Allergies are common in pets. They can be triggered by numerous factors and typically manifest as inflamed, itchy skin. Identifying the underlying cause is imperative to manage the condition appropriately and alleviate your pet’s signs. Our Heartland Veterinary Hospital team treats many pets with allergies, and we present three fictional cases involving allergies in dogs and cats to demonstrate pets’ most common allergy causes. 

Pet allergy case study 1: Flea allergy dermatitis

Meet Speedy, a rambunctious 2-year-old Springer spaniel. Speedy presented with excessive itchiness and hair loss on his lower back. After talking with Speedy’s owners, we learned that he enjoyed spending time outdoors, and he and his owner often went hiking in rural areas. Speedy was not currently receiving a flea and tick preventive, but his owner stated that he had found no fleas or other parasites on Speedy. On examination, our team found tiny black specks in Speedy’s fur. These specks were flea dirt (i.e., flea excrement). We prescribed a year-round flea preventive, and after two weeks, Speedy’s signs resolved.

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is the most common allergy affecting pets and is triggered by a protein in flea saliva. The condition leads to excessive itchiness, and pets’ constant grooming can result in the removal of the offending fleas. Therefore, pet owners often find no parasites on their pets. FAD treatment involves strict adherence to year-round flea prevention for the sensitive pet and every pet in the household. All fleas must also be removed from the pet’s environment.

Pet allergy case study 2: Food allergy

Paige is a 5-year-old Persian cat who had itchiness, skin lesions, and hair loss around her face and neck. Her owner administered a veterinary-approved flea and tick preventive every month, and a thorough exam revealed no evidence of fleas or other parasites. Paige’s owner reported that her whiskered pal often had diarrhea and occasionally vomited and that these episodes had increased in frequency over the last few weeks. Her owner also reported that a previous veterinarian had treated Paige with a course of steroids that seemed to have no effect. We recommended putting Paige on a hydrolyzed diet, thinking she may have a food allergy. Her signs significantly improved after six weeks on the diet and were mostly resolved after 12 weeks. 

Pets affected by food allergies are typically triggered by proteins such as beef, chicken, and dairy. While food allergies usually manifest as skin itchiness and lesions, about 30% of pets who are allergic to a food also have gastrointestinal (GI) signs such as vomiting, diarrhea, and excessive gas. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is by putting a pet on a food elimination trial, which involves feeding a novel protein diet or a hydrolyzed diet in which the protein is broken down to such a small particle that the body doesn’t recognize it. During the trial diet, the pet must only eat that food for 8 to 12 weeks. If the diet is successful, ingredients from their previous diet are reintroduced one at a time to determine the triggering component.

Pet allergy case study 3: Atopy

Grady is a 2-year-old golden retriever who presented with extremely itchy paws, face, and hind end. He also had a history of recurrent skin and ear infections. Grady’s owner provided him with a year-round, veterinary-approved flea preventive, and we found no evidence of parasites during Grady’s exam. After several diagnostic tests, including blood work, skin culture, and a trial course of steroids, we suspected Grady had atopy. We performed allergy testing to determine the environmental triggers causing Grady’s signs and started him on a multimodal treatment plan that included regular bathing to remove allergens from his skin, anti-itch medications, omega-3 fatty acids, and allergy shots. 

Atopy develops if a pet is hypersensitive to environmental allergens such as pollen, mold, and dust. Other allergy types must be ruled out before an atopy diagnosis can be made. Affected pets commonly have chronic or recurrent ear, skin, and anal gland infections, and depending on the triggering allergen, their signs may be seasonal. Allergy testing can be performed on atopic pets to determine the causative allergen, but these tests are not useful for diagnosing a pet’s food allergy. Atopy can’t be cured, but with the proper management strategy, signs can be managed effectively. 

If your pet is itchy or has recurrent skin and ear infections, contact our Heartland Veterinary Hospital team so we can determine if allergies are a contributing factor and initiate a treatment plan to alleviate your furry pal’s discomfort.