@alex_thevet: If your dog is constantly licking, scratching, chewing their feet, or shaking their head, allergies are one of the most common reasons — and the workup is more methodical than most owners expect. The first thing to know is that there is no single blood test that diagnoses allergies in dogs. Diagnosis is a process of elimination. We start by ruling out the things that mimic allergies — fleas, mites, lice, and skin infections — with skin scrapes, cytology, and a strict flea control trial. Once those are ruled out, we look at what is left: food allergy, environmental allergy (atopic dermatitis), or both. To investigate food allergy, we run an elimination diet trial — a hydrolysed or novel protein diet fed exclusively for at least eight weeks. That means no treats, no table scraps, no flavoured medications, nothing else. If symptoms resolve and then return when the original food is reintroduced, food allergy is confirmed. If the diet trial does not help, we are usually dealing with atopic dermatitis — the canine equivalent of hayfever or eczema, where the immune system overreacts to environmental allergens like pollen, dust mites, or grasses. Treatment options have been transformed in the last decade. Cytopoint, a monoclonal antibody injection, blocks the specific signal that drives itch and lasts four to eight weeks per dose, with around 65 per cent of dogs responding well to the first injection and 93 per cent by the third. Apoquel is a daily tablet that works within hours but needs to be given consistently. Allergen-specific immunotherapy — actual desensitisation to identified allergens — is the only treatment that targets the underlying disease, and works best when started early. Alongside these, we use medicated shampoos, omega-3 supplements, and treat any secondary skin or ear infections that flare up. Allergies cannot be cured, but they can be managed brilliantly with the right plan. If your dog is itchy, do not just try over-the-counter products — get a proper workup. Save this for any dog owner whose dog never seems to stop scratching. #vetexplains #dogallergies #atopicdermatitis #doghealth #vetadvice

Alex the vet

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Monday 27 April 2026 13:43:47 GMT