Allergies in Dogs and Cats

Allergens gain access to the skin of dogs and cats through a defective skin barrier. From there, these proteins (such as dust, pollen, molds, and mites) are presented to the immune system. The immune system of allergic pets is genetically programmed to over-react to these “normal” substances. Although we humans tend to get runny eyes and  noses, dogs and cats manifest their allergies with itchy skin! They may bite, scratch, rub, roll, lick or any number of behaviors to try and relieve the itchiness! Over time, allergies progress and the changes in the skin become more severe, setting the dog or cat up to even more inflammation and often secondary infections.

Dogs with allergies are frequently affected by this ongoing cycle of inflammation, itchiness, and infection and what starts as a seasonal issue often turns into a year-round problem. Successful treatment involves a multimodal approach combining therapies to help restore the epidermal barrier, clear the infection and turn down the immune reaction. Finding the right treatment for each pet is truly an art, as every dog or cat’s manifestation of their allergies is different. We may decide to do allergy testing to figure out exactly what your dog or cat is allergic to and utilize immunotherapy to try and gradually build up a tolerance to the allergens. Frequently we will include topical therapy such as bathing or topical lipids, and possibly oral supplements to help restore the epidermis or reduce inflammation in the skin. 

Otitis in Dogs

Why do dogs get ear infections?

Dogs can develop itchy, inflamed ears for a number of reasons. Some dogs such as Basset Hounds are more prone to ear infections due to the conformation of their ears. Other dogs may be big swimmers and chronic moisture is a predisposing factor. However, by far the most common reason for recurrent ear infections is an underlying allergy to things such as food or the environment. We work to try and figure out the “why” of your dog’s ear infections, because without discovering the underlying cause, your dog will continue to get recurrent infections. We then set about trying to correct these causes and come up with a maintenance plan to help your dog have clean infection-free ears!

What is the ACVD?

The American College of Veterinary Dermatology (ACVD) is a group of individuals who are each a BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST®. These veterinarians have expertise and specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment of animals with benign and malignant disorders of the skin, hair, ears and nails. The ACVD is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-recognized veterinary specialty organization™ for certification of veterinary dermatology. The ACVD undergoes a comprehensive evaluation by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS), a committee of the AVMA, every 3 years to ensure the required standards are maintained for the ACVD certification process. 

A BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST® is a veterinarian with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of animal skin, ear, hair, nail, hoof and mouth disorders. Likewise, a BOARD CERTIFIED VETERINARY DERMATOLOGIST® has significant training and experience in the management of allergic skin disease. Currently there are about three hundred certified veterinary dermatologists worldwide who work in private specialty practices, academic positions and industry.