PERSONALIZED CARE FOR ITCHY SKIN, ALLERGIES & EAR INFECTIONS
Persistent paw licking, scratching, recurrent ear infections and hair loss are not simply annoying habits. They are often signs that a dog or cat is uncomfortable and needs a dermatologic evaluation.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides personalized veterinary dermatology care for dogs and cats in Laguna Beach. We diagnose and manage allergies, bacterial and yeast infections, parasites, hair loss, chronic ear disease and other skin conditions using a practical, step-by-step approach.
Our goal is not to place every itchy pet on year-round medication automatically. We look for the underlying cause, treat secondary infections and create the least complicated plan that keeps the individual patient comfortable.
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At Aliso Beach Animal Clinic, paw licking is the most common allergy-related concern owners report. Many clients initially assume their dog is licking because of boredom, stress or anxiety.
In reality, licking and chewing the feet is one of the most common signs of canine allergic skin disease. The paws may be exposed to environmental allergens outdoors, and the skin between the toes provides a warm environment where inflammation, bacteria and yeast can develop.
Signs may include:
Allergies are common, but paw licking should not automatically be diagnosed as an allergy without an examination. A dog may also lick because of:
A dog licking one particular foot suddenly may have a different problem than a dog that chronically chews all four paws.
Owners frequently ask whether licking is caused by anxiety. The pattern and location of the licking can provide useful clues, although an examination is still required.
Allergic dogs commonly lick the toes, pads and spaces between the toes. More than one paw may be involved, and the dog may also have itchy ears, facial rubbing, belly irritation or recurrent skin infections.
The symptoms may be seasonal or may continue throughout the year.
Persistent licking of one focused area on the top or outer surface of a lower leg may create an acral lick granuloma, also called acral lick dermatitis.
The repeated licking causes a cycle of:
Anxiety, boredom or compulsive behavior can contribute to a lick granuloma, but these lesions are not always purely behavioral. Allergies, bacterial infection, joint pain, nerve discomfort, foreign material and underlying masses must also be considered.
A dog should not be placed on anxiety medication solely because a lesion is located on the leg. We first investigate potential medical causes.
Schedule a veterinary dermatology examination if your pet develops:
Dogs and cats may damage their skin substantially through licking and scratching before owners recognize the original problem.
Environmental allergies, also called atopic dermatitis or atopy, may involve reactions to pollens, grasses, plants, molds, dust mites and other substances in the environment.
Symptoms can be seasonal, but some pets are affected throughout the year. The paws, ears, face, underarms, belly and groin are commonly involved.
Food allergy can cause skin signs that look nearly identical to environmental allergies. Some pets also have vomiting, soft stool, diarrhea or excessive gas, but gastrointestinal symptoms are not always present.
Blood, saliva and hair tests do not reliably diagnose food allergy. A properly conducted elimination-diet trial followed by a controlled food challenge remains the most useful diagnostic approach.
A pet with flea allergy may react intensely to a small number of flea bites. Fleas may not be visible by the time itching develops.
Flea allergy commonly causes itching, chewing and hair loss around the lower back, tail base and hind legs. Reliable flea prevention is an essential diagnostic and treatment step.
Bacterial infection commonly develops after allergies, parasites or self-trauma disrupt the normal skin barrier.
Dogs may develop:
Malassezia yeast normally exists in small numbers on canine skin. Allergic inflammation, moisture and changes in the skin environment can allow yeast to multiply excessively.
Yeast overgrowth commonly causes:
Demodex, Sarcoptes and other mites can cause itching, scaling, hair loss and infection. Fleas, lice and ticks may also contribute to dermatologic symptoms.
Parasite prevention and diagnostic testing are important even when no parasite is immediately visible.
Ringworm is a fungal infection of the hair and superficial skin. It may cause circular hair loss, scaling or crusting, but its appearance varies considerably.
Ringworm can spread to other animals and people, making accurate diagnosis and environmental management important.
Some skin conditions are caused or worsened by thyroid disease, adrenal disease, autoimmune disorders, nutritional abnormalities or cancer.
These possibilities become especially important when lesions are unusual, symmetrical, non-itchy or unresponsive to appropriate initial treatment.
Dermatology is often a process of ruling out several overlapping problems. An allergic pet may simultaneously have fleas, yeast and a bacterial infection.
Suppressing the itch without diagnosing and treating those secondary problems may provide incomplete or temporary relief.
We begin by reviewing:
The examination includes the skin, paws, ears, claws, face, underarms, abdomen, groin and other commonly affected areas.
