My dog is itching from seasonal skin allergies. What can I do at home?

Related Answers from Veterinarians

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  Answered By Angel Alvarado, LVT

  Licensed Veterinary Technician

  Published on November 9th, 2016

  Do not give any medications to Sadie without the advice of your veterinarian. Discuss antihistamine use with him/her. Some antihistamines work better than others in different dogs, so you will need to find the one that works best. A pet approved colloidal oatmeal bath may soothe itchy skin. Consider adding an essential fatty acid supplement (usually a fish oil) to her diet to promote healthy skin. Search www.pet360.com for fish oil supplements such as DermCaps or EicosaCaps..

  

  1Pet Parents found this answer helpful

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  Answered By Andrea M. Brodie, DVM

  Veterinarian

  Published on August 27th, 2018

  As you apparently have already pretty much tried a lot, it may be time for your veterinarian to refer you to a veterinary dermatology specialist. Your vet will need to send your dog's medical history to the dermatologist, who then will review the history, give your dog a proper exam, and may order more diagnostics. Once the cause for the allergy or skin condition is found, treatment will be directed towards eliminating the cause. You can find a veterinary dermatologist here: https://www.acvd.org/pages/category.asp?ids=17_Pet_Owners

  

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  Answered By Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA

  Veterinarian, Certified Dog Trainer

  Published on July 29th, 2017

  Poor Winnie! It does sound like her face and paws are quite itchy. The most common causes of itching in these areas are food allergies, and environmental allergies. If she has food allergies, it's possible that switching her to a prescription hypoallergenic diet like Hills z/d or Purina HA may help, or even an over-the-counter limited ingredient diet if you prefer. For environmental allergies, prescription medication such as prednisone, Atopica, or Apoquel is typically needed to provide any significant relief. Allergy testing along with hyposensitization injections may also be an option for her, so you could speak to your veterinarian about this if interested. In terms of home remedies, there isn't much else that's likely to help - wiping her down with a wet washcloth each time she comes in from being outside can sometimes help, but it sounds like you're already doing this. So I would say the next step would be a vet visit to discuss options for diagnostics and/or prescription treatment options.

  

  2Pet Parents found this answer helpful