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603 results for “ear scratching”
Exotic Shorthair
The Exotic Shorthair — everyone's "Garfield cat" — pairs the Persian's plush look with a short, easy-care coat. Sweet, calm, and affectionate, it's one of the most laid-back cat breeds to live with.
Canine and Feline Otitis Externa
Otitis externa is inflammation of the outer ear canal, commonly triggered by ear mites, foreign material, or improper cleaning that lets bacteria or fungi take hold. Treatment means cleaning the canal and tackling the underlying cause, with surgery reserved for chronic, end-stage cases.
Canine and Feline Aural Hematoma
An aural hematoma is a pocket of blood that forms between the skin and cartilage of the ear flap, usually triggered by vigorous head shaking or scratching. Small collections may be drained, but most require surgery to prevent a permanently scarred, thickened ear.
Pruritus (Itching) in Dogs and Cats: Symptoms, Causes, and Relief
Pruritus is a symptom rather than a disease, signaling an underlying problem such as parasites, eczema, diabetes, endocrine imbalance, or nutritional deficiency. Lasting relief comes from treating the root cause, not just suppressing the itch.
Canine and Feline Seborrheic Dermatitis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Seborrheic dermatitis is a disorder of skin lipid metabolism in dogs and cats, producing dry scales, greasy sebum buildup, or inflamed crusted skin. It may be primary (often hereditary) or secondary to parasites, infection, or endocrine disease such as hypothyroidism.
Canine and Feline Atopic (Allergic) Dermatitis: Symptoms, Treatment, and Prevention
Atopic dermatitis, also called allergic dermatitis, is an IgE-mediated skin hypersensitivity in dogs and cats, marked by intense itching, redness, and hair loss that often begins around the eyes, toes, and groin. Mild cases may resolve once the allergen is removed, while persistent cases need veterinary-directed anti-inflammatory therapy.
Using a Wood’s Lamp to Check for Cat Ringworm
Under a Wood's lamp in a dark room, ringworm caused by Microsporum canis makes infected hairs glow a translucent apple-green, especially at the roots. Other substances can fluoresce too, causing false positives, and a negative test does not rule out ringworm.
Canine and Feline Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is an inherited allergic skin disease triggered by inhaled allergens such as pollen, mold, and dust mites. It causes itchy, inflamed skin that often recurs seasonally, and is managed by avoiding allergens and controlling inflammation.
My cat had a scab, then lost hair, and now the bare patch is spreading — what’s wrong?
From the photo this looks like an infected wound. Clip the surrounding fur, clean the wound, and apply antibacterial and anti-inflammatory medication. Keep an E-collar on throughout treatment and watch for scratching — if scratching continues, consider ear problems or ringworm as the underlying cause and treat that directly.
There’s a light-red lump under my dog’s eye — what could it be?
A lump under the eye can be a stye, a blocked tear duct, a traumatic abscess, or a tumor. Wipe the area with saline and apply erythromycin eye ointment; if it does not improve or other symptoms appear, see a vet. Put an Elizabethan collar on the dog to stop it scratching the eye.