A skin impression allows us to collect material from the surface of an affected area and examine it under a microscope.
Cytology can identify:
This quick test helps determine whether antimicrobial treatment is needed and allows us to compare results during follow-up.
Allergic inflammation is a common underlying cause of recurrent ear disease. A sample from the ear canal can identify yeast, bacteria and inflammatory cells.
Treatment should be selected according to the examination, eardrum status and cytology findings rather than prescribing the same ear medication for every infection.
Superficial or deep skin scrapings may be used to look for mites, including Sarcoptes and Demodex.
A negative scraping does not rule out every mite infection, so a therapeutic parasite-control trial may sometimes be recommended.
Plucked hairs can be examined for:
When ringworm is suspected, hair and scale samples may be submitted for fungal culture or polymerase-chain-reaction testing. A hair pluck alone does not reliably rule ringworm in or out.
Dermatophyte culture or PCR testing may be recommended when ringworm is suspected, especially in kittens, recently adopted pets, multi-pet homes or households with skin lesions in people.
A culture identifies the bacterial organism and determines which antibiotics are likely to be effective.
Culture is particularly important when:
A skin biopsy collects a small tissue sample for evaluation by a veterinary pathologist.
Biopsy may be recommended for:
The most common bacterial cause of canine skin infection is Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. This organism normally lives on many dogs without causing disease.
When allergies, parasites, moisture or self-trauma disrupt the skin barrier, the bacteria can multiply and produce an infection.
Although this organism is adapted primarily to dogs, it should not be described as completely noncontagious. Human infection is uncommon, but transmission can occur, particularly in people with weakened immune systems or significant skin wounds.
Basic hygiene is appropriate when treating an infected pet:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, commonly abbreviated MRSP, is an important cause of resistant skin and ear infections in dogs.
These infections are encountered often enough that recurrent or poorly responsive infections should not simply receive repeated empirical antibiotics without reassessment.
MRSP does not necessarily cause more severe disease than a susceptible staph infection. The problem is that many commonly prescribed antibiotics may no longer work.
When resistance is suspected, bacterial culture and susceptibility testing help us select an appropriate treatment and avoid ineffective antibiotics.
Topical therapy can be particularly valuable in resistant superficial infections because an appropriate product can deliver high concentrations directly to the affected skin while reducing reliance on systemic antibiotics.
Allergy medication may appear to stop working when the true problem is a new bacterial or yeast infection.
For example, a dog that previously responded well to Cytopoint or Apoquel may begin itching again because the damaged skin has developed secondary infection. Increasing allergy medication without examining the skin may miss the actual cause of the flare.
Skin or ear cytology helps determine whether bacteria or yeast are present and whether infection should be treated before changing the long-term allergy plan.
Allergic skin disease is often a lifelong tendency, but that does not mean every pet needs continuous year-round medication.
We tailor the plan according to:
Some pets itch during only a limited season or have occasional flare-ups. When medically appropriate, we may use pulse therapy—treating during symptomatic periods rather than automatically continuing medication throughout the entire year.
Intermittent treatment may involve:
Pulse treatment is not appropriate for every patient. Dogs with year-round symptoms, frequent infections or severe atopic dermatitis may be more comfortable and medically stable with consistent maintenance treatment.
Cytopoint, or lokivetmab, is an injectable treatment used to control itching associated with allergic and atopic dermatitis in dogs.
It targets a specific signal involved in canine itch and may provide relief for several weeks. The duration and degree of response vary among patients.
Cytopoint may be considered for:
Cytopoint controls itch but does not treat fleas, mites, bacterial infection, yeast infection or food allergy. Those problems must be addressed separately.
Apoquel, or oclacitinib, is an oral medication used to control itching and inflammation associated with allergic and atopic dermatitis in dogs at least twelve months old.
It often begins working rapidly and may be used for an acute flare, a limited allergy season or longer-term management depending on the patient.
Apoquel affects immune-signaling pathways and is not appropriate for every dog. We consider age, infection history, current health, medications and other risks before prescribing it.
Dogs taking Apoquel should be monitored for secondary infection and other medical concerns.
Corticosteroids such as prednisone were once among the most frequently used treatments for allergic skin disease.
They can provide rapid and effective relief, but repeated or long-term use may cause:
Because of these potential effects, steroids have generally become less desirable for routine long-term allergy control when other effective options are available.
They still have an important role. A carefully selected short course may be useful for severe inflammation, an acute flare or a patient that cannot use another medication.
