If your pet suffers from recurrent allergic skin and ear issues, you’ll know that it usually requires consistent management to help keep those pesky irritations at bay.

Here are some of our team’s top tips for home management of allergy symptoms in pets, and when it’s best to see our allergy-aware vets for more help.

Home management tips:

• Remove any irritating plants from your garden that are likely to trigger your pet – a visual guide for common allergen plants can be found on page two of this brochure
• If your pet seems to be suffering from an acute irritation flare-up after being outside, try rinsing them off in a cool bath to help remove any allergen particles from their skin – remember to keep their ears dry, and dry their fur thoroughly afterwards to prevent moist skin problems
• Ask our veterinary team for recommendations on safe fish oil and antihistamine dosages for your pet, as these can help to maintain skin quality and reduce mild skin inflammation
• Consult our veterinary team about whether it’s recommended for your pet to be washed with a prescription shampoo on a regular basis to help keep secondary yeast or bacterial over-growths at bay
• After washing your pet in a suitable pet shampoo, it helps to then apply a good-quality pet conditioner to their skin, ideally one containing soothing and moisturising ingredients such as ceramides or oatmeal

When veterinary help is recommended:

We would recommend a prompt consultation with our vets if:

• Your pet is scratching so much that they are developing raw, scabby or balding skin patches
• Your pet’s ears or skin smell “yeasty”
• Your pet’s ear openings look red, dirty or oozy
• Your pet seems very irritated, and is regularly gnawing or licking at their skin/paws, scratching at their ears, or shaking their head

With regular home management and experienced veterinary care, your pet will soon love the skin they’re in!