05/29/2026
Allergies in Dogs: What Every Puppy Buyer Should Know
As allergy season gets into full gear, it's a good time to discuss one of the most common—and expensive—medical conditions we see in dogs.
Many owners assume allergies are simply bad luck. The reality is that allergies are strongly influenced by genetics. Whether we're discussing environmental allergies (pollens, grasses, dust mites, molds) or food allergies, the tendency to develop these conditions is often inherited.
That matters because allergies are rarely a one-time problem. They are often lifelong conditions that require ongoing management and expense.
What Do Allergies Look Like?
Most people think of sneezing and watery eyes when they hear the word allergy. In dogs, allergies usually show up through the skin, ears, and digestive tract.
Common signs include:
• Chronic ear infections
• Ear scratching or head shaking
• Licking or chewing at the feet
• Excessive scratching
• Red or irritated skin
• Recurrent skin infections
• Hair loss
• Chronic loose stool
• Intermittent diarrhea
• Excessive gas
• Sensitive stomachs
Many owners don't realize these symptoms may all be connected.
Questions Puppy Buyers Should Ask
If you ask a breeder whether their dogs have allergies, many will answer "no."
Not necessarily because they're being dishonest, but because they've come to view certain symptoms as normal or have attributed them to something else.
Instead of asking about allergies, ask specific questions:
• Do your dogs get ear infections?
• Do they shake their heads or scratch at their ears?
• Do they lick their feet?
• Do they have digestive problems or sensitive stomachs?
• Do they require special diets?
• Have previous puppies developed chronic itching, ear problems, or digestive issues?
• Do any of your dogs receive Apoquel, Cytopoint, or other allergy medications?
You'll often get a much different answer.
One of the most common responses I hear is:
"They just have sensitive stomachs."
"They only get an ear infection once in a while."
"They only do well on this specific food."
From a veterinary perspective, those are often clues pointing toward allergies.
Sometimes the clues are there long before anyone is willing to use the word "allergy."
The Cost
Unfortunately, allergies can become very expensive.
Many dogs require lifelong medications. Apoquel, one of the most commonly prescribed allergy medications, often costs between $100 and $150 per month for medium to large dogs. Cytopoint injections commonly cost between $75 and $250 per injection, depending on the dog's size, and may be required every four to eight weeks.
Add in veterinary visits, treatment for ear infections and skin infections, prescription diets, medicated shampoos, and diagnostic testing, and the lifetime cost can become substantial.
For this reason, prospective puppy buyers should strongly consider pet health insurance before problems develop. Insurance is often far more affordable before a chronic condition is diagnosed.
Why This Matters
As veterinarians, we see the consequences every day.
We see uncomfortable dogs that spend their lives itching.
We see owners frustrated by recurring veterinary visits and mounting medical expenses.
We hear owners wondering why nobody warned them this could happen.
Unfortunately, the financial burden falls on the puppy buyer.
Responsible breeding is about much more than appearance, pedigree, titles, or performance. It is also about reducing the frequency of inherited diseases and conditions that negatively affect a dog's quality of life.
The goal should not simply be producing dogs that look good.
The goal should be producing dogs that can live comfortable, healthy lives for years to come.