Antibiotics do not treat allergies. They may be required when an allergic pet develops a secondary bacterial infection.
We avoid prescribing antibiotics automatically for every itchy dog. Cytology, lesion depth, treatment history and response help determine whether topical treatment alone may be sufficient or whether an oral antibiotic is justified.
When antibiotics are prescribed, completing the correct dose and duration is important. Recurrent or nonresponsive infections may require culture rather than repeated changes in medication.
Yeast infections may respond to medicated shampoos, mousses, sprays, wipes or prescription oral antifungal medication.
The treatment selected depends on how much skin is affected, lesion depth, the pet’s medical history and cytology findings.
For selected pets with confirmed environmental allergies, allergen-specific immunotherapy may be considered.
Allergy testing is used to formulate immunotherapy after a clinical diagnosis of environmental allergy has been made. A positive blood or skin test alone does not prove that an itchy pet has atopic dermatitis.
Immunotherapy may be administered through injections or an oral formulation and generally requires months before its full benefit can be assessed.
Topical treatment places medication directly on the affected skin. For localized or superficial disease, this may reduce the need for systemic antibiotics, antifungals or anti-inflammatory medication.
Topical options may include:
Benefits may include:
The product must match the problem. A drying product may help a greasy or moist lesion but irritate already dry, cracked skin. An ear cleaner that is appropriate for a healthy eardrum may not be safe when the eardrum is damaged.
We select topical products based on examination and cytology rather than recommending the same shampoo or spray for every pet.
We do not recommend applying a homemade mixture of rubbing alcohol and apple-cider vinegar to inflamed, infected, ulcerated or painful skin.
Rubbing alcohol can sting, dry and irritate damaged tissue. It may also be ingested when a pet licks the application site. Vinegar is acidic and may cause additional irritation, particularly on open skin or inside an inflamed ear.
Safer veterinary-formulated antibacterial and antifungal sprays, mousses, shampoos and wipes are available. These products can be selected according to the organisms seen on cytology and the condition of the skin.
Do not place alcohol, vinegar, peroxide or a homemade solution into your pet’s ears. Painful, inflamed ears should be examined before cleaning because the condition of the eardrum affects which products can be used safely.
Recurring ear infections are commonly associated with underlying allergies. In some dogs, ear inflammation may be the first or only visible sign of allergic disease.
Possible signs include:
Successful treatment requires more than repeatedly dispensing ear drops. We evaluate the ear canal, perform cytology and look for underlying allergy, mites, foreign material, masses or chronic structural changes.
Culture may be recommended for resistant, recurrent or severe infections.
Cats may show skin discomfort differently than dogs. Instead of obvious scratching, a cat may quietly overgroom when no one is watching.
Signs may include:
Feline skin disease may involve fleas, food allergy, environmental allergy, mites, ringworm, infection, pain or behavioral factors.
Apoquel and Cytopoint are canine products and should not be treated as routine feline allergy medications. Cats require a species-appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan.
Dermatology rechecks are recommended when they provide useful medical information—not simply to create another appointment.
A recheck may allow us to:
Skin may look better before infection has resolved microscopically. Stopping treatment too early can contribute to recurrence.
No. Paw licking is one of the most common signs of canine allergies, although infection, mites, pain, foreign material and other problems can also cause it. Anxiety-related licking more commonly creates a focused lick granuloma on the top or outside of a lower leg, but even these lesions may have an underlying medical cause.
No. Some dogs have seasonal or occasional flares and may be managed with intermittent or pulse treatment. Dogs with persistent year-round symptoms may benefit from ongoing management. The schedule is individualized.
Neither is universally better. The choice depends on the dog’s age, symptoms, medical history, infection status, response to previous treatment and the owner’s preference for tablets or injections.
A secondary bacterial or yeast infection, fleas, mites, food exposure or a seasonal increase in allergens may be responsible. Cytology and examination can identify problems that changing allergy medication alone would not correct.
Steroids can be very useful medications, particularly for short-term relief of severe inflammation. The concern is repeated or long-term exposure, which can produce significant side effects. We use them selectively rather than treating them as the first automatic choice for chronic allergies.
Not always. Some superficial infections respond to topical therapy alone. Deeper, widespread or severe infections may require oral antibiotics. Cytology and culture help guide the decision.
The most common canine organism, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, is primarily adapted to dogs. Human infection is uncommon but possible. Good hygiene is appropriate, particularly around draining lesions or when a household member is immunocompromised.
