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.