Diseases·30 March 2026·5 min read
Skin Allergies in the Indian Climate
Year-round itch, recurrent ear infections, paw licking - what is causing it and what actually works.
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The three main causes
- Flea allergy dermatitis — single bite triggers weeks of itch in sensitive dogs
- Environmental allergies (atopy) — pollens, dust mites, mould; year-round in Kolkata
- Food allergies — protein source most often (beef, chicken, dairy)
A proper workup
- Skin scrape (rule out mites)
- Cytology (yeast/bacterial overgrowth)
- Flea prevention trial (1 month strict)
- Diet trial (8-12 weeks novel protein)
- Allergy testing (intradermal or serum) for atopy
What works long-term
- Strict flea control year-round
- Hypoallergenic diet if food allergy
- Apoquel/Cytopoint for atopy
- Immunotherapy - drops/injections for confirmed environmental allergens
- Medicated bathing - weekly during flares
Prognosis
Mostly manageable, rarely cured. The right plan transforms quality of life.
Frequently asked
Only the secondary bacterial infection. Without addressing the allergy, infections recur.
Generally yes with monitoring. We discuss per pet.
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