Are you worried that your dog is demonstrating a real health problem in his constant efforts to scratch his itchy skin? Does he scratch constantly, yet he’s clearly free of fleas, ticks, mange or other parasites? In some dogs, a serious case of itching may not be related to parasites at all.

When itchy dogs aren’t being plagued by parasites, we have a catchall term for their dilemma, which is “dermatitis.” Just as people have allergies, dogs and cats do too — but while we express ours with watering eyes and sneezing, dog allergies usually show up as ear infections or terribly itchy skin.

Dermatitis in dogs is especially common in some breeds, such as poodles and Dalmatians, and some of the Terriers, especially the West Highland terrier and white-haired fox terrier. However, doggy dermatitis appears in just about every breed — and the numbers of dogs with allergies are on the rise.

Allergies are something that tend to develop over time — they usually progress and get worse as the dog gets older. Usually, you can’t tell when they’re puppies if they’re going to have allergies, since many of them don’t manifest until the dog is at least three years of age or older.

Sometimes, dog dermatitis is similar to hay fever in humans. In that case, you might see your dog getting really itchy in early spring, when pollen counts are high, and again around August and September. Some dogs with this kind of environmental dermatitis are also allergic to grass.

Another leading cause of allergic reactions in dogs is their food. Dogs can be allergic to just about any kind of food, but the leading offenders include corn, wheat, soy, dairy products and beef. The best way to look for relief in a dog with food allergies is to try something called an “elimination diet.” In this diet, you gradually remove any ingredients found in your pup’s regular diet, and replace each one with something new, over a period of weeks and months. For example, you might first try replacing corn with rice, and then beef with veal. Veterinarians say that if you see approximately a 50% decrease in your dog’s itching, you’ve struck gold.

Remember that dog dermatitis is a long-term problem that can cause your dog severe discomfort. Are there medical treatments for this kind of symptom? You bet, but you’ll need to talk your veterinarian. If your dog is a breed prone to dermatitis, your vet may just help you handle the bad times by equipping you with an arsenal of antibiotics, medicated shampoos and even oral steroids, which are meant for only short term use (although they’re very effective, they work by suppressing the immune system).

Another tactic that’s useful for some dogs is to run a skin test to determine some of your dog’s specific allergic sensitivities. In this case, your vet might treat your dog with a series of injections to help reduce his sensitivity to certain environmental allergens.

In either case, treating the symptoms of your itchy, scratchy dog is likely to be a life-long affair, but trust me — your dog will feel your efforts are more than worth it.