Page 19 - Clarion February 2018

The Severn Edge Vets Pets Page

Severn Edge Vet Frithjof Praetsch controlled with effective ectoparasite
BSc MRCVS, discusses common treatments, provided reinfestation

skin issues found in our pets. can be prevented. This may

Your pet’s skin protects it against the necessitate the treatment of others
environment, regulates its body pets and the affected pet’s home.
temperature and enables it to have a Ear disease is more often seen in

sense of touch. Certain skin dogs than cats, and results in
conditions can not only become persistent head shaking, redden

severely debilitating for your pet,
but they may also cause very ing of the skin of the outer ear, an
unpleasant symptoms in humans. In acidic odour and often severe pain.

recent years significant progress has Primary factors causing ear disease
been made, allowing your vet to are bacteria, yeasts, ectoparasites,
help most pets with skin conditions foreign bodies and trauma. If

quickly and effectively. treatment is started early, most cases
of ear disease can be cured with ear
The most common skin conditions
in pets are atopic dermatitis, flea drops, but management of an

allergic dermatitis and ear disease. underlying atopic dermatitis and
The former two are often referred to regular ear cleaning may also be
as allergies, but over 70 percent of required. Severe chronic cases of ear

cases of ear disease are also disease can be successfully cured by
secondary to an atopic dermatitis. means of surgery.

If you suspect your pet might be
Atopic dermatitis is an inherited
disease, characterised by itchiness suffering from a skin condition, then
and a reddening of the skin. The contact your local Severn Edge

most commonly affected parts of the Veterinary branch.
body include the paws, the Dr Frithjof Praetsch BSc MRCVS
underside of the belly and the ears.

Fortunately, there is now a
medication available that is just as

effective as steroids for the treatment
of atopic dermatitis, but does not
cause any side effects.

Flea allergic dermatitis is the most
common skin disease in cats,

causing itchiness as well as hair loss
and scabs. This condition can be

Cleobury Clarion - Page !19 - February 2018