Category: Skin problems

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A Comparison of Zenrelia, Apoquel & Numelvi For Allergic Dogs

itchy dog pill

The treatment of allergic skin disease in dogs has undergone a seismic shift over the past ten years. The use and abuse of harmful steroids such as prednisolone has given way to newer, safer and more effective alternatives.

Now more than ever, dogs that suffer from repeated ear infections, chronic foot licking, itchy skin and yeast infections have the chance to live normal lives. Nowhere is this more relevant than in our temperate Adelaide climate.

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Is A Raw Diet Good For Puppies?

dog raw diet

Australian raw feeders are still coming to terms with the horse meat scandal that killed and maimed so many Victorian dogs. Given the potential risk of buying pet meats, it begs the question: is it worth it?

In my vet practice we support raw feeding, but that doesn’t mean we don’t also have a watchful eye. I’ll cover the risks first. By knowing them and their solutions, you can do it more safely.

Afterwards, I’ll feature some of the first evidence to show a benefit for raw puppy foods.

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How To Stop Dogs Scratching In 8 Steps

why dog scratching

If you have an itchy dog, it gets very frustrating very quickly. Nothing seems to help for long, and everyone tells you something different. Is it the food, is it grass, is it mites?

This is an opinion piece, not a regular clinic article. I have been seeing itchy dogs for nearly 30 years and have yet to see one who cannot be helped. Here I’m going to boil down all the conflicting advice into my simple step by step approach.

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Should My Itchy Dog Get Prednisolone?

dog prednisolone tablets

If you have an itchy dog, then you know how hard it can be. What would you say then if you were told that one of the most effective treatments is sometimes not offered to you? Or that other times it should never have been used.

Prednisolone is a problematic drug, and I understand why vets avoid it, but sometimes it’s just what’s needed. Amber, who’s pictured above is a perfect example.

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How To Treat Chicken Scaly Leg Mite

chicken foot mite

A normal chicken’s leg is a thing of wonder: shiny, evenly spaced scales completely cover the leg and top of the foot, giving you the unmistakable reminder that chooks are really little pet dinosaurs.

You know a normal leg when you see one, but it’s harder to notice when it’s not. Scaly leg in chickens often goes unrecognised in flocks until it either gets bad, or you end up at the vet for another reason.

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Epitheliotropic Lymphoma In Dogs

dog cutaneous lymphoma

Lymphoma in dogs is unfortunately quite a common cancer. It happens when the white blood cells called lymphocytes start growing and multiplying uncontrollably. They then spread to the lymph nodes, blood or internal organs.

A rare form that targets the skin is epitheliotropic lymphoma (EL), also called mycosis fungoides or cutaneous lymphoma. It has a very different appearance and outlook.

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Cytopoint: The New Dog Allergy Medicine

cytopoint apoquel atopica

Just read this message. Can it be that we are finally able to help these poor dogs?

“I have a Westie with atopic dermatitis. Have just started on Cytopoint – 2nd injection last week. First one lasted 6 weeks. Have been vilified on a number of FB groups as have other Westie members. Last week was told “well if you want your dog to go blind it is up to you.”

After 5 years my boy has found relief. Tried Atopica and Apoquel. Lots of steroids and antibiotics. Diet. Raw. Grain free. Hypoallergenic. Elimination. Malaseb. Baking soda. Iodine. Tee Tree oil. Oatmeal shampoo and conditioner. Sox. Bootees. Sandals. Onesies. Everything except the cone of shame.”

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5 Myths About Food Allergy In Dogs

dog wheat field

If you have an itchy dog, it doesn’t take long before someone tells you it’s due to the food. Usually that someone also offers an alternative.

It’s not a case of people trying to pull a fast one; they just believe in what they use. Who doesn’t? If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

The trouble is, though, most owners of dogs with skin problems aren’t getting the advice they need. Or they’re getting it far too late.

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Pet Food Allergy Testing | Elimination Diets

food allergy dog

Elsewhere on this site we’ve published the evidence for which foods dogs and cats are allergic to. Now we’ll show you how to figure it out for your own pet. This even works for a mouse!

Diagnosis of Food Allergies

The bad news is that there is no simple test. Popular blood test kits are not reliable enough.

The good news is that you can do it at home. It’s called an elimination diet. You have two choices:

  1. Buy one off-the-shelf
  2. Make it yourself (this is preferred if possible, see below)
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Should My Itchy Dog Get Apoquel?

itchy dog pill

Update: From 2026 there are three JAK inhibitors to choose from. Read a comparison of Numelvi, Zenrelia and Apoquel here.

I have never seen a drug either so hyped or so demonised as Apoquel®.  If you have a dog that lives with itchy skin and allergies you’ve probably already heard of it. You might have heard of miraculous cures of long-suffering dogs. You might instead have heard of a drug too dangerous to trust.

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Skin Allergies In Dogs | Atopy

collie in grass

Every Springtime my little Loki starts to show the signs of his allergies. From then until after Christmas I have to work hard to keep him comfortable.

He’s not alone; every day we see dogs like Loki. We call this condition atopic dermatitis or atopy.

Allergies look so different in dogs that most of the time their owners aren’t aware what the problem is.

Signs Of Atopic Dermatitis

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Common Problems Of Dogs, Cats, Rabbits & Chickens

Follow the links for information on:

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Bathing Dogs: How Often To Bath, How To Do It

dog sponge bath

“I thought you can’t bath a dog more than once a month”. We hear this almost every day when we tell someone how the right bathing strategy can help their dog’s skin (read how to bath dogs later). This has to be the most common and widely held myth of all and it deprives dogs of a great way to soothe their itchy skin. However, there is an element of truth to it.

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Myth 21: Tea Tree Oil is good for my dog’s skin

toyah the boxer

This is Toyah’s gift to all dogs with itchy skin. She had mild dermatitis for a while and her owners quite rightly thought a bath would help. They found a nice-looking soothing shampoo with tea tree oil and gave her a good clean. Instead of getting better, her dermatitis got dramatically worse, and three days later when she came to us her skin was looking angry and sore.

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