My dog has inflamed skin, ear infections, and sneezes. Is it allergies?

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The single most common reason a dog will get inflammation of it's ears is allergies. The inflammation then leads to infection which will create more inflammation, and the cycle continues. Parasites such as ear mites and fleas can lead to the reaction. A full otoscopic exam is needed to assess the health of the ear canals, and Mia's inflammation is severe enough she will likely need sedation to have a proper otoscopic exam and canal flushing. Testing for the types of organisms living in the canals that are causing or worsening the issue will be beneficial to cut the inflammation cycle as well as some anti-inflammatory medication prescribed by your Veterinarian. Additionally, if the underlying cause can be determined, lessening its effects or eliminating it altogether will mitigate the reaction and minimize future risk. For treatment success, follow-up appointments are crucial, generally done every 2 weeks or sooner if an issue is noted in the interim. I hope this helps and that Mia gets some relief soon!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing her allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. The cefpodoxime should help with the bacterial infection component and the prednisone should help with the itch component. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Even though mange cannot be ruled out, this pattern would be more consistent with allergies. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Baby. Her skin appears severely inflamed, if not infected. She will need to see her veterinarian as she will need anti-inflammatory medication and likely antibiotics. Allergies to her environment or diet could cause these signs or even a drug reaction could cause this appearance. In the meantime, you can bathe her with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner such as an oatmeal or fatty acid based formula to soothe the skin. I hope this information helps!

Allergies ( https://www.petcoach.co/dog/condition/canine-allergies ) are very frustrating to diagnose since they can have multiple causes (food, environmental, flea, etc). They can also be seasonal or can affect your dog(s) year round. The simplest cause to rule out is fleas. Even one flea in a sensitive dog can cause an allergic reaction. Your dogs appear to be well cared for and groomed, but confirm they are on a monthly oral or topical flea preventive year round. Treat the environment for fleas. To rule out certain environmental allergies, you will likely need to have your dog tested ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/allergy-testing-immunotherapy-in-dogs ). This can be done by your veterinarian or a veterinary dermatologist. A food elimination trial ( https://www.petcoach.co/article/food-trials-for-allergies-in-pets-what-to-expect/ ) may diagnose what foods to which your dog(s) may be sensitive or allergic. This will take some work and could take weeks to perform. You will need to discontinue feeding all treats and choose one diet with limited ingredients or a single novel protein source for the duration of the trial. Discuss hydrolyzed diets and antihistamine use with your veterinarian as well.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is possibly due to allergies. A secondary infection is likely and also needs to be addressed. It sounds like this possible infection may be significant though it is hard to tell without an examination. There are many things that can cause allergies though in most cases they can be broken down into 3 big categories: flea, food and environmental allergies. Allergies are usually worked up in a stepwise fashion starting with flea allergies as this is the easiest and cheapest to take care of. If not on a flea preventative, then it would be a good idea to get started on one. If already on one then it would be a good idea to change to something else (there are many new products out in the market). If not improved in 1-3 months then it is time to move on and check for food allergies by switching to a novel diet (new protein and new carbohydrate). If that does not seem to be the issue then you are left out having to check for environmental allergies which require blood and/or skin tests. Allergies can be very frustrating to deal with at first but so rewarding at the end when we are able to treat them effectively!

This is highly suspicious of allergies. I recommend reading the articles at the following links, which have great information for identifying allergies and how to get her some relief. https://www.petcoach.co/article/how-to-tell-if-your-pet-has-allergies https://mobile.petcoach.co/amp/article/4-great-strategies-for-relieving-your-dog-s-allergies I hope that helps and Belladonna gets better soon.