link to Revolution Plus: https://www.zoetispetcare.com/products/revolution-plus

      Link to Revolution Plus Video 1: https://www.facebook.com/PetVetSupply/videos/protect-your-cat-from-itty-bitty-invaders-like-fleas-ticks-intestinal-worms-and-/385446517324298/

      Revolution Plus Video 2: https://www.facebook.com/npvethosp/videos/revolution-plus-for-cats/514200483013840/

      Or Nexgard combo for cats: Prevents against fleas, ticks, heartworms, and most of the intestinal parasites. Link NexgardCombo: https://nexgardforpets.com/nexgard-combo?cid=2265a0&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=23292432408&gbraid=0AAAAADO1Ke94zKM1rozyoAyG2Zl-VfBSR&gclid=CjwKCAjw1N7NBhAoEiwAcPchpwztDWDXe0BDIL2kZvgb3KCpNkCfYAuLl6_iB-iYbSvWIV5_R_l2KRoCvY0QAvD_BwE

      Link to Nexgard Plus Video: https://www.ispot.tv/ad/6khb/nexgard-combo-your-cat-wants-what-she-wants

      
      

3. Missing Fur: For example, you may notice areas of missing fur with raised lesions, no lesions, scaling, and/ or pus, etc. There are many causes for such clinical signs. For example:
   1. Endocrine Disease: (examples) Hypothyroidism (more common in dogs, rare in cats) can lead to hair loss, thinning, and, in some more advanced cases, such as loss of the tip of the tail or the tip of the ears. Cushing's Disease (Hyperadrenocorticism): May notice hair loss among other clinical signs. Often, general blood tests may be able to screen for these diseases at your annual wellness or sick appointment here at Liberty Vet Pets Veterinary Hospital and Veterinary House Call Services. In some cases, additional, more specific blood tests and/or other diagnostic modalities may be necessary to further definitively diagnose these diseases. These are often treatable with medications and typically have to be monitored with blood work. 
   2. Mites: The two most common mites are the demodectic mite ( Demodex) and the sarcoptic mite (Scabies). While Demodex and Scabies are more common in dogs than cats, recently, in dogs, we have seen fewer cases of Demodex and Scabies due to the advent of oral flea and tick prevention administration to dogs. We have been seeing fewer cases of Demodex and/or Scabies in dogs. Currently, at the time of the article, most oral flea and tick preventions for dogs are not labelled specifically to treat mites. Veterinarians have been seeing off-label use of these products in some cases for dogs for the treatment of mites. While unlikely, Demodex can sometimes be zoonotic to humans; Scabies, however, is zoonotic. Luckily, scabies is less frequently seen. If you have any concerns about human exposure to mites, in particular scabies, please contact your human Dr. and/ or dermatologist.
   3. Traumatic Incident: Past laceration, injury, heat burn, chemical burn, Past surgical scar v. Other
   4. Genetic: There are some conditions, such as alopecia X, due to a genetic difference in the DNA that can result in a lack of fur.
   5. Over Grooming and/or Self-Inflicted Trauma: While a dog or cat can over-groom, leading to hair loss and/or hair thinning, we tend to see a condition in cats called “ Barbering” in which a pet parent may report the pet may be over-grooming and the hair appears to be thin in areas and/or missing in some areas. Visually, the hair ends may not align in a typical manner due to the fact that while grooming the pet is actually ripping fur out. Microscopically, this is visible as the hair appears damaged or ripped. Cats may do this for many reasons, such as anxiety and/or medical reasons, such as itchy skin. Both dogs and cats can have what is called in non- medical terms a “ hot spot”. A hot spot is an area where a pet is repeatedly licking or over-grooming, chewing, or scratching an area, leading to trauma and, in some cases, infection of the skin. Hot spots may occur for many reasons, but most often due to allergies such as food allergies v. Atopy (air-borne allergens) v. Other. ( see links to these allergy topics). Medical and/ or anxiety solutions may be helpful to help reduce or resolve self-trauma and/ or over-grooming. See future links on our Liberty Vet Pets Website about Anxiety Solutions and Skin Allergy Solutions.
   6. Pressure Sores: The medical term for pressure sores is dicubital ulcers. These occur in areas where an animal, over time, is leaning or putting weight on that area of skin. Such as leaning on an elbow, hip, and/ or hock v. Other.
   7. See Section on masses, other lesions, and or cysts (Such lesions may present with or without fur).
   8. Other: for any disease condition, there may be a whole bunch of differentials. This is not a comprehensive list or discussion; these are some examples.
4. Raised Lesions: Abscesses, Masses, Cysts, and more…
   1. Abscess: What is an abscess, and how does it occur? These are very common questions we get asked by our clients here at Liberty Vet Pets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Rittenhouse Square Center City Area. An abscess is a pocket of infection contained within a structure, such as skin. Sometimes it can be noticeably raised, and sometimes this may be more subtle or unnoticeable. This structure has infection (pus) within it, which tends to be whitish, yellowish, green, and sometimes blood-tinged. Often, this area of infection is noticeably raised. At times, a pet parent may only observe clinical signs such as decreased appetite or lethargy v. Other. Sometimes, on a Veterinary Physical Examination, we will find a temperature, but not always. This temperature is associated with the body trying to fight off infection. While averages and textbooks may vary, did you know that typically a dog or cat’s normal rectal temperature is around 100 degrees Fahrenheit to 102.5 degrees Fahrenheit? This normal temperature range may also vary according to recent exercise and/ or environmental temperatures. Please consult with your Veterinarian to further assess and interpret your pet’s temperature. Abscesses may be due to a puncture wound and/or localized reaction to an animal bite, insect bite, or