Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

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Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

By: Dr. Erika DePapp

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Section: Overview

Diagnosis

The specific diagnostic protocol may vary depending on what type of allergy or other skin disease is suspected. Every diagnostic test listed below may not need to be performed.

History and physical exam

Skin scraping

Skin cytology

Complete blood count and biochemical profile

Allergy blood tests

Intradermal allergy testing

Dietary trials

Treatment

The treatment prescribed by your veterinarian will vary with the type of allergy diagnosed. The following list includes the possible treatments that may be required.

Avoidance of offending allergens when possible

Anti-itch and/or antibacterial shampoos

Topical anti-inflammatory or antibacterial drugs

Antihistamines

Corticosteroid therapy

Immunotherapy (allergy vaccines)

Fatty acid supplementation

Dietary management

Antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial skin infections

Home Care

Home care is a crucial part of treatment for any dermatologic condition. Careful adherence to your veterinarian's recommendations regarding oral medications and bathing is very important. Some animals may require bathing several times per week. Additionally, medications are often required even after the clinical signs have resolved.

Preventative care

Although allergic dermatitis cannot be prevented, limiting exposure to allergens will help alleviate some of the clinical signs. Flea control in the environment is imperative for animals diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis. Treating the pet alone is not sufficient to control the problem.

Environmental reduction of any known allergens is advised. This may require keeping pets inside when pollen counts are high, avoiding long grass or freshly cut grass, and limiting dust and mold in the household. Eliminating exposure to certain foods is crucial to effective treatment of food allergy dermatitis.

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