Dermatology
Welcome to the
Dermatology Department of the Texas A&M University College of
Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Located at Texas'
first public institution of higher education, our College houses
one of the largest specialty hospitals in the southwest. The
Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital provides expert medical care
to over 20,000 animals each year through the Small and Large Animal
Clinics. Those animals affected with skin, ear, and allergic
diseases are diagnosed and treated by the Aggie Dermatology
Department. Our desire is to be the preferred veterinary
dermatology referral center in the region. Exceptional
compassionate care for the patient and timely communication with
the owner/guardian and primary care veterinarian is our commitment.
We look forward to assisting you and your pet in times of need.
Please find additional information about us and what we do on the
navigational bar.
What do we do?
The skin is the largest organ of the body! It provides a barrier
against external insult, produces hair and nails, secretes and
excretes substances, is involved in sensory perception, is a
regulator of body temperature, and can be an indicator of internal
disease. When an underlying disease arises, the skin only has a
limited repertoire of clinical responses (e.g., hair loss, change
in skin color, dander, scabs, bumps, lumps, ulcers, thickening,
itch, odor). A veterinary dermatologist is specifically trained in
identifying these lesions and the 'patterns' they form on the skin.
Taken together with the history and a few simple diagnostic
procedures, a list of most likely possibilities can be generated.
More extensive procedures may be required to obtain a definitive
diagnosis.
A&M is staffed and equipped to diagnose and manage a
multitude of skin conditions in small and large animals. The
Dermatology Department works closely works with other specialist in
the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital when needed to ensure a
comprehensive medical work-up of your pet's skin disorder. Together
with your input, we aim to make your pet more comfortable and
cosmetically appealing.
Conditions that the Dermatology Department typically examines
are:
- Itchy skin (pruritus): licking, rubbing, biting, and
scratching
- Recurring hives (urticaria)
- Allergic skin disease: allergies to fleas, insects, food, and
the environment
- Ear disease (otitis): the ear is just an extension of the
skin
- Bacterial skin infections (pyoderma)
- Fungal skin infections: ringworm (dermatophytosis) and
yeast
- Parasitic skin diseases: mites, ticks, lice, fleas, and other
insects
- Excessive skin dander, greasiness, dryness, or crusting
- Alopecia (hair loss)
- Blistering skin disease / Autoimmune skin disease
- Hormonal-related skin diseases
- Congenital skin diseases
- Skin cancers