Dog Allergy Treatments in Bloomfield Hills
Allergies don't only affect us, they're common for pets, too! Yet while we suffer from respiratory problems, pets are more likely to develop skin conditions. To relieve their discomfort, our dog allergy treatments come to the rescue. We aim to not only treat the symptoms, but address the cause of their allergies, too.
Do dogs have allergies?
Dogs definitely have allergies just like people can, and we actually see a lot of different variations of how allergies show up. The most common that people usually deal with are more environmental allergies. There's obviously food allergies as well, and we do see both of those types of allergies in dogs, very similar to how it is in people. Dogs can suffer from a few different types of allergies. The big one that we see a lot of is environmental allergies.
What types of allergies can dogs have?
Dogs can have environmental allergies, which include things that are inside or outside. On the outdoor aspect, things like grasses, pollen, and trees, as well as indoor things like molds and dust. We will also see allergies that can be related to different insects, especially fleas. Dogs can get flea allergy dermatitis, or that kind of allergic response to any type of bite, especially a flea bite.
We do also see food allergies or food hypersensitivity. That usually is linked with a specific protein that dogs aren't tolerating, and that can show up as more GI signs or can also show up as more of the traditional allergy signs we think of, like scratching or licking, things like that. And then dogs can also have a contact allergy, where they've had contact with something directly that has caused a bit of an allergic response on that area of the skin.
How are flea allergy dermatitis and contact allergies treated in dogs?
With flea allergy dermatitis, the most critical thing for those dogs is treating the underlying flea issue. We've got a lot of great, very effective products that we use, topical and oral, to clear the flea issue. Once you clear the flea issue and have that part managed, treating the secondary allergic response to that is usually pretty short-term. And generally, if you can prevent the fleas from coming back, you've kind of cured that type of allergy response. Sometimes that can be a little simpler for long-term treatment.
If your dog has a contact allergy, which we don't see as much of, that's much less frequent. Usually, it's just managing that initial allergic response with topical or sometimes oral medication, hopefully identifying what the response was to in terms of what did have contact that caused it, and then just doing our best to prevent that.
How do you know if your dog has allergies?
You would know that your dog has allergies usually by having your veterinarian evaluate them and really trying to piece together what symptoms we're seeing and what the cause is. This is where a really good physical exam is so important. If you're seeing symptoms at home such as licking the feet or licking different areas on their body, scratching, ear infections, skin infections, anal gland issues, or rubbing, scooting, any of those, any one of them or all of them can definitely be indications of allergies.
Sometimes even changes to the skin itself—if it looks red, if they're losing hair, if there's scabs or crusts that are present—all of those are different manifestations of what allergies can look like at home.
What happens during a veterinary exam for dog allergies?
As you come in to see your veterinarian, they're going to do a thorough physical exam, looking at the skin, and might talk about doing some additional testing. Getting a good otoscopic exam, looking into the ears, evaluating the skin, looking in between the toes—all of that is how we can start to kind of narrow down if we think this is an allergy cause. And if it is, then what kind of those headers of allergies do we think is the actual cause of that? We'll go into whether there's a seasonality component, what we're eating in our diets, and things like that. A lot of that comes from the history and the information from you as the owner as well as the physical exam of your dog.
How are dog allergies diagnosed?
From a diagnosis perspective, a lot of times it is getting really good history. It's about understanding when this is happening, how often it happens, and whether there are specific triggers. If we have a dog that has a big itchy flare-up in the spring but is great the rest of the year, we're probably diagnosing that this dog likely has a seasonal allergy that's related to what's going on outside. If there's chronic ear issues, again, we're looking at what we're seeing on the dog and on the patient and putting that together with the information and the frequency to really kind of put together, from a time frame perspective, what makes the most sense.
What testing can be done for dog allergies?