MRSP is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. It is resistant to several commonly used antibiotics. Culture and susceptibility testing help determine which treatments are likely to work.
A skin impression or cytology allows us to see bacteria, yeast and inflammatory cells under the microscope. It provides immediate information that can change the treatment plan.
We do not recommend applying a 50/50 rubbing-alcohol and vinegar mixture to inflamed or infected skin. It can sting and irritate damaged tissue, and alcohol may be ingested when the pet licks. Ask us for a safer topical product selected for your pet’s specific condition.
A biopsy may be recommended for unusual, severe, nonhealing or treatment-resistant lesions, or when autoimmune disease, deep inflammation or cancer is being considered.
Do not assume that paw licking, scratching or recurrent ear infections are simply habits your pet must live with.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides individualized diagnosis and treatment for allergies, bacterial and yeast infections, mites, hair loss, ear disease and chronic skin problems in dogs and cats.
We use practical in-house testing, carefully selected medication and topical therapy to create a plan that provides relief without unnecessary year-round treatment whenever a more conservative approach is appropriate.
Find quick answers about dog allergies, paw licking, ear infections, Cytopoint, Apoquel, skin testing and resistant infections. Aliso Beach Animal Clinic provides individualized veterinary dermatology care for dogs and cats in Laguna Beach.
Yes. Aliso Beach Animal Clinic evaluates and treats dog and cat allergies, paw licking, recurrent ear infections, bacterial and yeast infections, hair loss, hot spots, mites, ringworm and other skin conditions at our Laguna Beach veterinary clinic.
Paw licking is one of the most common signs of allergies in dogs. Allergic dogs frequently lick between their toes and around their paw pads. They may also have red feet, saliva staining, odor, recurrent ear infections or itching involving the face, belly and underarms.
Paw licking can also be caused by infection, mites, pain, a torn nail, a foxtail or another foreign object, so an examination is important.
Many owners assume paw licking is caused by anxiety, but allergies and secondary skin infections are more common explanations when a dog is licking several feet or licking between the toes.
Anxiety-related or compulsive licking more commonly targets one focused area on the top or outside of a lower leg. However, medical causes should still be investigated before diagnosing the behavior as anxiety.
A lick granuloma, also called acral lick dermatitis, is a thickened and irritated skin lesion caused by repeatedly licking one area, usually on the top or outside of a lower leg.
Anxiety or compulsive behavior may contribute, but allergies, bacterial infection, joint pain, nerve discomfort, foreign material and underlying growths can also cause or perpetuate the licking.
Redness between the toes commonly results from allergic inflammation, licking, bacterial infection or yeast overgrowth. Brown discoloration on light-colored fur is often saliva staining caused by repeated licking.
A musty odor, greasy skin, swelling or discharge may indicate a secondary yeast or bacterial infection that requires testing and treatment.
Allergies inflame the skin lining the ear canal and disrupt its normal protective barrier. This allows yeast and bacteria to multiply more easily.
For some dogs, recurring ear infections are the first or most noticeable sign of environmental or food allergy. Ear cytology helps determine whether bacteria, yeast or both are present.
Initial dermatology testing may include a skin impression or cytology to look for bacteria and yeast, a skin scraping to look for mites and a hair pluck to assess hair shafts or look for certain parasites.
Ringworm may require fungal culture or PCR testing. More advanced cases may require bacterial culture, antibiotic-sensitivity testing or a skin biopsy.
A skin impression collects cells and material from an affected area so they can be examined under a microscope. It can reveal bacteria, yeast, inflammatory cells and certain abnormal cell populations.
This quick in-house test helps us select treatment rather than guessing whether an itchy pet needs an antibiotic, antifungal medication or topical therapy.
A superficial or deep skin scraping is used to look for mites such as Demodex or Sarcoptes. Mites can cause itching, scaling, hair loss and secondary infection.
A negative scraping does not rule out every mite infestation, so additional testing or a treatment trial may occasionally be recommended.
Ringworm cannot always be diagnosed by appearance alone. Hair and skin samples may be evaluated with fungal culture, PCR testing or other diagnostic methods.
A hair pluck can provide useful clues, but it does not reliably confirm or exclude ringworm by itself.
A bacterial culture may be recommended when a skin or ear infection is deep, repeatedly returns, has not responded to treatment or may involve antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
The culture identifies the organism and determines which antibiotics are most likely to work.
MRSP stands for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius. It is a canine staph organism that has become resistant to several commonly used antibiotics.
