Skin allergies/problems can often be extremely frustrating for both owners and veterinarians. Although a skin workup can become expensive, once resolved, it is well worthwhile. Consult your vet as hair loss, lesions and itch behaviour can indicate possible skin problems. 90% of skin conditions are a result of parasite infestations. Skin scrapings or examinations can assist in diagnosing the skin condition and appropriate ecto-parasite treatments can be prescribed. 5-8% of skin conditions are due to food allergies. Ideally dogs should be fed a high quality veterinary diet. Table scraps/human foods, treats and poor quality dog foods could be the cause of your dog’s itching and scratching. 1-2% of skin conditions are referred to as atopy. This means an individual is allergic to allergens in the environment such as grass, pollen, surfaces, detergents etc. These are challenging to identify and often palliative treatment is the only option.
