Our pet's skin can be as sensitive as our own and this means that dermatological issues are extremely common among our domestic animals.

In fact, skin problems are one of the leading causes of visits to veterinarians and local cat and dog skin specialists across in Birmingham AL. In many cases, these skin issues are triggered by allergies - another health complaint that is prevalent among pets.

Here is what you should know about pet skin and allergy care.

Pet allergies

Our animals can be allergic to a variety of things, from the food that they eat to things that they come into contact with such as fleas or dust. Allergies manifest in many ways, and exactly how they do and how severely your pet will suffer will depend on your cat or dog, what they have been exposed to, and how intense their body's autoimmune response is. Nevertheless, one of the main areas that tends to be affected is your furbaby's skin.

Skin allergies, also known as allergic dermatitis, can be a response to many allergens including: products or chemicals that your pet has come into contact with, such as a different washing powder or fabric softener that you wash his bedding in, dust and dander, tree, weed and grass pollen, and even foods containing wheat and soy. One of the most common triggers is a flea infestation. This is because while flea saliva contains a toxin that is highly irritating to animals and humans alike, some people and pets are extremely allergic to it. This makes the symptoms of a flea bite much worse.

If your pet is suffering from an allergy that is causing skin problems, you should seek the advice of an animal skin specialist near you as soon as possible.

Other causes of skin problems in pets

There are a variety of other things that can cause your dog or cat to experience skin problems. These include:

• Hypothyroidism (dogs only)
• Cushing's Disease
• Lick Granuloma
• Ringworm
• Scabies
• Reaction to medication
• Auto-immune response to underlying undetected illness

Symptoms of dermatological issues in pets

Animals that are suffering from skin problems find it very difficult to mask their symptoms for long since the issues they face are so irritating and debilitating. The symptoms that they experience can range from fairly harmless to extremely self-destructive and could put them at risk of secondary health problems. Signs that your pet has a dermatological issue and would benefit from a visit to dog skin specialist near you include:

• Excessive scratching
• Chewing or biting his skin
• Repeatedly rubbing his face and ears
• Scooting or rubbing against the carpet and other surfaces
• Excessive licking of the legs, feet or body
• Hair loss
• Flaky, dry skin
• Red, irritated skin
• Sores
• Open wounds from scratching or biting

If you are looking for a dog skin specialist in Birmingham AL, look no further than Valleydale Animal Clinic. Our experienced and knowledgeable veterinarians are able to diagnose and treat a multitude of pet skin and allergy problems. Please call our team at (205) 236-1800 and our professional team in our veterinary office in Birmingham, AL will be happy to help.