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There are several different types of mites that can cause skin problems. Some live naturally in the skin but can overgrow; while others are highly contagious to other pets. A skin scraping will help us determine if any of these mites are involved in your pet’s skin condition.

This test is done to determine if your pet has ringworm. Since ringworm is a contagious fungus to humans and other pets in the household, we want to be sure this is not a factor in your pet’s case.

This method of testing for environmental allergies that target a pet’s skin is considered the ‘gold standard’ of allergy testing in veterinary medicine. It can determine to which specific allergens your pet is allergic. Allergens are the environmental agents such as dust mites, grass, weed and tree pollens, and molds that cause an overreaction in an allergic pet. Allergens are inhaled, absorbed across the skin, or, in the case of a parasite allergy, introduced when the host animal is bitten. This method of testing for allergies requires a conscious sedation along with clipping the hair coat in a section on one side of the body. Individual sterile injections are then administered into the upper layers of the skin.

A CBC and Chemistry profile are commonly recommended to check for underlying diseases that may cause or aggravate your animal’s skin condition. Before starting some medications for the skin, it is important to check a “baseline” of your pet’s blood work so we can best monitor therapy and its effects. It is also common to check your pet’s blood work before anesthesia or to check your pet’s overall general health. In addition, a second blood test called a thyroid panel may also be recommended depending on your pet’s condition. If your pet exhibits symptoms of other hormonal disorders, there are specific hormonal blood tests that would be recommended if appropriate.

The veterinarian may determine your pet needs a skin biopsy if certain skin disorders are present, or if your pet is not responding to standard therapies. With the pet under general anesthesia, a sample of the tissue will be surgically removed and sent to the laboratory to be examined by a pathologist. This test is used to diagnose or rule out skin cancers along with many other inflammatory, metabolic, or hair loss disorders.

This is a microscopic examination of the material found on the surface of the skin. Similar to the ear cytology, this test can be helpful in determining whether bacteria, pus, or yeast is complicating your pet’s situation. Each condition requires a different treatment plan. This test determines which medication will be most effective for your pet. This also guides the dermatologist as to which shampoos and topical medications are most appropriate for your pet.

This test determines the exact type of bacteria present and which antibiotic will treat it most effectively. Sites commonly sampled include the ear canal and skin. The samples are then incubated and grown in the lab to determine the particular microbes involved. Individual antibiotics are then tested to determine which are the most effective in treating the organism that your pet harbors.

This test is performed by plucking a few hairs from the pet’s coat and performing a microscopic exam. Studying the hairs can identify parasites and be helpful in aiding the clinician with causes of hair loss disorders.

Dermatologic abnormalities are common manifestations of many hormonal conditions. Numerous sensitive tests are available to evaluate for the presence of hormonal disorders. Some of these tests involve multiple blood samples drawn over several hours.