Itchy Dogs and Pollen Allergies

Itchy Dogs

As we approach spring, we normally see an increase in the number of dogs suffering from itchy skin. If your dog has itchy skin, it may have a pollen allergy. The areas most commonly affected include the paws, belly, ears and armpits, although any part of the body can be itchy with pollen allergies.

We normally expect pollen allergies to start between 18 months and 5 years of age, with certain breeds such as Staffies, West Highland White Terriers, Bull Dogs, Boxers and Retreiver breeds being amongst the most commonly affected.

Many people find their dog also becomes quite smelly when they are itchy. This is normally due to a secondary infection with bacteria or yeast, and this can contribute quite a lot to the itchiness.

To treat dogs with itchy skin, we firstly need to confirm the diagnosis. The itchiness being seasonal, especially in Spring gives us a a pretty good idea that the dog may have a pollen allergy. We also check the dog for other causes of itchiness such as fleas, mites and other allergies.

Once we are reasonably sure we are treating a pollen allergy, we look towards long term control of the condition as well as improving the skin in the short term.

Much of our long-term treatment is based around trying to eliminate or at least reduce the need for ongoing steroids. I do this by recommending the following:

·         Fatty acid supplements such as Nutricoat: helps restore the normal oils in the coat (I use this product for my own dog who has a pollen allergy and I haven’t needed any steroids for him for over two years)

·         Good flea control: to minimise another major cause of inflammation within the skin

·         Antihistamines: these can be a bit hit and miss so often we need to trial several different antihistamines before we find one that works

·         Regular bathing with a low-irritant shampoo: I normally recommend an oatmeal based shampoo but care needs to be taken as occasionally dogs will react to the oatmeal. I recommend weekly washes, allowing the dog to be wet for around 10 minutes

·         In some cases, specific tests and hyposensitisation injections may prove useful

For dogs experiencing a flare-up or severe problems, my approach is more aggressive initially, but I will normally try to transition them on to the long-term options above once controlled. Short-term treatments commonly used include:

·         Antibiotics and antifungals: to treat any secondary infections

·         Steroid: orally or injection until skin settles, occasionally longer term

·         Topical lotions and treatments: to help moisturise and soothe the skin

·         E-collars: if significant self-trauma

The key to successful outcome with itchy dogs is early diagnosis and treatment. If we can control the condition before secondary infections occur we can minimise the need for steroids and other aggressive drugs, and keep the dog comfortable in the long term.