Question submitted by the audience in our recent webinar: "The Itchy Dog":
My dog has a beautiful coat - to the extent that everyone who touches him will remark on how shiny & soft it is. But he gets terribly itchy starting in early August. Even now, though we've had frost, he's still very itchy especially on his tummy, paws, and face. I have heard that Traditional Chinese Medicine states this may be an imbalance of the liver. Is there truth to this? Any way to diagnose this? I feel this is beyond seasonal allergies.
Answer by: Andrew Hillier, BVSc, MANZCVS, DACVD
Seasonal allergies due to seasonal pollens, or seasonal molds can persist for a while after the frost. It may take a little while for the skin to settle down, some of these allergens may be present indoors for a while after the end of the season. In addition, if a secondary infection was established due to the allergies and has not been treated, then that infection may persist even though the inciting cause (the allergy) has stopped.
