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What Are Skin Allergies?

Large dog wearing a cone around its neck while walking outside

By: Kendall

Posted on December 9, 2021

Has your pet been itching or licking excessively? If so, they might be suffering from skin allergies. This was a topic frequently suggested to us, so we wanted to cover it for our clients.

Symptoms of skin allergies include itching, licking, biting, and rubbing. More severe symptoms include hair loss and sores in targeted spots. Generally, attentive pet owners will notice if their pet has symptoms of allergies.

But what causes them? One cause is flea allergy dermatitis, which is caused by the saliva of fleas. The saliva releases antigens into a pet’s skin, making them itchy. This is similar to how we feel itchy after mosquito bites, although flea allergy dermatitis can be more widespread around a pet’s body than just a mosquito bite.

Food allergies can also cause skin allergies. However, allergies caused by food can manifest other symptoms, such as vomiting and chronic infections. In this case, the skin allergies may be just one of several symptoms. We will be posting again soon about pet food allergies, so if you’re interested in learning more, stay tuned.

Another cause that we see often is seasonal allergies. Like humans, pets can be affected by pollen from season changes. Seasonal allergies are most often seen in the spring, fall, and summer.

A typical plan of action would be to find the root cause, then work from there. Pets can be prescribed injectables, allergy treatments, prescription baths, or more. If you think your pet may be suffering from allergies, we can help. Give us a call at (717) 292-9669 to schedule an appointment.