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• Excessive licking of the paws, armpits, groin, perineal area & belly 

• Compulsive scratching 

• Regularly rubbing face & body against the ground, walls, furniture, etc. 

• Red skin, scabs, pimples, and scales

• Bad body odor (seborrheic odor)

• Hair loss

• Red, swollen, or painful ears

• Dark or tan discharge from ears

• Runny & red eyes

• Vomiting and/or intermittent soft stools

• Flatulence

• Frequent sneezing and/or wheezing 

Through a thorough exam & appropriate testing, Dr. Limpach will determine the underlying cause of your dog’s symptoms. Dog allergens fall into the following groups:

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• Environmental allergy - including many kinds of grasses, plants, dust mites and molds 

• Flea allergies - many dogs are highly allergic to flea bites 

• Food allergies/adverse food reactions - offending items can be anything your dog has eaten during his lifetime

• Inhalent allergy (Atopy) - allergens that are inhaled

* Environmental allergies are by far the most common. These cause severe irritation to the skin, causing your dog to scratch to the point that infections and injuries occur. 

Blood Testing & Intradermal Skin Testing. The following points hold true for both types of testing: 

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• It is best to perform these tests during the season(s) when the allergy is the worst 

Test should come after examination for other potential causes including:

• Fleas 

• Mites 

• Fungal or yeast infections 

• Chronic bacterial infections 

• Hypothyroidism 

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* Dr. Limpach might order a 12-week hypoallergenic diet to rule out a food allergy. Food allergies are difficult to detect using either blood or skin testing methods. Nutriscan, a saliva-based test will help determine adverse food reactions, but dietary exclusion is still considered the Gold Standard.

Anti-inflammatory Therapy

Treats dog allergies (atopy) with anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, Atopica or antihistamines that block the allergic reaction 

 Topical Therapy

The appropriate topical therapy can treat secondary bacterial and yeast infections, provide fast relief from excessive itching, remove antigens, dead hair, dying skin cells and rehydrate the skin. There are many products now available in the form of shampoos, mousse, sprays, & spot-ons. Dr. Limpach will prescribe the most appropriate products for your dog's condition.

Immune Modulators

These modify and reduce the dog’s immune response to reduce the amount of itching which occurs from exposure to the antigens - ask us about Cytopoint injections. 

Antipruritic Therapy (anti-itch)

These include antihistamines, corticosteroids and a new medication known as Apoquel which specifically targets the itch response by blocking the substances in the body which causes itch.

Food and Dietary Supplements

These include the use of prescription diets like Royal Canid Skin Support or VRS Protect or Transform. Strategic supplementation of nutraceuticals (fatty acids, herbs, vitamins) can go a long way to control seasonal allergies & heal the skin. These will all be discussed and considered at your consult with Dr. Limpach. 

 Hyposensitization Therapy

If the specific allergens are identified by testing, immunotherapy can be prescribed. This form of medicine is injectable or oral, & is usually lifelong. The oral form is called SLIT (Sublingual Immunotherapy), & requires twice-daily dosing. Injectable Immunotherapy is still available, but current research shows a better response to SLIT. Repeated dosing helps reprogram or desensitize the patient’s immune system. About 70% of treated dogs see a significant improvement. Some dogs respond so well that allergies are essentially eliminated. A small percentage of dogs respond so poorly that therapy is discontinued after a couple of years.