16355 SW 88th Street
Miami, FL 33196
Monday-Friday: 9:00am-6:00pm; Saturday: 8:30am-2:00pm; Sunday: Closed
Watching your pet scratch, bite, or lick at their skin constantly is hard, especially once you notice hair loss, red patches, or irritation. Skin conditions are one of the most common reasons pet owners seek veterinary care, affecting cats and dogs of every age and breed.
Dr. Morales and Dr. Fernandez specialize in diagnosing and treating a wide range of skin conditions in Miami pets, using Fear Free techniques throughout the exam so your pet stays calm while we work to identify what’s actually causing their discomfort.
Skin problems are widespread in pets, affecting a meaningful share of cats and an even higher share of dogs at some point, and many animals deal with more than one issue at once.
Environmental triggers like pollen, dust mites, and mold, along with food allergies, commonly cause excessive scratching, ear infections, and inflamed paws. Flea allergy dermatitis causes intense itching from even a single flea bite in sensitive pets. We offer allergy testing and build customized treatment plans to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Bacterial infections like pyoderma and hot spots develop when bacteria invade damaged skin, causing redness and oozing lesions that need prompt treatment. Fungal infections like ringworm and yeast overgrowth are also common, especially in pets with underlying allergies. Call (786) 885-1590 if you’ve noticed any of these signs on your pet.
Fleas, ticks, and mites cause real skin damage and discomfort. Sarcoptic and demodectic mange lead to severe itching, hair loss, and crusty lesions, and ear mites are especially common in cats and young animals. We provide parasite prevention and treatment to keep these issues under control.
Catching skin problems early can prevent more serious complications. Watch for excessive scratching, licking, or biting at one area, visible redness, swelling, scaly patches, or hair loss, and secondary issues like open sores or foul-smelling discharge from constant scratching. Changes in coat quality, excessive shedding, or behavioral shifts like restlessness or reduced appetite can also point to an underlying skin issue.
We start with a thorough physical exam of the skin, coat, ears, and paws, along with a detailed history of when symptoms began and what may have triggered them. Depending on the case, we may use skin scrapings, cytology, fungal cultures, elimination diet trials, allergy testing, bloodwork, or in complex cases, a skin biopsy to reach a clear diagnosis.
Treatment is tailored to the specific condition, whether that means antibiotics and medicated shampoos for bacterial infections, antifungal medication, antiparasitic treatment, or a combination of antihistamines, corticosteroids, or newer options for allergy control. For food allergies, we guide you through an elimination diet to pinpoint the trigger. Many skin conditions need ongoing management rather than a one-time fix, and we build a routine that works for your pet and your budget.
At Your Family Veterinarian, we’re proud to offer:
Excessive scratching, licking, or biting at one area, visible redness, swelling, hair loss, or scaly patches are the most common signs. Some pets also develop open sores or foul-smelling discharge from constant scratching, and their coat may become dull or excessively oily.
We start with a thorough exam of the skin, coat, ears, and paws and a history of when symptoms started. Depending on the case, we may use skin scrapings, cytology, fungal cultures, allergy testing, or bloodwork to reach a clear diagnosis. Call (786) 885-1590 to schedule an evaluation.
Yes, food allergies are a common cause of excessive scratching, ear infections, and inflamed paws. We guide pet owners through an elimination diet using a novel protein or hydrolyzed formula to identify the specific ingredient causing the reaction.
It depends on the cause. Infections often clear up with the right medication, but conditions like environmental allergies or chronic mange usually need long-term management, medicated baths, environmental changes, and consistent parasite prevention, rather than a single fix.
Hot spots and bacterial infections often develop when bacteria invade skin that’s already irritated or damaged, sometimes from an underlying allergy or flea sensitivity. Treating the root cause, not just the current flare-up, is usually what prevents these from coming back. Call (786) 885-1590 if this keeps happening to your pet.
Don’t let a skin condition keep bothering your pet when effective treatment is available. Call (786) 885-1590 or book online to schedule a dermatology consultation with Your Family Veterinarian. Our clinic is located at 16355 SW 88th Street, Miami, FL 33196 in the shopping plaza with LA Fitness and Starbucks. We’re open Monday through Friday, 9am–6pm, and Saturday, 8:30am–2pm.
