June 9, 2011
Dogs, cats and even horses, like people, are affected by the pollen season or suffer from allergies. Our animal patients may have food allergies, environmental allergies (to indoor and outdoor allergens), or insect/ flea allergies. Unlike most people with allergies that have hay-fever signs, our animal patients have itchy skin, hair loss or recurrent skin or ear infections with allergies. Only occasionally do we see pets with allergic symptoms of coughing, sneezing or runny eyes.
Meet Giovanni, a 6 year old male Cock-A-Poo from New Jersey
When CARES board certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Noel Radwanski first met Giovanni, he had a 3 year history of seasonal itching, paw licking and recurrent skin and ear infections. Giovanni’s itching initially responded to steroids and antihistamines in addition to antibiotics for his secondary skin and ear infections. However, at five years of age Giovanni’s allergies were becoming more severe. He also continued to scratch his body, lick his feet and scoot his rear end on the ground into the winter months. This was unusual since in the past years his allergies seemed to calm down after the pollen season was over.
At this time, Dr. Radwanski suggested allergy testing to determine what Giovanni was allergic to in the environment. The testing concluded that Giovanni was allergic to almost all types of grass pollens, and two tree pollens (pine and sycamore). Similar to people, we can formulate allergy vaccines for our canine and feline patients to help decrease their immune response to these types of allergens. However, Giovanni’s diagnosed pollen allergies did not explain why he continued to be uncomfortable and lick or scratch in the winter.
Therefore, based on his age and non-seasonal clinical signs, Dr. Radwanski was suspicious that Giovanni had a concurrent food allergy. Food allergy in canine and feline patients can either occur very early in life (less than 6 months of age) or as an adult (older than 5 years of age). Like environmental allergies, patients with food allergies may also have itching of the skin and recurrent skin and/or ear infections.
How Giovanni was treated
Giovanni’s parents were shown how to give his customized allergy vaccines at home. Giovanni was also started on a hypoallergenic diet trial and was found to be severely allergic to chicken and duck. Today, Giovanni’s itching, licking and recurrent skin infections have been well maintained with his allergy vaccine which are given every 21 days, daily antihistamines and a strict diet.
Update on Giovanni
Within the first six months of the allergy vaccines Giovanni’s allergies became much more manageable. His itching steadily improved with every pollen season. Today, Giovanni’s seasonal allergies are very well controlled with his allergy vaccine and daily antihistamines. His food allergies are well controlled on a diet free of chicken and other types of poultry. Giovanni is a very happy patient who swims frequently in his family’s pool and enjoys long walks on the bike trails, even during the pollen season.
The steps Giovanni’s parents took to get him care
Giovanni’s parents have done a wonderful job keeping up with his care. They understood that Giovanni’s immune system was better controlled with the use of allergy vaccines. They also understood that many allergic dogs may have more than one type of allergy, as in Giovanni’s case with both environmental allergies and food allergies. In order to fully control an allergic patient, we must control or avoid all the possible allergens causing the patients symptoms. Although it does take some time, patience and persistence, there is a lot that we can do for our animal patients to help improve their comfort and control their skin allergies with the aid of your local veterinarian and veterinary dermatologist.
Dermatology at CARES

Dr. Noel Radwanski of CARES
If you feel your pet needs a dermatology consultation at CARES, please tell your family veterinarian. They can provide you with a referral to see our board certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Noel Radwanski.