Happy Labor Day!
We want to wish you a happy Labor Day weekend. We WILL be here on Monday Sept. 2: 7a.m-5p.m.
Posts
Cats get chin acne?
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline) Notice any black debris on your cat's chin, or maybe even pimple-like lesions? Then your cat has chin acne. This is not a hormonal problem. Actually, we are not entirely certain why some cats get these lesions. Some cats only experience one episode in their life, while others may have cyclic or near-constant disease. There are several suspected causes, including poor grooming habits, abnormal hair follicles with overproduction of sebum, virus infection (calicivirus, herpes virus), stress, chin trauma (due to excessive scent marking by rubbing the chin on vertical objects, or from scratching the chin due to underlying allergy), plastic food dish contact allergy, underlying immunosuppressive disease or bacterial contamination from rubbing the chin in food (especially in old dried canned food). SIGNS: Early clinical signs include crusts and plugged hair follicles forming "blackheads" on the chin and lower l...
Top 3 Dog Allergy Questions We Hear
By Zoe Forward, DVM, Dipl. ABVP (canine/feline) Carolina Pets Animal Hospital Why can't my dog's allergies be cured? Allergies, whether due to fleas, food or something in your pet's environment are caused by the immune system overreacting, NOT a weakened or "sick" immune system. With flea allergy dermatitis, allergy shots (immunotherapy) doesn't work. The only treatment is avoidance, which means keep your pet on monthly flea control year round. The same is true for food allergies (your pet needs to stay on a prescription hypoallergenic diet). For environmental allergies (atopic dermatitis), pets can be desensitized with allergy shots (immunotherapy). This type of treatment helps down regulate the body's overreaction to items in the environment, but even if it works these dogs require treatment for the rest of their lives. In rare cases after years of therapy, the dog may no longer need to be treated. Why does my pet need such a high dose of antibioti...