Pet Skin Conditions & Dermatology
Red, crusty, or balding skin can come from bacteria, yeast, mites, fungus, or something else entirely, and they need different treatments. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, runs simple skin tests in the exam room so treatment matches the cause.
Allergies are often underneath, and they get their own workup. Start with an exam at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for sudden facial swelling with trouble breathing, hives spreading quickly, large areas of blistering or peeling skin, or skin changes with fever and lethargy.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
Common Skin Problems
Hot spots: red, wet, painful patches that can appear within a day, often after licking or scratching one spot.
Bacterial and yeast infections: red skin, bumps, crusts, greasy coat, or a musty smell, often in skin folds, paws, and armpits.
Mites: mange mites can cause intense itching or patchy hair loss; ear mites are common in kittens.
Ringworm: a fungal infection, not a worm, that causes circular hair loss and can spread to people and other pets.
Lumps and bumps: most are harmless, but only testing tells you which.
Hot spots deserve a quick look. Virginia Tech's veterinary teaching hospital notes that they appear fast and grow quickly, often starting from scratching at an itchy ear or allergic skin.
The Tests That Find the Cause
Most skin answers come from quick tests done in the exam room:
Skin scrape or tape sample to look for mites
Cytology, a sample checked under the microscope for bacteria and yeast
Hair pluck or fungal test for ringworm
Lab work when a hormone problem or other illness could be behind it
If skin keeps flaring after treatment, the vet looks for an underlying cause, such as allergies, and can refer to a board-certified veterinary dermatologist for complex cases.
When a Skin Issue Can Wait
A pet who scratches briefly after a walk, a little seasonal shedding, or a few dry flakes in winter isn't a skin emergency. Watch the skin itself: pink and calm, no smell, no raw spots, and no hair thinning in one place.
Track it for a week. Note when you first saw it, take a photo of the same spot every few days, and write down any new food, shampoo, or bedding. That log is often the most useful thing you can bring.
What Happens at a Skin Visit
The vet asks when it started, where it's worst, and whether anyone else in the house is itchy.
A full look at the skin, ears, paws, belly, armpits, and tail base.
In-room tests. Our Gentle Handling team uses treats and distraction while samples are taken, so a sore pet stays calm.
You leave with a written plan, a recheck window, and a visit summary in the Petfolk app.
Skip baths and medicated shampoos for a day before the visit if you can. They wash away the samples the vet needs.
“Brought her in and she had a great, thorough evaluation and given an effective treatment plan.”
— Jeff L., Petfolk client
What Skin Care Costs Depends On
The exam
Which in-room tests are needed
Lab work or a fungal culture, if needed
Medicated shampoos, topicals, or oral medication
Rechecks; skin cases usually need at least one
You'll get an estimate before testing or treatment. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work.
Find the Cause Before You Treat
Book an exam at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691, and leave knowing what's on your pet's skin and how to treat it.