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Managing Recurring Dog Skin Flare-ups Between Vet Visits

  • Writer: Dr Simon Want BVM&S CertVD MRCVS RCVS
    Dr Simon Want BVM&S CertVD MRCVS RCVS
  • Jun 24
  • 6 min read

If your dog has issues with their skin due to allergies or a skin condition, managing their symptoms outside of your vet visits is essential for keeping them healthy and happy. If your pet is experiencing flare-ups of symptoms between appointments you may need to consider changing their treatment, but this all depends on what is causing their symptoms.


In this article we’ll discuss:



Two dogs sat in a garden

What Are The Common Causes Of Dog Skin Issues?


The most common cause of dog skin issues by a long way is allergic skin disease. There are many more skin issues in dogs but this group of skin disorders outweighs all others. Allergic skin disease in dogs, include:


  • Atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies)

    • Outdoor allergens - pollen

    • Indoor allergens - house dust mites and storage mites

  • Food allergy

  • Flea allergy

  • Parasites

    • Fleas

    • Sarcoptic mange

    • Surface mites

    • Lice

  • Hormonal skin disorders

  • Alopecia

  • Immune-mediated and autoimmune skin diseases


What Are The First Signs of a Flare-Up?


Usually when we talk about the signs to look for we are talking here about skin flare ups in dogs with allergic skin disease. A dog skin flare up is a sudden or gradual worsening of the condition.


Symptoms of dog skin issue flare-up include:


  • Itchiness

  • Red or inflamed skin or ears

  • Ear infections

  • Greasy skin

  • Skin infections

    • Bacterial infections

    • Yeast infections

  • Conjunctivitis

  • Vomiting or diarrhoea in dogs with food allergy


Why Do Skin Flare-Ups Happen?


The commonest reason is an increase in the allergy burden. For instance, in the spring and summer months when the pollen is at its highest, we may see more symptoms flare-ups in dogs with pollen allergy.


Some dogs may ingest food items that contain things they are allergic to, which is why most dogs with allergic skin disease will need a well structured food trial to rule in or out food allergy as part of the dog’s problem.


The commonest cause of an increase in itchy symptoms is a secondary skin infection so it is important that your vet performs skin cytology. This is where they look at samples taken from the skin under a microscope, in order to determine if a skin infection is present.


A sudden parasite burden where we didn’t previously have one. For instance, fleas or sarcoptic mange can cause skin to react.


Why Does My Dog's Skin Infection Keep Coming Back?


Allergic skin disease is notoriously difficult to manage in some dogs but reviewing the condition, any secondary infections, routine parasite control and the current medications being used is all necessary.


There are a number of medications that can be used and all have about an 80% success rate so reviewing what your dog is taking and whether another medication may be more appropriate is important.


Questions to ask yourself and your veterinarian include:


  • Has food allergy been excluded?

  • What about allergy testing?

  • Could immunotherapy help long-term?

  • If your dog’s dermatitis flares in the summer should we consider increasing the medication at these times of year?

  • If the problem is very focal, such as the ears, could a topical agent be added to the treatment plan that allows targeted therapy?


How to Prevent Dog Skin Issues and Flare-Ups


There are a few ways that you can help manage your dog’s skin issues, alongside advice from your vet. As the type of prevention and treatment depends on what is causing your dog’s symptoms.


Parasite control


Make sure to complete regular, routine treatment of all animals in the home with a good quality ectoparasiticide. Cats often get forgotten but regularly bring fleas into the dog’s home environment.


Special diet


Food allergic dogs may require the avoidance of certain food stuffs or may require a special hypoallergenic diet. Atopic dogs still benefit from simple diets and high levels of essential fatty acids in their diet. You should give them a diet high in essential fatty acids or add essential fatty acid supplements to their food.


Medication and immunotherapy


Vets and dermatologists have many options now to treat atopic dermatitis and some may be more suitable for your dog than others. It may be that one simply does not work at all or we need an anti-allergy treatment with more of an anti-inflammatory effect.


Examples include:

  • Cytopoint injections®

  • JAK inhibitors

  • Ciclosporin - Atopica®/Cyclavance®/Sporimune®

  • Corticosteroids


Immunotherapy injections (‘allergy shots’)


You may also need to consider a topical therapy skin care routine. Such as:


  • Antiseptic medication to reduce yeast and bacterial disease

    • Shampoos

    • Foams/mousses

    • Sprays

    • Spot gels

    • Wipes

    • Ear cleaners

  • Topical anti-inflammatory agents

    • Topical steroid sprays

    • Topical steroid ear drops

    • Creams


Your vet or veterinary dermatologist will be able to recommend the best course of treatment for your dog and their skin issues.


How to Treat Your Dog’s Skin Flare Ups at Home


At home you may have an array of treatments. Options depend on where the problem is and how the symptoms present. However, some common methods used to settle skin flare ups at home include:


  • Increasing medication doses short term - under the guidance of your vet

  • Using short courses of tablet steroids in severe cases

  • Increasing topical therapy

    • Steroid sprays could be used daily

    • Increase the frequency of shampoos, foams, wipes, etc to reduce bacterial and yeast overgrowth


How Can I Tell Whether My Dog's Skin Issue Needs An Urgent Vet Visit?


If your dog will not settle and it is causing you or your dog distress see a vet as soon as possible. You should also see your vet urgently if your dog is experience:

  • Itching or self trauma that will not settle with home based methods already described

  • Skin infections that are getting worse or not improving

  • Ear infections


When To See A Dermatologist For Dog Skin Issues


Skin problems in dogs are common but can be hard to deal with at times. If you are not getting to the bottom of the problem, the condition is getting worse or just more frequent and nothing new can be offered, it may be best to seek the services of a veterinary dermatologist.


“As I always say, allergy is not a life-threatening problem, but it is a life-long problem. It is also the most common problem we see and one of the main reasons people seek a second opinion.” Dr Simon Want BVM&S CertVD MRCVS

You can contact us to make an appointment or ask for advice. Or ask your vet to refer your pet. We can then provide your vet with a referral letter detailing the diagnosis and treatment plan.



Dog Skin Issues Frequently Asked Questions


What Are The Worst Months For Dogs With Allergies?

Spring to early autumn with the peak in May to September for pollen allergic dogs.


Some dogs are worse in the winter when the central heating goes on if they have house dust mite allergy.

The dog breeds that are most likely to get issues with their skin include:


  • Labradors

  • Spaniels

  • Golden Retrievers

  • Cockerpoos

  • Cavapoos

  • Labradoodles

  • French bulldogs

  • British bulldogs

  • Cavalier King Charles spaniels

This is mercifully quite rare. Garden chemicals and carpet cleaners rarely cause skin flare ups but some can be toxic if ingested, so always read the label.

Usually the treatments are similar to young dogs, but your vet or veterinary dermatologist may be less likely to start immunotherapy in very old dogs as it can take 1 to 2 years to work.

As we can see the skin, spotting early symptoms is easier than for internal diseases. However, it’s important to know that licking, biting, rubbing and head shaking are not necessarily normal in most dogs.


Also, dogs should have clean ears and do not routinely have ear wax, so if you see any ear discharge this should be checked out. Finally, your dog’s skin should not be red or even pink, so if it looks inflamed, have it seen by your vet or a veterinary dermatologist.


Sources and References:



Written and Approved by:


Dr Simon Want BVM&S CertVD MRCVS

RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Veterinary Dermatology

Director of Advanced Veterinary Dermatology Ltd

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