Spring Into Allergy Season

I haven’t even changed the clocks yet, and my dog is itchy! That is seasonal allergy, AKA atopic dermatitis. What is that? Well, it’s when your furry friend has an allergy to something that is in the air and is inhaled, such as pollen, molds, fungus, grass, or weeds. This usually starts around March and for some pets it goes up to October or till the weather really cools off.

What are the signs of atopic dermatitis in:

Dogs: Licking or chewing at the feet and rubbing the face are the two most classic signs in dogs, but as the allergy progresses, they will start to scratch or lick all over.

Cats: These guys always like to do things differently. They will often suffer from an intense itch, resulting in excessive licking or scratching, and it can be over the face, ears, or armpits.

In both dogs and cats, the constant scratching or licking can result hair loss and infection only making the situation worse.

Can you just give him a shot, doc? Well, yes, I can, actually, but not the one your parent’s dog got.

About 10 years ago, the primary option we had for allergies was steroids, and although we still use them, it is on a more short-term basis, as there are better, safer options.

Cytopoint (CADI). This is the “shot.” This one is for dogs only, unfortunately. It is given every 4-8 weeks, depending on the response, is very safe, and does not require blood work monitoring; for this reason, it is my primary to go.

Apoquel—the allergy pill. This is a daily medication that works for most dogs, especially where cytopoint was not effective. It is recommended to check blood work once per year, and this drug does have some side effects, so it should be monitored by your vet. The good news is that the side effects are much less than steroids. This drug is not FDA-approved for cats; however, it has been used for many years now with similar success as dogs.

There are many other prescription allergy medicines, such as Atopica and Zenrelia, and of course, we still use steroids. The decision to use one over the other will depend on the severity of the allergy, the chronicity of the problem, and whether or not there is an infection present.

What about Benadryl? Well, yes, we have used over-the-counter medicines such as Benadryl, Zyrtec, and Chlraphenarmine for years. They may be helpful for some pets, but asking your veterinarian for proper dosing will be important for safety and effective dosage.

What else can I do?

Rinsing your pet or wiping their feet after being outside can help “clean away” pollen.

For cats, a waterless shampoo wipe-down can be helpful.

For shampoos, use an oatmeal shampoo, this will help prevent skin irritation.

Use quality flea medication; nothing will make scratching worse than adding a few fleas to the problem.

Fish oil supplements. This can help keep the skin barrier intact and help keep it healthy.

Pearls of wisdom. Lots of other problems look like atopic dermatitis: ringworm, food allergy, thyroid disease, Cushing’s disease, and mange… to name a few. So make sure your veterinarian is diagnosing atopic dermatitis in your pet before trying any at-home remedies!