Itchy skin, and the order the causes get ruled out
An itchy dog has one of about five problems, and they look identical from the outside. The work is a sequence, and skipping a step is why so many itchy dogs cycle through steroids for years without an answer.
8weeks for a diet trial to mean anything
What happens
Rule out parasites first
Fleas and mites are the cheapest cause to exclude and the most commonly missed. A skin scrape and a strict month of treatment for every animal in the house comes before any allergy talk.
Treat the infection sitting on top
Bacteria and yeast colonise damaged skin and cause much of the itch themselves. Cytology names which one, and the skin has to be clear before anything else can be judged.
The elimination diet trial
Eight weeks on a single novel protein or a hydrolysed diet, with nothing else at all. One dropped biscuit restarts the clock, which is why we plan it with the whole household present.
Environmental allergy testing
Once food is excluded, serum or intradermal testing identifies what the dog reacts to. The result matters because it sets the immunotherapy formulation.
Long-term control
Immunotherapy, modern targeted medication, medicated washing and omega supplementation, in whatever combination the individual dog needs. Allergy is managed rather than cured.
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The itch workup, in order, with what each step costs
Working through this in sequence is slower than trying medications and faster than the years of trying medications. This is the order and the honest cost of each stage.
| Step | How long | Approximate cost | What it rules out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skin scrape and flea treatment | 4 weeks | $180 | Mites and fleas |
| Cytology and treat the infection | 3 to 4 weeks | $260 | Bacterial and yeast overgrowth |
| Elimination diet trial | 8 weeks | $340 in food | Food allergy |
| Reintroduction challenge | 2 weeks | Nothing | Confirms the food finding |
| Serum or intradermal testing | 1 visit, 2 weeks for results | $620 | Names the environmental triggers |
| Immunotherapy | Ongoing, 12 months to judge | $95 a month | Treats what the testing found |
About a third of itchy dogs stop at step one or two. It is worth knowing that before you commit to the whole sequence.
Where you can get this
3 of our six hospitals, because the equipment and the people it needs live in those buildings.
What it costs
From $180first workup consult
Includes the skin scrape and the cytology on the day.
All consult feesQuestions we get asked
Can we skip to the allergy test?
A test run on a dog with fleas or a skin infection reports allergens that are beside the point. The order exists because the earlier steps change what the test means.
Are steroids bad?
They are excellent at breaking a severe itch cycle and poor as a long-term plan. We use them to get comfort quickly while the workup runs.
My dog is only itchy in spring.
That is a strong pointer to a seasonal environmental allergy, and it usually means we can move past the diet trial faster.
Is a home allergy test kit any use?
Hair and saliva tests have no evidence behind them and return results for foods the animal has never eaten. Bring the result in if you have one, and we will start the proper sequence.
How long before we see improvement?
Parasite and infection treatment shows in two to three weeks. A diet trial shows in six to eight. Immunotherapy takes six to twelve months to judge properly.
Book skin and allergy
Available at Subiaco, Midland, Rockingham.