From a testing perspective, we can certainly do different types of cytology where we're looking at a slide under the microscope. We'll do that by looking at different debris from ears, looking at skin smears to look at what we are seeing. Are we seeing bacteria? Are we seeing yeast? Because that's really going to be evaluating the secondary infections that are coming from the allergies. If we're seeing those, that can help give us information as we try to narrow down the cause of the allergies.
The other thing we talk about is, for environmental things, the indoor and outdoor things, you can do a blood test that will actually look to see if a dog has a hypersensitivity to that. You can also do skin testing like they do in people. That's usually done by a board-certified dermatologist. We here at DePorre Veterinary Hospital typically do the blood test to start.
How do you test for food allergies in dogs?
If we're worried about a food component, there is not really good testing for that. There's a lot of testing on the market that says it will test your dog's food allergies. Most of those are not thought to be accurate at all, so we don't really recommend doing any of that testing.
If we're suspicious about a food hypersensitivity, we really focus on diet trials, and we would talk you through what that looks like. A lot of times it involves a protein source, a novel protein, a protein source that they've not had before, a single-protein diet, and doing it for long enough to be able to assess. There certainly are prescription foods that can help with that as well. That's typically how we approach it more if we think it's dietary.
And obviously, if we were worried, if we were seeing fleas or other signs of parasites, skin parasites, or things like that, that would involve further testing to help determine if that's really part of the underlying cause. Usually, flea allergy dermatitis is a little bit more obvious because there's a history of fleas or flea dirt or something that's pointing us in that direction.
How do you determine the source of a dog's allergies?
Determining the source is usually just putting all the pieces together. Sometimes I try to preface these appointments by saying that allergies and infections, whether it's ear or skin, definitely can be a frustrating thing for owners, and it definitely involves more than one visit.
A lot of times what we're looking for is the response to treatment and making sure we're getting things cleared up in between so that if you do have a new issue, whether it's scratching or biting their feet or their skin or another ear issue, we know that it's a new issue rather than just the same issue that hasn't cleared up, because putting all those pieces together in that time frame is really how we are able to get more of what we think the underlying cause is.
What are the treatment options for dog allergies?
There's a whole range of dog treatment options, really depending on the level of discomfort for the dog, the severity of the symptoms, and what secondary type infections we might be dealing with.
If a dog has an ear infection, you obviously have to treat the actual ear infection. That's not really addressing the underlying allergy itself that may have triggered the ear infection. There are a lot of different layers involved with that. If we're dealing with a secondary skin infection, that might need some oral medications. Again, we have to clear that up to help assess if the itching and the scratching is coming from the infection or the underlying allergy itself. We do have a lot of different topical medications we will use to try to topically treat the skin. We obviously use ear medications and different ear cleaners. And then we obviously have a lot of different options just to help get your dog more comfortable from the itching and the scratching.
Sometimes we will still use antihistamines, which can be over-the-counter. We'll sometimes recommend fish oil supplements. And then, going up from there, there are different levels of prescription medications that can be oral or an injection that can just help relieve your dog's itching and scratching so they're more comfortable and also allow the skin and some of those secondary things to heal.
How often do dog allergy treatments need to be given?
The frequency of how often you need to do something is really based on the symptoms and how frequently your dog is having problems. Like I mentioned earlier, we have dogs that maybe have one flare-up a year. Once a year, we might need to do something. And maybe we do something proactively once we kind of understand that pattern, that every spring this dog's going to have a flare-up.
We have other patients, especially if we're dealing with a combination of indoor and outdoor environmental allergies, and those dogs need some type of treatment all year round, and we're trying to manage that a little bit better. Whether that is doing immunotherapy, which is where you're actually giving injections, or a drop under the tongue that desensitizes your dog to what they're allergic to. That's how they treat a lot of people's allergies—or whether we're just managing the symptoms, again, it really goes back to the frequency and how uncomfortable your dog is during that.
If you're ready to schedule an exam or would like to learn more about our veterinary services, we'd love to hear from you. Call (248) 609-1625 or email [email protected]. We look forward to caring for your pet.