unsanitary conditions, or other causes. Generally, they are treatable with systemic antibiotics, but it is always advisable to have the Veterinarian perform a culture and sensitivity test by taking a swab from the abscess to identify the bacteria, expose it to different antibiotics, and see what the bacteria are sensitive to or resistant to as far as antibiotics go. Liberty Vet Pet’s class IV ( four) therapeutic laser in abscesses not associated with tumors or cysts can work with the energy cycle of the cell to help promote more rapid healing and reduce inflammation. This is a fairly inexpensive procedure that normally takes around 5 minutes or so. In some cases where pain can be associated with inflammatory processes, our Liberty Vet Pets class IV therapeutic laser can help reduce pain associated with inflammation. There are some additional medications that our Liberty Vet Pets Veterinary Hospital and Veterinary House call services may or may not recommend for your individual pet’s circumstances to help reduce pain and/or inflammation. PLEASE REMEMBER NEVER TO USE HUMAN PAIN MEDS ( or other drugs) ON DOGS OR CATS as the MAY BE DEADLY TO YOUR FUR FAMILY MEMBER. Always seek Veterinary Medical advice and Veterinary dosing suggested by a licensed Vet for your pet’s specific species, breed, and/or size.
   2. Masses: A mass is typically a raised lesion anywhere in the body, seen in other systems, not just the skin system, comprised of incorrect DNA. The DNA is the genetic material in each cell that is the “Instruction Manual” for what the cell is supposed to build. When there is a typo in the DNA, the cell will start to build the incorrect structure, which, as the structure grows, may become visible to the naked eye or palpable (in cases of internal organs, on physical exam, sometimes your Veterinarian can feel an irregular shape that is not supposed to be associated with your pet’s anatomy). Masses can be benign, meaning they are not typically associated with spreading to other areas of the body v. Malignant meaning they are typically associated with spreading to other areas of the body. Clients are always eager to show you a mass on their fur family member and ask do you know what it is by looking at it. The technical answer is NO. While we can feel a mass and describe its shape and appearance in order to properly and definitely diagnose what it is, it has to be looked at under a microscope. Typically, the best way to determine what a mass is is to perform a procedure called a biopsy, where the Veterinarian takes a piece of the mass or performs an excision biopsy with the intention of removing as much of the tissue associated with the incorrect DNA from this mass, plus a goal of removing a border of normal tissue surrounding the abnormal DNA. The reason for this is with hopes that most of the incorrect cellular material will be removed. There is never a guarantee of this as some masses may be more challenging in size, location, and/ or invasiveness v. Other. Often biopsies require sedation and/ or anesthesia and must be scheduled during procedure / surgical dates. In some cases, an aspirate can be taken, and cellular material can be looked at under the microscope in hopes of getting an idea of what kind of mass is present; however, there are pros and cons to aspirates. One pro is that the pet may not need to be sedated or under anesthesia. Aspirates sometimes may not exfoliate adequate cellular material for diagnosis, and sometimes we have seen multiple differential diagnoses from the cellular material exfoliated, and occasionally, not a matching diagnosis to the definitive diagnosis from the biopsy. We say it like taking a scraping from a modern building and being able to tell that it is comprised of materials such as glass, metal, and brick, but not being able to definitely identify that the architecture is from the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, or 2000’s, etc. Whereas, taking a full intact slice of “biopsy” of the building's architecture would tell you more about the exact architecture of the building.
   3. Cysts: A cyst is a raised area in the body that can typically be seen on the skin. A cyst is an abnormal growth that produces fluid in the center. Cysts can be benign or malignant. See description about masses above about DNA, Malignant v. Benign. Cysts can grow over time and sometimes abscessate ( get infected), rupture, and/ or have complications.

Please consult with Liberty Vet Pets Veterinary Hospital and/ or Home Visit Services for further assessment and recommendations, and/or your local and/ or emergency Veterinarian. Remember, we offer urgent care and non-life-threatening emergency services here at Liberty Vet Pets during our hours of operation and sometimes after hours. Please call and speak to our Liberty Vet Pets reception team at 1-888-458-8587, press option zero. While we can see your pet in our office at Liberty Vet Pets Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, at 265 S. 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, we can also capture your dog, cat, or pet at your house and/or transport them to our hospital for additional diagnostics and services. Remember, we have portable radiographs, ultrasound, can draw blood, draw lab samples in your house, apartment, or condo, and/or bring/transport your pet to our brick and mortar location in Center City Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for radiographs, ultrasound, orthopedic exam, blood work, dentals, surgery, therapeutic skin, and orthopedic class four laser. We also offer in-office or at-home hospice care and/ or euthanasia, as well as wellness services.

Please contact Liberty Vet Pets - Veterinary Hospital and/or Veterinary Home Visit Services in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

265 S 20th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103

1-888-458-8587 
Press Option Zero
Dr. Bonnie Valiente Wright, VMD
Media Questions, Veterinary Client Education Please contact Veterinarian Dr. Bonnie at the above phone number.