If your dog has subjected you to nights filled with jangling collar tags as they lick, chew, and scratch their itchy skin, they may have allergies. Or, if your cat has groomed themselves bald on their hind end, they may be allergic to fleas. Allergies in pets are relatively common and can include hypersensitivities to a wide array of substances. 

What is an allergy?

Allergies are the body’s response to a harmful invader, although the substance is generally benign. For example, the immune system of a pet with a flea bite allergy will kick into overdrive when they are bitten by a flea. This hypersensitivity to common, everyday substances is known as an allergy. Repeated exposure to a potential allergen can eventually cause an allergy in a pet.

What types of allergies affect pets?

Allergies in pets are generally divided into three categories—fleas, food, and environmental allergies. Environmental allergies, which are the most common, are similar to the allergies that people experience each spring or ragweed season. In addition to pollen, pets can experience environmental allergies to mold, dust, dander, or other substances. Pets with flea bite allergies, which are also common, are allergic to the protein in flea saliva, so will flare up after only a few flea bites. 

True food allergies are rare, and food allergies to grains are rarer still. Pets are more likely to develop an allergy to a protein in their diet, and can develop food allergies to a specific food, despite eating that food for years. The most common proteins that cause food allergies in pets include:

  • Chicken
  • Lamb
  • Beef
  • Fish
  • Dairy
  • Soy

What are common allergy signs in pets?

Unlike people, pets exhibit allergies through skin reactions. Although they can have watery eyes and sneeze like people, pets are much more likely to display:

  • Reddened, inflamed skin
  • Oozing skin
  • Skin with an odor
  • Excessive paw licking
  • Head shaking
  • Scratching, chewing, or licking
  • Ear infections
  • Hair loss
  • Dandruff
  • Anal gland issues
  • Secondary skin infections

An allergy flare can develop seemingly overnight, with some pets showing mild chewing and scratching, and others exhibiting an intensely inflamed hot spot. 

How are allergies diagnosed in pets?

No one specific test can diagnose allergies in pets. Typically, your pet’s clinical signs and treatment response confirm an environmental or flea allergy diagnosis. Blood and intradermal (i.e., skin) tests can help determine the environmental cause of your pet’s allergy.

In the case of food allergies, a dietary trial can help determine if your pet is allergic to a certain protein. After your pet has been fed a hypoallergenic or novel protein diet on a six- to eight-week trial, a common allergen will be reintroduced to the diet. If your pet reacts, the diagnosis is confirmed.

How are allergies treated in pets?

Treating allergies in pets can be a frustrating challenge for the pets, owners, and veterinarians alike. As your pet ages, their allergies will change and, unfortunately, will likely become more severe. However, many therapies can effectively manage pet allergies, and our veterinary team can plan a multimodal treatment method that will keep your furry pal comfortable and itch-free. 

If your pet develops an allergy, whether a hypersensitivity to fleas, environmental triggers, or food, we may recommend any combination of the following treatment methods:

A golden retriever with a happy expression, sitting in a bath with shampoo foam on its head as part of its pet rehabilitation, panting slightly with its tongue out.

  • Corticosteroids — While corticosteroids tend to work well at halting your pet’s itching, they suppress the entire immune system, making them less than ideal for long-term use.
  • Anti-itch medications — Medications such as Apoquel and Cytopoint specifically target the itch response without additional immunosuppression. 
  • Immunotherapy — Essentially an “allergy vaccine,” immunotherapy injections can over time desensitize your pet to their allergenic triggers.
  • Parasite prevention — Whether or not your pet has a flea bite allergy, they need year-round quality parasite prevention. In general, pets will develop more than one allergy, so you must prevent itching whenever possible to help keep them comfortable.
  • Topical shampoos, wipes, and ointments — Many pets break out in an allergic flare when they contact their trigger, such as grass or pollen. Medicated products and antibiotic or antifungal ointments applied to their skin, as needed, will remove much of the itch-causing allergen, and reduce your pet’s reaction.
  • Skin supplements — Since allergies in pets largely affect their skin, bolstering the skin’s health with topical and oral supplements can help create a stronger, more effective skin barrier against allergy damage.
  • Prescription diets — Pets with food allergies often need a hydrolyzed prescription diet that consists of a food where the protein is broken down so small that the body does not recognize the allergen.

Over time, your pet’s treatment plan will likely change as their allergies shift and new therapies become available. Keep in mind that if one treatment no longer seems effective, another will likely work for your pet.

If your furry pal is looking less furry than usual because of their incessant licking, chewing, and scratching, they may have allergies. Schedule an appointment with our Memorial Villages Animal Hospital team to determine the cause of your pet’s itching, and to find them relief.