Dog skin allergies: symptoms and relief

Skin allergies (atopic dermatitis) are one of the most common chronic conditions in dogs. Affected dogs scratch, lick, and chew at themselves obsessively — often focused on the paws, belly, armpits, ears, and around the eyes — because their immune system overreacts to harmless substances.

The three main triggers

1. Environmental allergens (atopy) — pollen, house dust mites, mould spores. Symptoms are often seasonal but can become year-round as sensitisation increases. Breeds like West Highland Terriers, Golden Retrievers, and Labrador Retrievers are genetically predisposed.

2. Food allergies — the most common culprits are beef, chicken, dairy, wheat, and eggs. Unlike environmental allergies, food allergies tend to be non-seasonal and cause symptoms year-round. Important: food allergies rarely show up as a digestive problem alone — itchy skin is the primary sign.

3. Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) — an allergy to flea saliva, not the flea itself. One bite can trigger intense itching for days. Dogs with FAD may have very few visible fleas because they groom them off compulsively.

Signs of allergic skin disease

- Constant licking of paws (causes red-brown staining)
- Recurring ear infections
- Red, inflamed skin between toes, in armpits, or around the face
- Hair loss and thickened, darkened skin in chronic cases
- Rubbing the face along furniture or carpet

Management and treatment

- Flea control — year-round, vet-recommended product on all pets in the household
- Food trial — 8–12 weeks on a hydrolysed or novel protein diet (strict, no treats or table scraps) to rule out food allergy
- Medications — antihistamines have limited efficacy in dogs; vets more commonly prescribe Apoquel (oclacitinib), Cytopoint (lokivetmab injection), or short-course steroids
- Immunotherapy (allergy shots) — desensitisation injections based on specific allergen testing; the only treatment that addresses the underlying cause