Allergies in pets – as in people – are not curable and can be seasonal or year-round.

“We see animals with allergies all the time at our Community Veterinary Clinics, and it can be quite frustrating for the clients and the pets,” says Dr. Lori Bierbrier, ASPCA Senior Director of Community Medicine, Eastern region. “Our goal is to make pets more comfortable by managing the symptoms caused by allergies. The most common being itchy skin, feet and ears.”

At the recently opened ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinic in Queens, Alberto G. brought his 9-year-old bulldog, Delicious, in for an appointment. Delicious suffers from chronic allergies.

“It’s a struggle keeping the effect of allergies at bay,” says Dr. Bierbrier, who once had a dog with allergies. “While we don't treat chronic conditions as a rule, we can treat the occasional flare-up of skin disease and have a lot of helpful information that we share with clients. We can’t cure them, but we can help manage them.”

Alberto acquired Delicious when she was 3 years old from a friend who could no longer care for her.

“We love the breed,” says Alberto, whose previous bulldog died a year ago. “And we knew what we were getting into.”

Still, seeing Delicious struggle with symptoms like dry eyes and constant ear infections takes a toll.

During their recent visit, staff veterinarian Dr. Eloise Cucui examined Delicious, noting that her heart and lungs sounded “perfect.” Her ears and eyes, however, were another story, requiring acute care.

For a yeast infection in her ears, a short-term steroid was prescribed to reduce inflammation. Chris Fagan, a senior veterinary assistant, also demonstrated how to clean her ears with a medicated solution. Delicious was prescribed daily drops to keep her eyes moist because they don’t produce enough tears.

Allergic skin disease in animals is divided into two broad categories: atopic dermatitis and food allergy.

Atopic dermatitis is itchy skin, usually hereditary, and commonly caused by an allergic reaction after inhaling a substance. Pollens are the most common allergen associated with seasonal itchiness while non-seasonal itchiness may be caused by dust mites, mold spores and dander.

“Signs of atopic dermatitis can include scratching, chewing, rubbing and licking,” Dr. Bierbrier says. “In dogs, the face, ears, muzzle, neck, limbs and stomach are commonly affected; in cats, it’s the head and neck. Cats can also develop specific types of lesions that look like raised patches of reddened skin with hair loss and ulcers that usually appear on the edge of the upper lip.”

Some breeds of dogs, such as English bulldogs (like Delicious), Shar-peis, Retrievers, Terriers, Dalmatians and Maltese, suffer more frequently from atopic dermatitis. Veterinary dermatologists can perform allergy testing and prescribe desensitization treatment, all of which can be quite costly and out of reach for many pet owners. Even with additional diagnostics and advance treatment options, long-term management with antihistamines, steroids, anti-inflammatory medications and treatment of secondary infections is often required.

“Most pets with food allergies are allergic to proteins, like chicken, beef, dairy and eggs, as well as fish for cats,” says Dr. Bierbrier. “Common signs are ear and skin infections and gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting and diarrhea. Pets can develop a food allergy to something they’ve been eating for years.”

Blood tests to test for food allergies are unreliable; instead, dietary elimination trials are the preferred method to determine food allergies. This means feeding a veterinarian-recommended diet containing only a few ingredients such as one protein and one carbohydrate plus necessary fats, vitamins and minerals, with the protein source being one that the pet has never had before. Another alternative is a veterinarian-prescribed hydrolyzed diet which breaks down protein into pieces too small to trigger an immune response.

“Pets must stay on a recommended diet for at least 6 weeks,” says Dr. Bierbrier. “Subtle improvements, such as slightly less itching, can indicate if a dietary elimination trial is working.” During this time no other treats or food can be given, which can prove to be very difficult to adhere to day to day.”

For Delicious, Dr. Cucui discussed a potential 6- to 12-week food trial with Alberto and shared helpful information and resources about diet and lifestyle management. She also recommended ongoing care with a primary veterinarian.

“We want to get her ears and eyes comfortable and on a path to healing,” she says.

The ASPCA Community Veterinary Clinics provide these tips:

• Regular bathing: Many pets are allergic to pollen and grass. If they go outdoors, wipe their feet when they return inside.
• Flea control: Use flea and tick prevention year-round.
• Supplements: Oral supplements that contain Omega 3 Fatty Acid can improve skin health.
• Diet: Vets often recommend a hypoallergenic diet — which means no other pet food, treats or table scraps.
• Environment: Keep your home free of dust and other allergens and use fragrance-free cleaning products and for cats, dust- and fragrant-free litter.
• Medication: Use all prescription medications exactly as directed. Over-the-counter medications like antihistamines can help, but don’t begin them without first checking with a veterinarian.