Dog Dermatology in Bloomfield Hills
What types of skin problems can dogs have?
Dogs can get a lot of different skin conditions. They can certainly have areas on the surface of the skin, hair loss, and hair coat changes. They can have areas of redness or infection, swelling on the skin itself. They can get a variety of different types of skin tags or growths on the skin. They can also get areas or growths underneath the skin that would all be part of that as well.
Dogs can have a variety of different symptoms or signs that show up that maybe indicate the skin is where we need to focus. You might see something on the skin where you notice a change to the hair coat, or you see that the skin looks red or irritated. You could see a growth, a skin tag, or a mass on the surface of the skin. You might visually see something. You might notice a change in how your dog's acting, especially if they're scratching, itching, or chewing. Those are all different manifestations of maybe something on the skin being part of the problem. And then sometimes you just notice that there's an odor or there's something that is just different. Even though you may not be able to pinpoint how it looks different, you can just tell based on how your dog's acting or a smell that there's something else going on with the skin.
What is mange in dogs?
Mange is kind of a broad term. There are actually two types of mange that we see in dogs. Demodex mange, which is a mite that naturally occurs in the skin, really mostly causes just hair loss in the skin. These dogs are typically not itchy unless there's a secondary skin infection. That type of mite is not considered to be contagious, but it is something that should be addressed. We usually worry about that more in puppies or older dogs, as some type of underlying immunocompromise is usually part of the concern.
The more concerning type of mange that people always worry about is sarcoptic mange. And that's the mange that we always think about. You might see the squirrel in the backyard that doesn't have any hair and is really itchy. That's what you worry about. Sarcoptic mange is something that is more contagious. It can also be contagious to people from your dog. So the big symptom you would see with that is really, really intense itching, especially on the back of the arms and the back of the legs. You might see hair loss because these dogs are so, so, so itchy. We can do additional testing, skin scrapings, which will help to diagnose that, and sometimes, even with sarcoptic mange, it may be hard to actually get a for-sure diagnosis. So there are even some different treatments that we would talk about if we were really worried that sarcoptic mange could be an issue.
What do bacterial, fungal, and ringworm skin infections look like in dogs?
Bacterial or fungal skin infections are common, especially if there's an underlying allergy. Sometimes, what'll happen is there'll be a bacterial overgrowth or a fungal, like a yeast overgrowth, that can cause those changes. So what you would see at home is typically going to be an area of maybe more redness. Typically, these dogs are going to be licking. They're going to definitely be uncomfortable, and it's going to definitely alert you that there's something there. When we see them in the hospital, we can do a skin cytology to look for yeast or bacteria, and sometimes we can even tell by the type of lesions we see. If we're seeing red, raised pustules or crusting, that can also help point us in a direction to kind of narrow that down.
You also have ringworm, which is obviously a fungus as well. We do not see ringworm a lot in dogs, which is good. We do see it more in puppies or kittens sometimes, especially if it's coming from an environment before coming into your home, where there was maybe some exposure. Ringworm in dogs does not necessarily look like the typical ring lesion that we see in people. It usually looks more like just some hair loss, maybe the skin's a little bit red. Most of the time they're fairly itchy. And we can do additional testing for ringworm to make sure that's not what it is.
There's a classic thing that happens every spring and summer where dogs will get these red-ringed lesions with almost like a little target lesion in the center, typically on their belly. And that's very classic with some of the different fly bites that will happen. So we always get a bunch of calls saying, "Oh my gosh, my dog has ringworm." It's not typically ringworm. Usually, we try to post pictures online as that season hits because it's really common, and people worry that their dog has ringworm. Like I said, ringworm is generally very, very rare, and luckily we don't see a lot of it.
What should I do if I find a lump on my dog?
