With allergic skin and ear problems being one of the most common issues we see pets for, our team would love to impart our top tips for home management of allergy symptoms. Additionally, we’ll give some guidance on when it’s recommended for a pet to see our allergy-aware vets for more assistance.

Home management tips

If your pet has allergies, it’s important to follow a consistent home-care routine to help maintain their skin and ear health and reduce the potential for flare-ups.

Here are some general recommendations for helping to keep sensitive-skinned pets comfortable at home:

• Remove any irritating plants from your garden that are likely to trigger your pet – a visual guide for common allergen plants can be found on page two of this brochure
• If your pet seems to be suffering from an acute irritation flare-up after being outside, try rinsing them off in a cool bath to help remove any allergen particles from their skin – just remember to keep their ears dry, and dry their fur thoroughly afterwards to prevent moist skin problems
• Ask our veterinary team for recommendations on safe fish oil and antihistamine dosages for your pet, as these can help to maintain skin quality and reduce mild skin inflammation
• Consult our veterinary team about whether it’s recommended for your pet to be washed with a prescription shampoo regularly to help keep secondary yeast or bacterial overgrowths at bay
• After washing your pet in a suitable pet shampoo, it helps then to apply a good-quality pet conditioner to their skin, ideally one containing soothing and moisturising ingredients such as ceramides or oatmeal
• Consult our team about prescription pet foods that can help support your pet’s skin and gut health
• If your pet suffers from contact allergies (e.g. itchiness on the belly from contact with certain grasses), a well-fitted bodysuit can help protect their sensitive skin from irritation on outings
• Ensure your pet is kept up-to-date year-round with effective flea, tick and mite prevention, so there is no parasitic reason for them to suffer from a flare-up – ask our team for personalised product recommendations for your pet if you’re unsure

When veterinary help is recommended

With four main types of allergies (environmental, food, contact and flea) and some unlucky pets suffering from more than one type at once, we’d recommend that any pet suspected to have allergies see our veterinary team for further clarification of their particular issue. This allows us to recommend personalised short- and long-term care routines to help curb and control your pet’s problem.

Additionally, it is recommended that your pet see our vets if they are suffering a significant flare-up episode of their allergy symptoms. We would recommend a prompt recheck with our team if:

• Your pet is scratching so much that they are developing raw, scabby or balding skin patches
• Your pet’s ears or skin smell “yeasty”
• Your pet’s ear openings look red, dirty or oozy
• Your pet looks pretty irritated, and is regularly gnawing or licking at their skin/paws, scratching at their ears, or shaking their head

With regular home management and experienced veterinary care, your pet’s skin will go from scabby to smooth-as-silk in no time!