Allergies in dogs are a common finding in a wide variety of breeds. Allergic disease can appear at any time, but it is more prevalent in warmer months.
When seen, allergies can have a number of different symptoms depending on the type of allergy a dog has. Possible symptoms include itching and scratching, skin infections and other skin irritations, ear infections, diarrhea and vomiting, and changes in the coat, among many others. Because of the many different symptoms, it can be challenging to determine the root cause of these problems.
Testing to determine if your dog is allergic may include various tests on the skin and coat such as skin scrapes, examination of hair and skin cells under a microscope, or evaluating biopsies of skin samples. Often a diagnosis of allergies can be made in the office but if needed, more advanced testing can be sought from a specialist in veterinary dermatology.
Treatment for allergies can be frustrating, and often requires ongoing treatment for the life of the dog. Treatment options are wide and include dietary modification, oral medications, topical medications, non-traditional therapies such as chiropractic or acupuncture, dietary supplements, shampoos, or hyposensitization injections.
All of the diagnostic and therapeutic options will be reviewed with you prior to initiating a treatment plan for your dog. Optimal treatment is different for each dog and may even change based on the time of year. Despite these challenges, successful treatment for allergies in dog can be achieved through careful planning and creating a diagnostic and therapeutic plan to fit each patient.
If you have additional questions regarding allergies in your dog, please contact us through the Contact Us option on our web site or call our office at 608-834-8118.