Julia Miller, DVM, DACVD^†
Animal Dermatology Clinic, Louisville, Kentucky

Andrew Simpson, DVM, MS, DACVD^†
VCA Aurora Animal Hospital, Aurora, Illinois

Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP (Canine and Feline)
Allergy, Skin and Ear Clinic for Pets, Livonia, Michigan

Alison Diesel, DVM, DACVD
Animal Dermatology Clinic-Austin, Austin, Texas

Amanda Friedeck, BS, LVT, VTS (Dermatology)
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas

Tara Paterson, DVM, MS
St. George’s University, St. George’s, Grenada

Michelle Wisecup, DVM
The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

Chih-Ming Yu, DVM, MPH, ECFVG
U-Vet Animal Clinic, Newburgh, Indiana

Contributing Reviewers

Lindsay McKay, DVM, DACVD 
VCA Arboretum View Animal Hospital

Karen Trainor, DVM, MS, DACVP
Innovative Vet Path

Amelia White, DVM, MS, DACVD
Auburn University

^†J. Miller and A. Simpson are the cochairs of the AAHA Management of Allergic Skin Diseases in Dogs and Cats Guidelines Task Force.

AAHA gratefully acknowledges the contribution of our task force facilitator and writer, J.P. O’Connor, FASAE, in the preparation of this manuscript.

These guidelines were prepared by a task force of experts convened by the American Animal Hospital Association. This document is intended as a guideline only, not an AAHA standard of care. These guidelines and recommendations should not be construed as dictating an exclusive protocol, course of treatment, or procedure. Variations in practice may be warranted based on the needs of the individual patient, resources, and limitations unique to each individual practice setting. Evidence-guided support for specific recommendations has been cited whenever possible and appropriate. Other recommendations are based on practical clinical experience and a consensus of expert opinion. Further research is needed to document some of these recommendations. Drug approvals and labeling are current at the time of writing but may change over time. Because each case is different, veterinarians must base their decisions on the best available scientific evidence in conjunction with their own knowledge and experience.