If you have noticed your dog scratching, licking their paws, or rubbing their face along the carpet more than usual over the past few weeks, you are not imagining it. Spring is the peak season for itchy dogs across Dapto and the wider Illawarra, and our appointment book fills up with the same complaint every year: “they just won’t stop scratching.” The most likely cause is a condition called atopic dermatitis, or atopy for short.
What Is Atopy?
Atopy is an allergic skin condition where a dog’s immune system overreacts to substances in the environment that would not normally cause a problem. Unlike a food allergy, which is triggered by something a dog eats, atopy is usually triggered by something a dog breathes in or touches: pollens, grasses, molds, and house dust mites all sit high on the list of local offenders.
Why Spring Hits the Illawarra So Hard
Our mild, humid Illawarra climate is generous to grasses and weeds, and that is exactly the problem. Wandering Jew, couch grass, and a wide range of seasonal pollens flourish through spring in Dapto’s gardens, parks, and the escarpment reserves that so many local dogs love to explore. As these plants flower and release pollen, sensitive dogs start reacting within days.
Signs Your Dog May Have Atopy
- Constant licking of the paws, groin, or armpits
- Face rubbing along furniture, carpet, or grass
- Red, inflamed, or thickened skin, especially between the toes
- Recurrent ear infections or head shaking
- Hair loss or hot spots that appear seemingly overnight
Left untreated, the constant scratching breaks down the skin barrier and allows bacteria and yeast to move in, which is why an itchy spring dog can quickly turn into one with a painful skin infection.
Modern Treatment Options
The good news is that managing canine atopy has come a long way. Depending on your dog’s history and how their skin responds, we generally reach for one of two well-tolerated options:
- Cytopoint: a monthly injection that targets the specific itch signal in the skin, with a strong safety profile even for older dogs or those on other medications
- Apoquel: a daily tablet that works quickly to interrupt the itch-scratch cycle while other longer-term management is put in place
Alongside medication, we usually recommend strict flea prevention (fleas make any allergic dog worse), regular bathing with a soothing shampoo, and in some cases a referral for allergy testing if symptoms are severe or year-round rather than seasonal.
When to Book a Check-Up
If your dog’s scratching has ramped up over the past fortnight, or you are dealing with the same ear infection for the third time this year, it is worth booking a general wellbeing consult so we can get ahead of it before the skin breaks down further. Early management makes spring far more comfortable for both of you.
Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital
Address: 38 Baan Baan St, Dapto NSW 2530
Independently owned since 2009.
Fear Free Accredited • Gold Level Cat Friendly Clinic.
