Your local vet, a few minutes from Drummoyne

Five Dock Veterinary Hospital is about a 5 to 10 minute drive from Drummoyne via Lyons Road, and we look after lots of dogs and cats from all around the Drummoyne peninsula, from the streets near Birkenhead Point to the homes along the Bay Run. Remember that dogs need to stay on a lead on the Bay Run itself.

With so much parkland and waterfront on the doorstep, Drummoyne pets spend a lot of time outdoors. For some of them, that also means dealing with itchy skin.

Why is my dog itchier in spring?

Just like people with hay fever, many dogs and cats are allergic to things in their environment, such as grass and tree pollens, dust mites and moulds. In pets, this allergy usually shows up in the skin rather than as sneezing. Vets call this atopic dermatitis, and it often starts between 6 months and 3 years of age. Many dogs are worse in spring and summer, although some are itchy all year round. Common signs include:

• Licking or chewing their paws
• Scratching their face, armpits or tummy
• Red skin, especially on the belly and between the toes
• Recurring ear infections
• Rubbing their face along the carpet or grass

Could my pet be allergic to fleas?

Yes, and it is one of the most common skin allergies we see. For a pet with flea allergy, a single flea bite can cause days of intense itching, often around the lower back and base of the tail. You may never actually see a flea on them, because itchy pets tend to groom them off. Keeping every pet in your household on regular flea prevention all year round is the best way to prevent it, including cats who don't go outside.

Can food allergies cause itchy skin in dogs?

Food allergies are less common than environmental and flea allergies, but they do happen. The only reliable way to diagnose a food allergy is a strict elimination diet trial for about 8 weeks, using a special diet recommended by your vet. Blood and hair tests sold online for food allergies are not reliable, so please talk to us before changing your pet's diet.

How are allergies in pets treated?

Allergies can't usually be cured, but they can be very well managed. Our vets will first check for and treat any skin or ear infections, which are common in allergic pets and make the itch worse. From there, we make a long term plan for your pet, which may include flea prevention, medicated shampoos, the latest itch relief tablets or injections, immunologics, and topical steroid regimes to prevent flare ups. The goal is fewer itchy days and fewer visits to the vet.