Author: Dr. Yeo Jae-seung, Chief Director (Chief Director of 24H UN animal medical center, Director of Pet Cardiac and Kidney Center, Internal Medicine Director of 24H UN animal medical center)
This content was created in compliance with relevant laws and regulations including the Medical Practice Act.
Dog Skin Allergies in Busan — If It's Not Getting Better for Several Months?
If your dog has been scratching and having discharge for several months, it may not be a simple skin problem.
According to materials from the Seoul National University College of Veterinary Medicine Animal Hospital, allergic dermatitis often involves a mixture of multiple causes. Additionally, materials from the Chungnam National University Animal Hospital Dermatology Department emphasize that chronic atopy and otitis externa are chronic conditions that reduce the quality of life for both pets and their guardians.
If you only repeat temporary treatments, the condition may worsen due to secondary bacterial and fungal infections. It is important to first differentiate the cause and establish a long-term management direction suitable for the individual dog together with a veterinarian. Treatment responses may vary from dog to dog, so please be sure to determine the management direction after a veterinary diagnosis.
Why Don't Dog Chronic Skin Allergies Heal Easily?
What is Canine Atopic Dermatitis?
Canine atopic dermatitis is a chronic allergic inflammatory disease that develops from impaired skin barrier function and immune regulation abnormalities. According to materials from Chungnam National University Animal Hospital, house dust mites, pollen, and mold act as major causative antigens, and since complex causes are intertwined, it is difficult to prevent recurrence with simple drug prescriptions alone.
Materials from Health Kyunghyang veterinary clinical data also explain that atopy is a chronic allergic skin disease that occurs in both dogs and cats, causing severe itching and skin inflammation.
Additionally, materials from Chungnam National University Animal Hospital explain that symptoms often begin at a young age, and many cases suffer from lifelong pruritus, with redness and hair loss occurring in lesion areas such as the neck, ears, and back, accompanied by secondary infections from skin resident bacteria and Malassezia. Clinical cases show that when discharge accompanied by odor appears, bacterial secondary infection is likely already in progress.
Since atopy is a chronic disease difficult to cure, rather than trying to solve it with medication alone, continuous management and prevention-focused approaches are important. Since there are many diseases showing similar symptoms such as bacterial dermatitis, fungus, external parasites, and endocrine diseases, preliminary diagnostic tests to differentiate causes are necessary to determine an appropriate management path.
Mini Q&A
— Does atopy symptoms change depending on the season?
Yes, environmental antigens like pollen or mold can be affected by season. However, house dust mites are exposed year-round, so symptoms often persist regardless of season. Accurate cause differentiation by a veterinarian comes first.
How 24H UN animal medical center Views Chronic Skin Diseases
24H UN animal medical center in Daeyon-dong, Nam-gu, Busan examines underlying causes hidden behind skin symptoms through an inter-department consultation system by specialty (internal medicine, diagnostic imaging) and clinical testing equipment at university hospital level.
Chronic skin diseases are often not just a skin problem. Endocrine abnormalities (Cushing's syndrome, thyroid disease, etc.) or immune abnormalities may be present, making a consultation system important that examines both causative diagnostic testing such as blood tests and skin cell tests along with whether underlying internal medicine diseases are present.
Regarding allergy cause testing, according to Royal Canin Academy veterinary clinical academic materials, allergy cause testing is divided into two methods: serum IgE testing (MAST, corresponding to 60+ antigens) and intradermal testing (IDST), and when definitive allergens are not identified, both methods are recommended to be considered together.
Below is the general flow of diagnostic approaches to chronic skin diseases.
Stage | Main Content | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
Stage 1 — Basic Differentiation | External parasite differentiation, skin cell test (smear), skin culture | Confirm primary causes such as bacteria, fungus, parasites |
Stage 2 — Blood and Internal Medicine Tests | Blood tests, endocrine function tests (Cushing's, thyroid, etc.) | Confirm if underlying internal medicine disease is present |
Stage 3 — Allergy Cause Testing | Serum IgE (MAST) or intradermal testing (IDST) | Environmental and dietary allergen specific differentiation |
Stage 4 — Customized Management Plan | Individual breed, age, living environment reflection | Establish long-term management direction and regular follow-up schedule |
Since treatment efficacy and side effects may appear differently for each individual, it is important to adjust the management plan through regular follow-up consultations.
