Itching, licking, ear infections: a simple owner guide to allergy workups

You will probably have noticed something is off before you quite put a name to it. An itchy dog that scratches the same spots every day. A cat working at the fur around their neck until the skin looks raw. Paws being licked at length after every walk. Or perhaps a recurring ear infection that clears up and then comes back, and you are beginning to wonder whether something more is going on.

This guide is for you. Not an exhaustive list of every condition your pet could have, but a clear, honest explanation of what these signs usually mean. When an allergy workup is the right next step, and what that process actually involves when you come to see us at Rock House Vets.

Three signs your dog or cat may have a skin allergy problem

The patterns that bring owners to us for an allergy workup tend to follow a familiar path. It is worth understanding what each of them is telling you, because they are rarely random.

Persistent itching and scratching

Some scratching is normal. But when a dog is scratching the same area day after day, rubbing their face on the floor or furniture, or you are noticing hair loss and reddened skin appearing in the same places week after week, that repetition matters. Itchy skin in dogs caused by allergies does not tend to resolve on its own. The skin becomes irritated, your pet scratches, the scratching breaks the surface, and secondary infections take hold. Those infections then cause more irritation, and the cycle continues until someone interrupts it.

Paw licking after walks or in the evening

Paw licking is one of the most commonly dismissed signs, and one of the most telling ones. A dog who licks their paws repeatedly is usually responding to itchy skin rather than grooming. You may notice the fur between the toes has taken on a reddish-brown tinge from saliva, or that the paws look sore. Environmental allergens such as grass pollen, dust mites, and moulds make contact with the skin through the paws, which is why the feet are often among the first places symptoms appear. Many owners tell us the licking is worse in the evenings or after outdoor time, and that timing is useful clinical information.

Ear infections that keep coming back

Repeated ear infections are one of the most important signals that an underlying skin allergy may be present, and they are also one of the most frequently misread ones. An individual ear infection feels like a medical problem to manage. A third ear infection in twelve months is a pattern that almost always points to an underlying cause. Allergic dogs and cats are particularly prone to yeast and bacterial ear infections because the allergy alters the environment inside the ear canal, making it easier for infections to establish. Treating each episode in isolation without identifying what is driving it means the infections are likely to keep returning.

Itchy skin does not always mean the same thing

One of the things that makes dog skin allergies genuinely difficult to navigate without veterinary involvement is that several different causes produce almost identical symptoms. Flea allergy dermatitis, food allergies, environmental allergies (atopy), and contact reactions can all result in itching, redness and hair loss. This is not something you can reliably distinguish at home, and it is not something we would expect you to.

What it does mean is that treating the symptom without identifying the cause tends to give temporary results at best. Anti-itch medication will often reduce the scratching in the short term, but if the underlying trigger is still present, the signs will return once the medication ends. A proper allergy workup is about finding the root cause so that the right treatment can actually hold.

My dog has been checked for fleas, and it is not that. What next?

This is one of the most common starting points for owners who come to see us at an allergy workup is with itchy dogs. Flea allergy dermatitis is the first thing most vets and owners consider, and rightly so. But when flea treatment has been properly applied and maintained, and the scratching continues, it is reasonable to look further.

The next most likely causes are environmental allergy (atopy), food allergy, or a secondary skin infection that has developed from the scratching itself. These require a step-by-step process to work through rather than a single test.

At Rock House Vets, we approach this systematically: ruling out active infections first, then working through the possible triggers in an order that makes clinical sense for your pet.

It is also worth knowing that mange, ringworm, and yeast infections can all look very similar to allergic skin disease. A skin scrape, which takes only a few minutes, can rule these in or out quickly. That one step alone often saves owners weeks of uncertainty.

What to do at home while you are waiting to be seen

There are a few things that genuinely help while you are waiting for an appointment, and a few that are worth avoiding.

Wiping your dog’s paws with a damp cloth after walks can reduce the amount of environmental allergens that stay in contact with the skin. This is particularly relevant during pollen season, which typically runs from March through to September in the UK. Bathing can also help, though if the skin is already broken or inflamed, please check with us before using any shampoo, as some products will make things worse rather than better.

Keep a note of when the itching is worst, which parts of the body are affected, and whether there is any seasonal pattern. This information makes a real difference in the consulting room. Owners who have been observing their pet often hold useful pieces of the picture before we even begin the examination.

If your dog or cat is scratching to the point of breaking the skin, is clearly in discomfort, or has visible inflammation or discharge from the ears, please do not wait. These are signs that need to be seen promptly via our nurse clinic or a full consultation.

What an allergy workup involves at Rock House Vets

The phrase ‘allergy workup‘ can sound clinical and uncertain, so here is what it actually looks like when you bring your pet to see us.

We begin by taking a thorough history. When did the signs start? Are they year-round or seasonal? What is your pet eating, what parasite prevention is in place, and what patterns have you noticed? Often, the history alone tells us a great deal before we have examined anything.

We then carry out a physical examination, focusing on the skin, coat, paws, ears, and any areas your pet is targeting. Where appropriate, we may take coat brushings, hair pulls, or skin scrapes to examine under the microscope. Ear infections are assessed with an otoscope and, where needed, a sample is taken to identify whether yeast or bacteria are present, as this determines the correct treatment.

If active infections or parasites are found, these are treated first. It is important to clear any secondary problems before assessing the underlying allergy, because inflamed and infected skin produces its own itch on top of everything else, and this makes accurate assessment more difficult.

Once the skin has settled, we can work through the possible causes in a logical order. Where a food allergy is suspected, this usually involves a diet trial of around eight weeks using a novel protein or hydrolysed diet. Where environmental allergy (atopic dermatitis) is suspected, blood testing can identify the specific triggers involved, such as grass pollens, dust mites, or storage mites, and immunotherapy becomes an option worth discussing. We will always explain each step clearly before anything is done, and you will not be moved to the next stage without understanding why.

Cats with itchy skin go through the same structured workup process, though the presentation can be a little different. Cats tend to over-groom rather than scratch visibly, which means hair loss, particularly on the belly, inner thighs or base of the tail, is often the first thing owners notice. If this sounds familiar, it is worth mentioning it when you get in touch.

Seasonal allergies and why timing matters

If your pet seems noticeably worse in spring and summer, you are not imagining it. Atopic dermatitis in dogs and cats works in a similar way to hay fever in people, though instead of affecting the respiratory system, it affects the skin. Pollen season peaks between March and September in the UK, and many pets with environmental allergies are more uncomfortable during this window.

Some pets have both seasonal and year-round triggers. A dog with a dust mite allergy will be affected throughout the year, while one with a pure grass pollen allergy will have a clear seasonal pattern. Understanding which type is present changes the management approach considerably, which is why identifying the specific allergens matters rather than treating the itch alone.

For pets with ongoing skin allergy conditions, our Pet Health Plan includes preventative parasite treatments and discounted care that can help manage long-term conditions more cost-effectively. It is worth asking about this when you come in.

Book a skin consultation at Rock House Vets

If your dog or cat has been itching, scratching, licking their paws, or dealing with recurring ear infections, and you have been wondering whether an allergy is behind it, that instinct is usually right.

Skin and allergy conditions are among the most common reasons pets are brought to us at Rock House Vets in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. We see patients from across the West Midlands and take a methodical, calm approach to working through what is actually causing the problem rather than managing symptoms indefinitely.

For a full overview of the skin and allergy conditions we investigate and treat, including details of testing and treatment options, please visit our pet dermatology and skin allergy page.

To book a skin consultation, get in touch with Rock House Vets here. We are always happy to discuss what your pet has been experiencing before you decide whether to come in.