What to do for dog allergies with severe itching and skin problems?

Question

My nine year old Schnauzer has severe itching. The vet says it is allergies. The dog seems to have thinning of fur and you can see round, black marks on skin. Also, the skin that is very thin looks red. He has had shots and oral meds for itching but nothing seems to help. What do I do? Please help.

Elva Ma DVM · Accepted Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. Allergies are challenging problems, and most cases are never cured, but only managed long term. Have you ruled out whether his allergies are related to food, or environment, or both? To rule out food allergies, your dog will need to be on a veterinary hypoallergenic diet for at least 8 weeks with no other treats. If he improves on the diet, then we know he has a food allergy. However, a lot of dogs also have concurrent environmental allergies. There are tests that can be done to test for allergies to pollen, trees, molds, dust mites, etc. I would always start by doing a hypoallergenic diet trial. During this time, he may need to continue on some type of anti-inflammatory medication for the itching (and many allergy dogs need to stay on medication life-long). There are newer allergy drugs on the market now that are safer than steroids - I would ask your vet about these options. Oftentimes allergies are accompanied by secondary bacterial or fungal infections. He will need to be on additional medications to treat any secondary infections if present. I would also ask your vet about weekly bathing with antiseptic shampoos that can help to wash off any surface allergens and provide some relief as well. Allergies often require multiple medications and treatments, and may take months to regulate. Don't give up hope. Following up with your vet regularly will help ensure your dog's skin doesn't flare up again!

What to do for dog allergies with severe itching and skin problems?

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