Yes. A few days of ear scratching almost always means an infection or mites are already established. Waiting longer lets the infection deepen and become harder to clear. We will look inside the ear canal, identify what is going on, and get treatment started the same visit. Ear issues do not resolve on their own.

Eye issues should always be seen the same day if possible. What looks like mild irritation can be a corneal scratch, and corneal injuries can worsen significantly within 24 to 48 hours. We use a quick fluorescein stain to check for scratches or ulcers and treat accordingly. It is always better to check and find nothing serious than to wait and find something that has progressed.

The most common underlying causes are allergies, moisture, and ear anatomy. Dogs with floppy ears or lots of hair in the ear canal trap warmth and moisture, creating ideal conditions for yeast and bacteria. In St. Petersburg, water and beach exposure make this even more common. We treat the active infection and discuss the underlying cause so we can help prevent it from coming straight back.

Come in today. Hot spots are fast-moving infections that can double or triple in size within 24 hours if left untreated. The longer they go without treatment, the more painful and difficult to manage they become. We clean the area, clip the surrounding fur, and start topical and systemic treatment to stop it from spreading.

Yes, very commonly. Allergies — whether seasonal, environmental, or food-related — often manifest in multiple ways at once. A pet with allergies may have itchy skin, recurring ear infections, and watery eyes all at the same time. We look at the full picture and treat both the immediate symptoms and discuss longer-term management so the cycle does not keep repeating.

Yes, we see both dogs and cats. Eye, ear, and skin conditions are common in both species and we treat them on a walk-in basis. Give us a call at (727) 390-0333 if you have questions before coming in.