There are several ways or combination of ways to treat allergies.  If the allergy is mild, control may be reached through the use of methods to avoid contact with the allergen, in addition to, medications and medicated shampoos to control the clinical signs.  In severe allergies or in pets where the allergies occur year round, specific allergy treatments such as Immunotherapy may be needed.  Immunotherapy is often recommended because prolonged use of certain medications, especially steroids, reduce itching, but can produce serious side effects that could reduce the quality or length of your pets life.

During the exam, a complete history of your pet's problems will be assessed and we will perform a complete physical exam along with any necessary laboratory tests.  If allergies are severe, we recommend allergy testing confirm the diagnosis and to identify the specific allergens that is the cause of the skin problems.

Information gathered from Heska.