dog allergy - Your Vet Wants You to Know

Anxiety and Allergies

Many pet owners may think their pet licks its paws because of anxiety. While anxiety may play a role in how itchy an allergic pet feels, when dogs lick their paws to the point of causing damage to the skin, anxiety it not the only problem. Dr. Lindsey McAuliffe, veterinary dermatologist, set out to study the role of anxiety in dogs with allergies. She found a fascinating change in many behaviors, including aggression, fear, touch sensitivity and trainability. If your allergic dog struggles with behavior problems, this is a fascinating conversation looking at what the research tells us.

Ear Cleaning

Ear cleaning can be incredibly important for dogs with ear infections and allergies. Pet owners may struggle with ear cleaning if the dog is fearful or painful. In this episode, Dr. Amy Pike, veterinary behavior specialist, discusses cooperative care techniques for low stress ear cleanings for your dog with ear infections. This episode is a great resource if your dog has ever had an ear infection and you are looking for a method that decreases pain and anxiety for everyone involved.

female veterinarian looking into a dog ear canal

Aural Hematomas

An aural hematoma is a painful swelling of a pet’s ear from buildup of fluid when the ear flap is damaged. It is not uncommon for ear infections to cause a pet to shake its head back and forth, leading to a swollen ear flap, also known as an aural hematoma. Golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, and dogs with allergies are at a higher risk for developing one or even multiple aural hematomas. Since these can be treated with several different methods, Dr. Brittany Lancellotti, veterinary dermatologist, discusses the risks and benefits to treatment options based on recent studies.

Cytology

“My pet smells like yeast!” Many diseases can cause an animal to “smell like yeast.” In this episode, Dr. Ashley Bourgeois, veterinary dermatologist and host of The Derm Vet podcast, joins Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to explain how cytology can help us figure out if the stink is really from yeast, or if there are other infections or diseases causing skin problems in your dog or cat. If your pet has ever had a skin or ear problem, allergies, or itching, this episode will help you understand why cytology is so helpful to your veterinarian.

Ear Infections Part 2

Itchy, smelly ears can be incredibly uncomfortable for dogs and cats with ear infections. Diego had such horrible ear infections, he was living in constant pain. This episode’s guest, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Meagan Painter, joins Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to discuss common tests, such as ear exams, cytology, and culture and what these tests tell your veterinarian. They describe common treatments, such as oral and topical medications, and how these treatments allowed Diego to live his best life, no longer in pain.

Ear Infections Part 1

If you have ever woken up in the middle of the night to your pet shaking its head and scratching its ears, you know how uncomfortable a pet can be when they have an ear infection. Ear infections have many causes. The key to treating the infection and stopping it from returning is understanding the primary, secondary, perpetuating and predisposing causes of ear infections. Join dermatologists Dr. Meagan Painter and Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to help you understand why your dog or cat is getting ear infections and how to stop them in their tracks so you can keep your animal happy and healthy.

Allergy mythbusters

Common myths about dog and cat allergies can lead well-intentioned pet owners astray when it comes to getting relief for their itchy pet. In this episode, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Nellie Choi joins Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to dispel some common misconceptions they hear regarding allergic skin and ear disease in pets including:
Why antihistamines are not very helpful
Why ear infections don’t just happen in floppy ear dogs
Why fleas are still important to prevent even if your pet is indoor only and you’ve never seen a flea
Why there isn’t such a thing as hypoallergenic dog breeds
Why allergy immunotherapy should be an early treatment option and not a last resort
Plus, don’t miss rapid-fire mythbusters at the end of the episode regarding blood tests for food allergies, grain free diets, and coconut oil!

Tag: dog allergy