Does your dog have an ongoing ear problem? Lick their paws and belly? Scratch their armpits? Are their ears or skin red, smelly or missing hair?

These are often signs of allergies. I am always surprised how many itchy dogs I see and talk to owners that have never been informed that allergies might be causing the problem. It has been reported that up to 90% of ear infections in adult dogs are due to allergies! The top three things that dogs can be allergic to are (i), the environment, which vets refer to as atopy. These are the same airborne allergens that make us sniffle and sneeze such as pollens, grasses, trees, dander and even fabrics; (ii) food allergies/sensitivities of which the common triggers can include beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, corn, wheat, rice and fish; and, (iii) flea allergies where your dog is allergic to the saliva of the fleas. When visiting your vet it will be difficult to tell right off the bat exactly what your dog is allergic to. They pretty much all look the same so your vet will want to take a thorough history to find out how long the irritation or reaction has been going on, which seasons are worse, what type of diet your dog is eating, and type of flea products used. Just to make things more complicated, dogs can have multiple allergies! Usually after doing some initial tests and possibly looking at some samples from the skin or ears under the microscope, your vet will likely send you home with medication to relieve the itchiness, medication to clear up the infection (often antibiotics) and make sure your pet is on appropriate flea prevention, especially here on the west coast. Depending on how long it has been going on, they may even start your dog on a diet trial. A diet trial includes strategically picking a diet with ingredients that your dog has never been exposed to for a period of time to rule out specific food allergies. If after the food trial and clearing up the ear and skin infections, your dog is still very itchy your vet might recommend allergy testing to identify the environmental allergens. This can be done by intradermal skin testing or through blood tests. Unfortunately, as with human medicine, there isn't yet a cure for allergies. However, they certainly can be managed and bought under control with a methodical approach, patience and good communication between the owner and veterinarian.

For more information of allergies in dogs, below are a couple of great resources:

Veterinary Partner - Dermatitis

Veterinary Partner - Food Allergies

Veterinary Partner - Itching and allergies in dogs