Skin diseases are very common problems in dogs and cats and it can be frustrating for owners to determine the most effective therapy. Dogs and cats suffer from a wide range of skin conditions that include allergic dermatitis, reactions to external parasites, bacterial skin infections, fungal skin infections, ear infections, immune-mediated skin diseases, solar damage, and hair loss. Faculty and resident veterinarians in our dermatology service perform thorough evaluations to determine the best course of treatment for each individual pet. This may involve obtaining samples from the skin surface for evaluation, taking skin biopsies, intradermal allergy testing or blood tests.