Meet Oakley, a 5-year-old mixed breed who came to us with long-standing itchiness and digestive issues. When we first saw Oakley, he was constantly scratching and had a very pink complexion — earning him the nickname “Olivia Pig” from his family. He had been treated with a variety of medications for seasonal allergies which gave him some relief, but didn’t control his symptoms enough.
There are two main types of allergies in dogs:
1. Food sensitivity, which is an allergy typically to the protein in the diet, tends to be year-round. Some of the most common protein allergies are to chicken and beef. In these cases, we can trial a hydrolyzed diet such as Hill’s Science Diet Z/D, Royal Canin HP, or Purina HA. These products break down the protein in the food small enough that the body is not able to react to it. This makes it easy to provide a balanced meal without stressing over which protein your pet can tolerate.
2. Seasonal/environmental allergies - just like humans, pets can have allergies to pollen, dander, and molds. These can appear seasonally but can turn into a year-round issue as they develop allergies to more things. We treat this with our prescription allergy medications like Apoquel or Numelvi, or an injection called Cytopoint. Both of these medications block the itch signals, allowing your pet some relief. Steroids, antihistamines and fatty acids supplements can also help provide relief. The key is finding the right combination that works best for your pet. Pets can also be allergy tested and started on a protocol to desensitize them to the specific allergens that affect them.
Since Oakley had both skin and intestinal issues and only partially responded to Apoquel, we were suspicious of a food allergy. We made sure there were no active skin infections and that he was on medications for external parasites. He was started on a trial of Hill's Science Diet z/d. He responded well. It turns out that he has BOTH food and environmental allergies. Congratulations, Oakley!
Oakley is now able to relax—and no longer drives everyone crazy with constant itching as long as he stays on his diet and takes his Apoquel. His skin and coat have returned to normal, and his digestive issues are well controlled, with only minor setbacks when he sneaks a treat he shouldn’t (usually the other dog’s food).