MRSP infections are not unusual in dogs with recurrent skin or ear infections. Culture and antibiotic-sensitivity testing are important because repeatedly prescribing an ineffective antibiotic can delay recovery and encourage further resistance.
The most common canine staph organism, Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, is primarily associated with dogs. Human infections are uncommon, but transmission is possible, particularly when a person has open wounds or a weakened immune system.
Wash your hands after applying medication, avoid direct contact with draining lesions and ask a physician about any concerning human skin infection.
No. Localized or superficial infections may respond to appropriately selected shampoos, mousses, wipes or sprays. Deep, widespread or severe infections may require oral antibiotics.
Skin cytology, the depth of the infection, previous treatment and bacterial culture results help determine the safest and most effective plan.
Topical treatment delivers medication directly to the affected skin and may reduce the need for systemic antibiotics, antifungal drugs or anti-inflammatory medication.
Depending on the condition, we may recommend medicated shampoo, leave-on mousse, antibacterial or antifungal spray, medicated wipes, astringent pads or a skin-barrier product.
We do not recommend applying a homemade 50/50 rubbing-alcohol and apple-cider-vinegar mixture to inflamed, infected, open or painful skin.
Alcohol can sting and dry damaged tissue, and vinegar may cause further irritation. Veterinary-formulated sprays, shampoos, mousses and wipes can be selected according to the organisms found on skin cytology.
Never place alcohol, vinegar or another homemade solution into an inflamed ear without veterinary direction.
Apoquel and Cytopoint are two of the most commonly used treatments for allergic itching in dogs.
Apoquel is an oral medication that controls itch-related immune signals. Cytopoint is an injection that targets a specific signal involved in canine itching and may provide relief for several weeks.
Neither treatment eliminates fleas, mites, bacterial infection, yeast infection or food allergy. Those problems must be diagnosed and treated separately.
Neither medication is best for every dog. The decision depends on the dog’s age, symptoms, medical history, infection status, response to previous treatment and whether the owner prefers a tablet or injection.
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic selects allergy treatment individually rather than automatically placing every dog on the same medication.
Not necessarily. Dogs with seasonal or occasional allergies may be candidates for pulse therapy, meaning treatment is used during symptomatic periods rather than continuously throughout the year.
Dogs with persistent year-round allergies or frequent secondary infections may be more comfortable with consistent maintenance treatment.
Pulse therapy means using allergy treatment occasionally during a flare or predictable allergy season instead of automatically continuing medication year-round.
It may involve a short course of Apoquel, a Cytopoint injection, intensified topical therapy or brief anti-inflammatory treatment. Pulse therapy is appropriate only when intermittent treatment keeps the individual patient comfortable and medically stable.
Steroids can provide rapid relief from severe itching and inflammation, but they have fallen out of favor for routine long-term allergy management because repeated use may cause increased thirst, urination and appetite, weight gain, muscle loss, infection risk and metabolic complications.
A carefully selected short course can still be useful for an acute flare or when another medication is unsuitable.
A secondary bacterial or yeast infection is a common reason an allergy medication appears to stop working. Fleas, mites, dietary exposure or an increase in seasonal allergens may also cause a flare.
An examination and skin cytology can identify problems that increasing the allergy medication alone would not correct.
A food allergy is diagnosed through a carefully controlled elimination-diet trial followed by a food challenge. Blood, saliva and hair tests are not considered reliable methods for diagnosing food allergy.
All treats, flavored medications, chews and other foods must be controlled during the trial for the result to be meaningful.
A skin biopsy may be recommended for unusual, severe, nonhealing or treatment-resistant lesions. It may also be needed when autoimmune disease, deep inflammation or cancer is being considered.
The tissue is submitted to a veterinary pathologist for microscopic evaluation.
Schedule an examination when licking or scratching persists, interferes with sleep, causes hair loss or open sores, produces an odor or repeatedly returns.
Seek care promptly for facial swelling, widespread hives, breathing difficulty, a rapidly spreading painful lesion, severe ear pain or sudden swelling between the toes.
Call Aliso Beach Animal Clinic at (949) 499-4190 or use our online appointment request form.
We are located at 30816 Coast Highway in Laguna Beach, directly across from the Montage Laguna Beach.
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Bryan Hayter, July 2026
Aliso Beach Animal Clinic
30816 Coast Highway
Laguna Beach, CA 92651
Directly across from the Montage Laguna Beach
Monday–Friday: 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Saturday: 8 a.m.–12 p.m.
Sunday: Closed
