When people think of allergies, their minds typically go to sneezing and itchy, watery eyes—not to skin inflammation and irritation. While some allergic cats and dogs can develop respiratory issues, skin problems are much more likely. Discover whether your pet has environmental, flea, food, contact, or drug allergies as our Kauai Veterinary Clinic team shares common allergy signs in pets.

1: Excessive scratching, licking, and chewing by pets

When allergy-induced inflammation breaches the protective skin barrier, intense itching results. Your pet may scratch, lick, or chew obsessively to alleviate the maddening itchiness or rub their body against any abrasive surface to find relief. 

Most commonly, pets who suffer from environmental, contact, or food allergies will lick and chew at their paws. If your pet is allergic to various pollens and cleaning chemicals, their paws or belly that directly contact the irritating allergen become inflamed. Pets with flea allergies will often chew excessively around their hind end, while dust mite allergies cause generalized itchiness.

2: Hair loss in pets

While your pet tries to find relief by chewing and scratching, they will damage their fur, resulting in coarse hair, thinning patches, or hair loss. A classic sign of flea allergies in pets is thin or absent hair along the back, around the tail base, on the abdomen, and down the hind legs. Fleas generally like to nest around the tail base, which the allergic pet will chew obsessively and potentially cause hair loss, sores, and infection.

3: Chronic skin and ear infections

Damaged skin is highly susceptible to yeast and bacterial infections, which often become chronic problems unless the underlying allergy is well-managed. While your pet’s skin typically grows a small amount of yeast and bacteria naturally, allergy-induced inflammation can trigger a surge in these pathogen populations and causing chronic skin infections.

The skin inside feline and canine ear canals is also at risk for allergy-induced inflammation and irritation. If your pet’s ears are hairy, floppy, or wrinkly, they are at an increased risk for chronic ear infections, because moisture will become trapped and provide the perfect breeding ground for yeast and bacteria. Pets with environmental allergies often develop chronic ear infections, but food allergies are generally the most common cause.

4: Hot spots

Acute moist dermatitis, or a hot spot, is an area of inflamed, infected skin. Hot spots are typically moist, may seep and ooze, and are often highly sensitive to the touch. They may develop scabs on top, but untreated pets generally continue traumatizing the skin, which prevents healing. 

Pets with allergies can create hot spots as they lick, chew, and scratch their itchy skin and, ultimately, a sore seemingly explodes overnight. Hot spots can rapidly become incredibly large and painful and require prompt veterinary attention.

5: Chronic respiratory or gastrointestinal issues

Although skin issues are by far the most common problems that plague allergic pets, chronic respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions can also occur. Like people, pets exposed to allergens can sneeze and experience watery, itchy eyes. Respiratory problems are most common with inhalant allergies (i.e., atopy) and often are seasonal, such as when pollen counts are high, or year-round in a pet with a dust mite or similar allergy.

If your pet always has soft stool, gas, itchy skin, recurring skin or ear infections, and vomits occasionally, they may have a food allergy or intolerance. Oftentimes, food allergies are caused by protein sources rather than grains. Chicken, lamb, beef, dairy, fish, eggs, and soy are among the top food allergens in pets.

If your four-legged friend displays any signs that indicate they may have allergies, schedule an appointment with our Kauai Veterinary Clinic team for an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment plan.