Question:
I'm sure you're all tired of the allergy/itchy dog threads, must be the time
of year. do vets have a way of figuring out what the dog is allergic to,
the same way you can figure it out for people? whether it's food, seasonal,
or something else? just curious as there are a few different possible
causes to my dog's continuous scratching, biting and paw-licking which i'm
finally realizing is probably allergies.
Answer:
Vets usually just treat the symptoms. A veterinary dermatologist would look
for the cause. It's not cheap. To determine what allergens are causing the problem. The tests are
conducted in much the same way as for people. Also, the treatment is much
the same, i.e. allergy injections (not cortisone, although sometimes both
are recommended). You should contact your vet and get a referral to a
dermotology specialist if you really want to find out what the cause is.
Know of course that being an area of specialty it won't be cheap.
