{"id":2210,"date":"2026-03-05T16:21:00","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T22:21:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.medicaldistrictvet.com\/blog\/?p=2210"},"modified":"2026-06-15T16:22:44","modified_gmt":"2026-06-15T21:22:44","slug":"pet-allergies-from-head-shakers-to-bottom-scooters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.medicaldistrictvet.com\/blog\/pet-allergies-from-head-shakers-to-bottom-scooters\/","title":{"rendered":"Pet Allergies: From Head Shakers to Bottom Scooters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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When your allergic pet gnaws on her haunch or licks his feet incessantly, the habit might annoy you just as much as it does the pet. Some furry friends go their entire lives without suffering from allergies. But those of us who have had pets with allergies know the problem can take a big toll on quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Stephanie Bruner is a veterinary dermatologist at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine. She sees patients at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital<\/a> and offers insights into what\u2019s going on with all that scratching and shaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Dermatology Services at Medical District Vet Clinic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Since November 2025, Dr. Clarissa Souza, a boarded dermatologist from the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital<\/a>, has offered appointments on a part-time basis at the Medical District Veterinary Clinic in Chicago. She diagnoses and treats allergies, skin infections, ear diseases, hair loss, nail and nail bed diseases, itching\/scratching\/biting, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please call 312-226-2588<\/a> to schedule a dermtology appointment for your pet.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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What Are Allergies?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAllergies occur when the patient\u2019s immune system experiences an over-the-top response to any of a wide variety of triggers,\u201d Dr. Bruner explains. \u201cOffending stimuli may range from fleas, foods, pollens, and mold spores to dust mites or even medications. The result is an adverse reaction somewhere in the body.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Currently, science does not have an answer for why allergies occur in one individual but not another. However, we do know that certain breeds are more susceptible to allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGenetics plays a role,\u201d Dr. Bruner says. \u201cVarious breeds of retrievers, spaniels, and terriers, to name a few, are at a higher risk of developing clinical signs associated with environmental allergens.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Other factors besides genetics include geography, seasonal fluctuations in pollen counts, the animal\u2019s indoor and outdoor habits, air quality, diet, and the health of the patient\u2019s skin barriers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis exceedingly lengthy list explains, at least in part, why no two allergy patients can be treated the same way,\u201d says Dr. Bruner. For this reason, veterinary dermatologists must take a tailored approach to treating each allergy patient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Allergy Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In humans, allergies tend to manifest as itchy eyes, sneezing, or runny noses. They can appear as rashes or even result in inflammation and difficulty breathing. In dogs and cats, however, allergies trend toward a different list of symptoms entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In dogs, symptoms include scratching, licking, and rubbing in areas such as the ears, face, feet, belly, and rear end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI refer to these as my \u2018Big Five\u2019 patients,\u201d Dr. Bruner explains. \u201cThese are the head shakers, face rubbers, foot lickers, belly scratchers, and bottom scooters.\u201d Other signs include ear or skin infections that just keep coming back, no matter how often you treat them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our feline friends are better at hiding symptoms, and therefore cat allergies tend to look more like excessive grooming. \u201cCat allergies can also become more obvious if itchy crusts develop on the skin or large areas of swelling arise, possibly resembling ulcers or growths,\u201d says Dr. Bruner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Identifying the Allergy Culprit<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When diagnosing an animal with allergies, veterinarians start by determining what is not<\/em> causing the reaction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFirst, allergies are diagnosed by ruling out other disorders that can mimic them, such as external parasites, fungal infections, or autoimmune disorders,\u201d Dr. Bruner explains. \u201cThen, the real work begins.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pets, like people, suffer from many different types of allergies, such as environmental allergies and food allergies. The first type of allergy to rule out is flea allergy dermatitis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFlea allergy dermatitis patients are not typically horribly infested with fleas, but a small number of fleas can cause big problems,\u201d says Dr. Bruner. \u201cRoutine flea prevention, prescribed by a veterinarian, can be a real game changer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If fleas aren\u2019t to blame, then doctors move on to environmental allergies. \u201cIn this case, the patient\u2019s medical history can help answer this question. For example, a dog that only scratches and experiences ear infections in the summer is less likely to be reactive to foods.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For those patients who do not have a seasonal aspect to their allergy symptoms, a diet trial is the next step. \u201cA highly restricted diet trial, using a prescription-grade food under the guidance of a veterinarian, may be the next diagnostic test performed,\u201d Dr. Bruner states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the diet trial, which lasts at least eight weeks, the pet cannot have any treats, table food, or dog food other than the special diet food prescribed. \u201cIf the patient does not improve by the end of the trial, environmental allergens are likely to be at fault.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finding Relief from Allergies<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For those pets with food allergies, treatment means staying away from the foods that have been found to cause the reaction. For those with environmental allergies, treatments can range from medicated shampoos, sprays, lotions, and wipes to oral medications or injections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr. Bruner adds, \u201cMost patients will achieve their best outcomes when a veterinarian or veterinary dermatologist works with the whole family and puts together a highly personalized care plan that includes several of these treatment modalities to attack the problem from multiple angles.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, no \u201ccure\u201d for pet allergies exists. Treatments are meant to ease symptoms so the patient can be more comfortable throughout the rest of their life. \u201cMy goal as a veterinary dermatologist is to develop a safe and effective care plan for every allergy sufferer. The plan should be sustainable\u2014both in terms of time and financial investment\u2014for their humans,\u201d Dr. Bruner explains. \u201cPerhaps the best thing that pet owners can do is be aware of the possible early signs of allergies\u2014remember the Big Five!\u2014and consult with a veterinarian before secondary ear and skin infections take the problem to the next level.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When your allergic pet gnaws on her haunch or licks his feet incessantly, the habit might annoy you just as much as it does the pet. Some furry friends go their entire lives without suffering from allergies. 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