This Might Be a Good Fit For You — Self-Check & Nearby Area Guidance
If any of the following items apply, we recommend you get professional medical care now.
— Your dog has been continuously scratching or licking for more than 2 months
— Discharge, crusting, or hair loss is observed in scratched areas
— Smell (foul odor) is coming from skin lesion areas
— After medication prescription, there is temporary improvement followed by repeated worsening
— Your dog frequently scratches ears or has smell and discharge from ears
— Your dog repeatedly licks or chews its paws
— Skin problems are accompanied by changes in appetite, weight gain or loss, and changes in water intake
In clinical cases, when discharge and foul odor are present, bacterial secondary infection is likely in progress. Additionally, if endocrine diseases such as Cushing's syndrome or chronic atopy are present, the dog may become more vulnerable to bacterial infections, and if neglected, chronic conditions may worsen to systemic infections, so be sure to start treatment after veterinary consultation.
Precautions and Limitations
The above self-check items do not replace professional veterinary diagnosis. Even if symptoms are similar, management methods may differ depending on the cause, so be sure to consult with a veterinarian.
Nearby Area Guardian Guidance
Not only those looking for an animal hospital in Nam-gu, Busan, but also those seeking dermatology care at an animal hospital in Suyeong-gu, those worried about dog allergies in Haeundae, those looking for an animal hospital in Busanjin-gu or Yeonje-gu, and those seeking dermatology department care at an animal hospital in Yangsan can conveniently visit 24H UN animal medical center.
Please Feel Comfortable Getting a Consultation. We'll Look Into It Together.
24H UN animal medical center is open 24 hours, 365 days a year, and we share test results and management plans thoroughly with guardians. Please feel comfortable getting a consultation. We'll look into it together.
If your dog has been scratching and having discharge for several months, now is the right time to differentiate the exact cause and establish a long-term management plan. If you only repeat temporary treatments, the condition may deepen due to secondary infections.
With emergency veterinarians on duty day and night and on holidays, you can visit without worry even when symptoms suddenly worsen. Pre-consultation before a visit is also possible, so you can ask about the symptoms first. We will look at your dog's breed, age, and living environment together and provide a customized 1:1 management direction.
I Bet You're Wondering About These Things
Q1. My dog has been scratching for several months — how do I distinguish if it's atopy or another cause?
Scratching symptoms can appear from various causes other than atopy, such as external parasites (mange, fleas, etc.), bacterial dermatitis, fungus (Malassezia), and dietary allergies. Since it is difficult to distinguish by visual inspection alone, accurate diagnosis through diagnostic testing such as skin cell tests and blood tests comes first.
Q2. How is dog skin allergy testing conducted?
Allergy cause testing has two main methods: serum IgE testing (MAST, 60+ antigens) and intradermal testing (IDST). A veterinarian will determine which method is suitable based on your dog's symptoms and condition. Sometimes both tests are conducted together, so thorough consultation before testing is important.
Q3. Even though I use skin treatment medication, it improves and then recurs — why is that?
Medication can temporarily control inflammation and itching, but if the causative antigen is not removed, symptoms can reappear whenever the dog is exposed. If secondary bacterial and fungal infections are present, treatment for those infections must also be conducted in parallel, and chronic atopy requires long-term management planning.
Q4. There is discharge and odor — is this different from simple itching?
Discharge and foul odor can be a signal that bacterial secondary infection is in progress. In many cases, the condition has progressed more than simple itching, requiring prompt medical attention. If left untreated, the condition may worsen, extending the treatment period, so if you observe such symptoms, we recommend getting veterinary care promptly.
Q5. In Busan, how can I continuously manage my dog's chronic skin disease?
After initial diagnosis of a chronic skin disease, it is important to adjust the management plan through regular follow-up consultations. 24H UN animal medical center examines underlying causes together through an inter-department consultation system for internal medicine and diagnostic imaging, fully shares test results and management plans with guardians, and provides long-term care management.
⚠️ This content complies with Article 32 of the Veterinary Medicine Act, and results may differ depending on the situation.