If you notice a lump underneath your dog's skin or even on the surface of the skin, we always recommend getting it examined and checked out by your veterinarian. Based on what we feel, we typically will measure it. A lot of times, we'll do what's called a fine needle aspirate, which is basically a fine needle biopsy. What we do is just poke a little needle in it, and we look at the cells underneath the slide. That doesn't always give you a for-sure diagnosis, but it definitely points us in a direction of, is this something we need to be concerned about?
If we are concerned, we're going to be recommending surgical removal and a full biopsy. Or is this something that really looks to be more of a benign process, a lipoma, which is a benign fatty growth? Super common in dogs. A lot of times as dogs are getting lumps, we like to check and make sure that's what it is. But then at that point, we might just have you monitor it. It's always good to get it checked out first, especially if you notice a change.
Are allergies a common cause of dog skin problems?
Allergies are a very common reason for dogs to have any type of skin changes. We're actually going to be doing a separate video just to focus on that because it's a pretty involved conversation. Usually, when dogs have allergies, there is some type of cycle that goes with it. And usually, almost always with allergies, these dogs are itchy. You might have secondary skin changes, skin infections, redness, or even the skin could be kind of oozy or crusty. But usually, the itching is kind of what starts first. More common allergies are definitely a very common reason that a lot of dogs do manifest other skin issues and ear issues as well. A lot of times, that is also related to an underlying allergy, whether it be food or environmental. Both can cause flare-ups in the skin, ears, and other areas.
Diagnosing Dog Allergies
Many pets are allergic to the same things we are, but determining the exact allergen is tricky. We can perform:
- Skin cytology (skin cell analysis)
- Fungal culture (testing for presence of a fungus)
- Food allergy testing through an elimination diet
- Blood or serum testing
Unfortunately, allergies often leave your pet vulnerable to skin infections, due to self-induced skin damage. Commonly, these infections are caused by bacteria or a fungus, and treatment for these will accompany your pet's allergy management plan.
Signs Your Dog May Have an Allergy
Your dog or cat may have an allergy if they exhibit the following symptoms:
- Dry, flaky skin
- Red, irritated skin
- Hair loss
- Biting/chewing at paws
- Excessive scratching
Common Pet Allergies
Your pet could be allergic to any of the following:
- Pollens
- Trees and grasses
- Mold spores
- Dust or dust mites
- Certain materials (i.e. plastic, rubber, cotton)
- Cigarette smoke
- Perfumes
- Detergents
- Food ingredients
- And more
Dog Allergy Treatment Plans
Pet dermatology treatments, unfortunately, do not cure allergies, but they are often very effective at controlling them. They both ease your pet's pain and discomfort and can help minimize future allergic reactions. Common dog and cat allergy treatments include:
- Immunotherapy/Desensitization based on diagnostic testing
- Daily allergy medication
- Monthly Injectable immune therapy
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics (for infections)
- Medicated shampoos
- Topical creams
- Prescription diets
If you think your pet may be suffering from allergies, schedule an appointment with our veterinarians!
What should I do if I see a tick on my dog?
If you see a tick on your dog, the first thing to do is obviously you want to remove it. If it's not buried, and the head's not actually buried into the skin, removing it should be very easy. And if the tick never actually buried and implanted, then you have nothing to worry about. If the tick has been implanted, and you can kind of see the head's buried, you still do want to remove it. You do need to remove it properly, and there are some different tools you can use for that. Or you can always come into our hospital. We're happy to remove those for you.
Depending on if your dog's on a monthly tick preventative or any type of tick protection, we might talk about how worried we are about the tick. If your dog's not been on any type of tick preventative, and depending on when we think the tick attached, we might recommend actually having the tick tested to see if it's carrying any diseases. We hate to just be putting dogs on broad-spectrum antibiotics if we don't have any evidence of a tick-borne disease. But either way, you want the tick off. So if you're not comfortable removing it at home, let us know. We're happy to have you come in and can remove it pretty quickly.
Questions?
If you're looking for veterinary care you can trust, call us at (248) 609-1625 or email [email protected]. We're here to keep your pet healthy, happy, and thriving!