I think a lot of vets have a love-hate relationship with dermatology.
It can be very satisfying to make a diagnosis, come up with a plan, and work with a pet parent to put that plan into place. Seeing a previously uncomfortable animal get some relief is what we are all after. But, dermatology is very rarely (just about never!) a “one and done” situation.
“Allergic” pets are allergic lifelong: they will require lifelong management, at least to some degree. Even those that are very well controlled will still have the occasional flare-up. So, these cases can become frustrating for both owners and doctors.
We expect the surge of itchy patients in the spring and early fall, but at this latitude, it seems that the “season” lasts much longer. It seems like it is always “Allergy Season” in Kingsville! In addition, it is not out of the ordinary for me to have dogs or cats move down from the GTA who suffered from mild allergies, to have their symptoms be significantly more bothersome in Windsor–Essex.
What pet allergies look like:
An allergy is a “state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen.” Essentially, the immune system over-reacts to something. The “something” can be more challenging to determine, but most often consists of something environmental (plant proteins/pollens), insects, or food 1 2 .
Dog and cat allergies signs can include 3 :
- Itchy skin
- Scratching
- Licking
- Face rubbing
- Red skin
- Loss of fur
- Recurrent skin and ear infections
- Gastrointestinal (GI) signs
It is important to know that: itching begets more itching! If you notice your pet is itchy, let your veterinary team know soon. Itching is easier to treat the EARLIER it is treated, and things can ramp up quickly. When is a dog “too itchy?” When their regular behaviours get interrupted: they wake up to scratch or lick, they take a break from their dinner to scratch or lick, or they stop chasing the ball to scratch.
What treatment of pet allergies look like:
Treatment of allergies needs to start with a visit to your vet. They will perform an examination that may include: a detailed history of the signs you are seeing at home and when you are seeing them, a close assessment of the lesions and mapping out the itchiest spots, as well as some diagnostic tests (often taking samples) for parasites, bacteria or yeast.
All of this will help guide the best treatment approach, and whether there are other secondary problems to treat — skin or ear infections, or external parasites (fleas). Certain patterns of itching can point to a particular diagnosis. Our dermatology professor at the Ontario Veterinary College, Dr. Yu, used to talk about “ears, feet and rears” being most consistent with food allergies 4 .
Allergy treatment is typically multi-modal, and may include:
- Oral or injectable medications to dampen the overactive immune system
- Topical medications: shampoos, wipes, mousse, sprays, anti-parasitic treatments
- Sometimes food. If indicated, your vet may recommend a prescription hypoallergenic food
- Allergy shots. Serum created by a board certified dermatologist, after an intra-dermal allergy test
There is no “one size fits all” or one perfect recipe for all allergy patients. Communication with your veterinary team is crucial. Management of allergies is an ongoing conversation to determine which combination of treatment options works best for your pet.
Ultimately, it’s also important to remember that should your pets’ symptoms not be adequately or satisfactorily controlled in general practice, referral to a dermatologist is always an option.
Does YOUR pet have itchy feet, ears or rear? Talk to your vet about how they can help!
1 Allergies in Dogs | VCA Animal Hospital (vcacanada.com)
2 Understanding dog skin allergies – ROYAL CANIN ®
3 Dog Allergies Signs and Treatment: How to Tell if Your Dog Has Allergies | PetMD