The most common question I get from my clients is “My pet has been itching and scratching, can you fix it?”.

Or sometimes people have already been treating a number of things from previous recommendations, and the pet still itches, so I get the question

“I’ve tried everything, and nothing seems to work. Can you fix it?”.

Unfortunately, this is a bad starting point, because as much as I’d like to be able to “fix it”, the reality is that we can just usually “manage it”. Often, though, with a little tweaking, we can get the itch much better and the pet much more comfortable. It takes perseverance from both you and me.

Here’s a brief summary of the types of allergies we see in our pets
1/ By far the most common allergy is to airborne allergenic particles such as pollens and other plant material. These usually cause spring/summer itches that tend to quieten down in winter.

2/ The next most common would be to fleas, which is usually set off by the bite of even a single flea. Again, this also tends to occur much more in summer, but can be a problem all year round as these hardy buggers tend to breed throughout the year.

3/ When allergy symptoms occur more frequently throughout the year, we tend to think of chronic problems such as fleas or dust mites, but also food allergy. Food allergy is a commonly misunderstood problem. Food allergy usually develops when a pet has been on a particular food for a while and becomes sensitive to its protein source.

Determining whether a food allergy exists involves a “food elimination trial” – this means feeding a single protein source with a carbohydrate (e.g., shark and potato) for 4-8 weeks. Then, if the itch has resolved, we re-challenge with a single protein source previously fed to see if the itch recurs, usually within days.

Investigation usually involves a step-by-step process. The very first thing to do is examine the skin and determine if there are any secondary infections, such as bacteria or fungi. These are very common and can, in fact, cause more itch than the allergy itself. If treated properly, they can often reduce the itch significantly or completely.

At the same time, we can start to determine the type of allergy we are dealing with and manage it accordingly. If we suspect a food allergy, we always need to rule it out before embarking on further investigation and treatment. This can be frustrating for owners, but it can also be very rewarding, because if it is a food allergy, we can potentially cure it by feeding the right foods, and no other management may be required.

Once food allergy is ruled out and infections are controlled, we assess how itchy the pet is now and then embark on a longer-term management plan. This will involve combinations of anti-histamine trials, special shampoos and conditioners, soothing creams and sprays, dietary supplements such as omega 3/6 fatty acids eg. fish oils, and, as a last resort, steroids.

I don’t like using steroids if at all possible due to their longer-term side effects, with the patient often requiring bigger and longer doses if they are used too frequently. They can, however, sometimes be used for short-term relief. There are also some more potent immunosuppressive medications that we can reach for if all else fails. Lastly but not least, flea control is extremely important as flea burdens can greatly exacerbate skin allergies.

So that was a “brief” summary of the ins and outs of skin allergies. As you can see, the process can take some time, so you’ll need some patience. There are many conditions we can cure or prevent, but unfortunately, skin allergies aren’t the kind of problem we can give a pill for and fix. I wish it were, as we’d have a lot happier pets and clients!

As a mobile vet, I get great satisfaction from coming around and assessing the situation, hopefully with a positive outcome. With a little perseverance, we can certainly make our pets much more comfortable.

Don’t be afraid to give Vetaround Sydney Mobile Vet Service a call if you want to discuss this further and see whether there are any steps we can take to make your pet more comfortable.

• Most itchy pets are dealing with allergies rather than a single, simple issue
  Other causes, like parasites or infections, also need to be considered.
• Diagnosis is a step-by-step process
  Identifying infections, ruling out food allergy and assessing environmental triggers all play a role.
• Skin allergies are usually managed, not cured
  Long-term control focuses on reducing symptoms and improving comfort.
• Consistency and patience are essential
  Effective management often involves trialling different approaches over time.