Pet allergies are one of the most common reasons to seek a veterinary care. In dogs, allergies can develop into skin and ear infections that can be hard to treat and extremely uncomfortable for them. Pet owners complain that listening to their pet’s incessant chewing and licking is very upsetting. So, how can you help these itchy, scratchy dogs?
First of all, we must determine if the root of the itch is an allergy or another underlying issue. We do a simple skin scrape and tape test to determine if there are mites, fungus or bacteria in the surface of the skin as well as slightly deeper around the hair follicle. There are many cases of dogs with chronic skin infections that just had Demodectic or Sarcoptic mange! Even fleas can cause dermatitis and allergy symptoms. These are so easy to treat with just certain topical flea products like Bravecto, Nexguard or Advantage Multi, that we insist all patients with “allergies” get treated right away.
Certain cancers can also cause chronic skin ulcers, crusts, and other skin changes. Mast cell tumors could be extremely itchy and could cause a generalized red, itchy skin. I have diagnosed patients with rare nonhealing ulcers as having a paraneoplastic syndrome, in which an internal cancer is manifesting in the skin. Adrenal gland disease could also be a cause for recurrent skin infections and hair loss in both dogs and cats. Deficiency in the production of the Thyroid hormone can also cause hair loss, thickening of the skin and could make the pets more susceptible to getting skin infections.
When it comes to determining if your pet is allergic to something in the environment or something they are eating, a food trial is an inexpensive way to differentiate between those 2 causes. Take into account that for a food trial to be effective, the pet owner must commit to feeding their pet ONLY one kind of diet ( no treats, no table scraps & no cheating) for at least 6-8 weeks. I usually see drastic improvement within 2 weeks of switching the diet to Royal canine hydrolyzed or Wellness Simple Solutions diets. Using food energetics and acupuncture as a way to determine how to treat skin allergies is another option for pet owners interested in the holistic approach. Nutraceuticals that are rich in natural anti-inflammatories and omega fatty acids could be used to improve any skin condition and they could be administered orally or topically (shampoos,leave-on creams, and mousse).
In cases in which the itch-scratch cycle is consuming the pet’s energy and quality of life, there is an injection called Cytopoint that could block those itch receptors and bring much-needed relief that lasts up to 8 weeks. In some cases of deep-seated obsessive compulsive licking behavior, a mild anxiolytic drug could help. In other words, do not despair if your furry companion suffers from allergic skin disease because there are multiple treatment options available. Ask your veterinarian for an in-depth physical examination of your pet’s skin.