Allergies by Dr. Sherri Zuccaro
With the recent change in seasons, you may be noticing increased licking, scratching, or head-shaking in your pet. If so, they may be feeling itchy from allergies. Allergies in dogs and cats come in 3 major forms: flea allergy, environmental allergy, and food allergy. It is not always a one-size fits all; some pets may have overlap between these types. Flea allergy is very common in Florida; allergy patients can be more sensitive to flea bites even if flea allergy is not their primary allergy, due to a defect in the skin barrier. Environmental allergies are also very prevalent in Florida; you may notice a seasonal worsening in your pet’s itch levels depending on the time of year. Food allergy is not as common but can happen over the years even on the same diet, as it takes repeated exposure to specific proteins to cause an allergy.
Besides constant itch, allergies can also cause skin and ear infections. Skin infections may include red bumps on the skin, crusting, redness, or even tissue swelling. Ear infections can cause repeated shaking of the head, pawing at the ears, pain, odor, or discharge from the ear. If you are seeing any of these clinical signs, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian. Typically, treatment of skin infections includes topical antimicrobial shampoo and oral antibiotics. Ear infections are usually worked up with an ear cytology, which looks at ear swab samples under a microscope to quantify the number of bacteria and yeast present. Ear infections are typically treated with medicated ear flushes and antimicrobial ear drops.
There are various options of allergy-relief therapies available, depending on the species. Antihistamines (like Benadryl) work best before the itch season starts, otherwise they may not be enough to control a flare-up. Steroids can be helpful for acute relief of itch and inflammation but are not suitable for long-term management of allergies. The mainstay of allergy medications includes Cytopoint (monoclonal antibody), Apoquel (JAK inhibitor), and Atopica (immunomodulant). Talk with your veterinarian about which option may be best for you and your furry friend.