Allergies & Dermatology

Just the same as for people, pet allergies can be caused by environmental factors like pollen, grass, trees, and mold, or by sensitivities to certain foods. Another common allergen for pets is flea saliva, which causes a specific condition called flea allergy dermatitis.

Allergies can present a wide array of issues or symptoms in pets. Most often, pet owners will notice increased scratching, particularly on the face, paws, underarms, and tail—but allergies can also present in different ways, like a chronic or reoccurring ear infection, or gastrointestinal issues. Feline asthma can also be triggered by allergies.

A pet allergy isn’t always easy to diagnose. Most all allergy symptoms can be linked to other conditions and diseases, some of which are even serious. We’ll start by asking about your pet’s diet and medical history, or if your pet tends to only get allergies at a certain time of year, or in a specific location. If your veterinarian suspects allergies are indeed the culprit for what ails your pet, often the easiest and most cost effective approach is to see how your pet does on an appropriate medication. If problems persist, we can explore further blood or skin tests, or food trials, to help determine which allergens are afflicting your pet and help guide their treatment plan.

There are a number of other conditions that could cause skin problems for pets including ringworm, fleas, hot spots, dry skin, infection, and more. Our veterinarians can diagnose and treat all kinds of skin ailments in your pet, as well as guide you on specific lifestyle changes for your pet, to prevent reoccurrence.