Is my dog scratching and clearing his throat due to new allergies?

Hi and thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Sorry to hear about Jack. Allergies can be very frustrating but with the right diagnosis and treatment, can be effectively managed. You have described what could very well be seasonal allergies called Atopy in dogs since you talk about a seasonal pattern. We are in a peak time for late summer allergies in humans and dogs who are allergic to weed pollens which are high at this time of year. Of course other inhaled allergies could be present and cross reactivity exists between some allergens. Each year or allergy season can be worse than the last if the pet becomes allergic to more things. Dogs can also be allergic to flea bites called Flea Allergy Dermatitis (FAD) and a smaller group of allergic dogs can have food allergies. What you are describing sounds like an inflammation/infection of the skin due to self trauma caused by Jack licking, scratching, chewing, etc those areas. Once the skin barrier is broken the surface bacteria can multiply and gain access to the deeper skin areas causing problems like you discuss. I would advise taking Jack to your vet and let them take a thorough history, do a complete physical, and then advise some diagnostics and/or treatment to address what is going on. Some skin diagnostics include skin scrape, Wood's lamp exam, fungal culture, etc. These would be performed to rule out a problem with mites or fungal organisms. Treatment for allergies includes antibiotics, antihistamines, sometimes steroids for itching, immune modulating drugs (Apoquel), using a good flea/tick product advised by your vet, fish oil, topical treatments, etc. If you wanted to pursue allergy testing, your vet can advise you on that. There are skin tests and blood tests for that and sometimes that involves going to a veterinary dermatologist for some of those services. The goal would be to identify the allergies and then start a hyposensitization program to decrease the body's immune response to the allergy, very similar to allergy shots. They even make allergy drops or sprays that are oral now. Good luck with Jack. I hope he gets a lot more comfortable very soon.

Allergies and throat/sinus irritation could definitely be a reason for coughing/throat clearing and scratching at the ears. You may also see red eyes or clear discharge from the nose or eyes as additional signs. However if the symptoms continue for more than a few days or don't improve it is also a good idea to have Simon looked at by your vet. Foreign objects stuck in the nose or sinuses, illness, respiratory disease and even growths may also cause similar symptoms so it's good to have them checked out.

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 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!

Dogs do get allergies, however they tend to express them more as dermatology issues than respiratory issues. If your dog continues to have these issues I would consider seeing your local veterinarian. It could be a change in environment (altitude, etc) that is affecting you pet, or it could be something more serious.

Yes, seasonal allergies are definitely a possibility. I would recommend you try an anti-itch shampoo/ cream rinse like this: ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1439-relief-shampoo.aspx ) ( https://www.allivet.com/p-1443-relief-creme-rinse.aspx ) You could also try an oral anti-histamine but you should really speak to your vet before giving any oral medications. ( https://www.petcoach.co/pet-medication/cetirizine/ ) Best wishes.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This looks like local irritation/inflammation. Given that you have recently moved to a new place, it is possible that this is due to allergies and unless addressed, this will continue to happen. In the meantime, you can bathe him with a medicated shampoo you may obtain from your local pet store containing chlorehexidine which may help improve a superficial mild infection. You can do this twice weekly. It really comes down to figuring out what is causing his allergies so that they can be treated or the specific allergen avoided. 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!

I am sorry to hear about Churro, what a cutie he is! If this is a recent change I would wonder if he could have an allergy to something in the environment since your move, or if the new location could have an external parasite such as fleas that he has now been affected by. I would recommend an exam by his vet to check for possible causes, particularly since he is having some lethargy as well. The vet can recommend medication to help with itching if necessary to help Churro be more comfortable!