itchy dog - Your Vet Wants You to Know

An adorable white long haired chihuahua gets a soapy bath in a grooming tub.

Strong Skin Happy Pets 3 – Preventing the Flare with Maintenance

In Episode 3 of the Strong Skin Happy Pets series, sponsored by Dechra, Dr. Brittany Lancellotti and Dr. Mollie Mesman focus on long-term skin barrier maintenance and why it is essential for managing allergies in dogs and cats. They explain why allergic skin disease is lifelong, how stopping treatment leads to flare-ups, and how proactive routines can reduce infections and medication use. Through real-life examples and practical strategies, this episode helps pet owners build sustainable care plans that support their pet’s skin and stop allergic itching year-round.

Episode title overlaying an image of a golden retriever dog in a medicated bath to repair the skin barrier

Strong Skin Happy Pets – Allergic dogs and cats and How to Repair the Skin Barrier

In allergic dogs and cats with itchy skin or recurrent infections, skin barrier repair may be a key part of treatment. Learn how bathing, topical therapy, nutrition, and long-term home care can help allergic pets stay more comfortable.

Strong Skin Happy Pets – Understanding Skin Barrier and Allergies in Dogs

In the first episode of the Strong Skin Happy Pets series, Dr. Brittany Lancellotti is joined by board-certified veterinary dermatologist Dr. Mollie Mesman to explore the foundation of healthy skin: the skin barrier. They break down what the skin barrier is, how it functions, and why it plays such a critical role in dogs and cats with allergies. Using real-life examples and practical explanations, this episode helps pet owners understand why chronic itch, infections, and flare-ups often keep coming back. The series is proudly sponsored by Dechra, a leader in veterinary dermatology solutions that support skin barrier health.

3 Big Mistakes Owners Make When Testing for Dog Food Allergies (and what to do instead)

Dog allergy myths busted: grains, cutting out chicken, and blood tests. Don’t make these mistakes with dog food allergies. Get expert, evidence-based answers.

Zenrelia

Zenrelia (ilunocitinib) is a new medication for treating allergies in dogs. In this episode, veterinary dermatologists Dr. Brittany Lancellotti and Dr. Tom Lewis discuss detailed analyses of clinical trials, patient stories, and comparisons with existing treatments like Apoquel. The conversation covers the drug’s mechanism, safety considerations, and the impact on vaccine efficacy. Real-world applications are reviewed, emphasizing the importance of multiple treatment options for allergies and working to find the underlying triggers. The episode also highlights advancements in managing skin and ear infections to prevent antibiotic resistance.

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.

Itchy Pet Awareness Month – Dog Allergies Information and Support

August is Itchy Pet Awareness month. Many pet owners are not aware of veterinary dermatologists who can help. There are about 300 board certified veterinary dermatologists in the American College of Veterinary Dermatology who have undergone extensive training and completed research after veterinary school in order to specialize in the study of skin and ear disease, as well as allergies, immunology, and internal medicine. Petra Lee, of the Dog Allergies Information and Support Group, joins us to talk about how she discovered a veterinary dermatologist for her dog, Olive, and how she is advocating partnership between owners of allergic dogs and veterinarians.

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.

Skin Infections Part 1

What’s that smell? Dogs and cats with allergies or hormonal diseases can often develop infections on their skin with bacteria and yeast. These infections can cause itching, redness, scabs, and discomfort. In this episode, veterinary dermatologist Dr. Alicia Webb-Milum joins follow dermatologist Dr. Brittany Lancellotti to talk about why skin infections occur and the types of bacteria and yeast most often involved with the infection. They will also discuss how topical therapy, such as medicated bathing, can be an excellent treatment, and what to discuss with your veterinarian if you are having difficulty with topical therapy.

Tag: itchy dog