Animal Welfare Professionals

This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Hello all. I'm curious how your animal shelters handle dogs with probable allergies that cause itchy skin and hair loss when it is severe.  If we have a dog (usually a pittie) that is still itchy even with apoquel, depending on the severity, we will either adopt with the recommendation they see a veterinary dermatologist, or very seldom (only once since I've been here) not adopt out because the dog is just too uncomfortable. What we have not been able to do is spring for the dermatology workup ourselves. I don't know that putting that cost on adopters is the best course of action. Between the specialists, Z/D food (at least to start if not forever) and apoquel or other pricey medications, I can imagine the costs over the dog's life can be huge and it doesn't always lead to relief. Is it sort of half-a$$-ing to treat to a degree but not be willing to pay for dermatology? Any insight would be helpful. 

#AdoptionsandAdoptionPrograms
#Medicine,SurgeryandSterilization

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I do not think it is half-doing it at all. I think it is the reality many rescues and shelters face.

Specialty dermatology workups, prescription diets, and long-term medications can be incredibly expensive, and not every organization has the funding to take every allergy case through that full process. I think the most important part is being honest about the dog's condition, documenting what has been tried, and making sure any adopter understands the possible long-term medical and financial commitment.

If the dog is still comfortable enough to have a good quality of life, then adopting with full disclosure and a recommendation for continued veterinary follow-up seems reasonable. But if the dog is truly miserable and suffering, then it makes sense to pause and reassess what is in that dog's best interest.

To me, it is not about doing less. It is about being realistic, transparent, and making the most responsible decision you can for the dog with the resources you have.

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Debi Olivas
Elle's House
Founder
Bakersfield, CA
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This message was posted by a user wishing to remain anonymous

Thanks for your answer. It helps to know it's not just us. 

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Original Message:
Sent: 04-21-2026 11:38 AM
From: DEBORAH olivas
Subject: Adopting out dogs with skin allergies

I do not think it is half-doing it at all. I think it is the reality many rescues and shelters face.

Specialty dermatology workups, prescription diets, and long-term medications can be incredibly expensive, and not every organization has the funding to take every allergy case through that full process. I think the most important part is being honest about the dog's condition, documenting what has been tried, and making sure any adopter understands the possible long-term medical and financial commitment.

If the dog is still comfortable enough to have a good quality of life, then adopting with full disclosure and a recommendation for continued veterinary follow-up seems reasonable. But if the dog is truly miserable and suffering, then it makes sense to pause and reassess what is in that dog's best interest.

To me, it is not about doing less. It is about being realistic, transparent, and making the most responsible decision you can for the dog with the resources you have.

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Debi Olivas
Elle's House
Founder
Bakersfield, CA
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This is one of those situations where the gap between shelter capacity and what the animal needs creates a lose-lose. The shelter can't afford the full workup. The adopter inherits a mystery condition with no clear cost ceiling. And the dog sits longer because everyone's unsure.

A few things we're building into our model at Animal-Angels Foundation that touch this exact problem:

When a dog like this gets adopted through one of our partner shelters, our Adoption Boost program provides 90 days of post-adoption support. That includes connecting the new family with low-cost vet resources, helping them navigate costs, and making sure they don't hit a wall at month two and end up back at the shelter with a surrender.

We also track what was tried and what worked in the animal's medical record through the AWRN, so if that dog does get returned or transferred, the next organization isn't starting from zero. They know Apoquel was tried, what dose, what food was used, what the response was. That continuity alone saves time, money, and a lot of repeated suffering.

On the dermatology question specifically, I think Debi nailed it. Full transparency with adopters about what's known and what's not known is the right call. What makes the difference is whether that adopter has anywhere to turn when the bills start adding up three months later. That's where most of the post-adoption returns happen, not at intake but after the honeymoon period when reality sets in.

If any of you are dealing with this pattern regularly and want to talk about how a shared support network handles the post-adoption side, I'm happy to connect. Our Pet Help Desk exists for exactly that kind of call.

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BJ Adkins
Founder/Director
Animal-Angels Foundation
Pinson, AL
bjadkins@animal-angels.org
animal-angelsfoundation.org
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I really appreciate Deborah's perspective and agree that it's not about "half-doing it," but about being honest and responsible with the resources available.

I adopted a dog with severe skin allergies, and the rescue was very upfront about her condition from the beginning. That transparency allowed me to make an informed decision, knowing both the potential costs and the ongoing commitment. Since then, I've learned there are actually a range of ways to support dogs with allergies-some of which aren't as cost-prohibitive as they can initially seem.

I also think it's important to remember that these dogs still deserve the opportunity to be adopted. When adopters are given clear, honest information, it not only sets them up for success, but also allows rescues to continue helping more dogs in need.

For me, it comes down to transparency, education, and giving people the choice to step into that commitment.

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Amanda Ross
Fundraising Coordinator
SoCal French Bulldog Rescue
CA
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I agree with much of the advice already given and just want to add a couple thoughts, from the veterinarian's perspective. "Allergies" is a really non-specific and (IMO) overused sign that is used to describe any pruritic skin/ear condition ranging from severe, generalized food or environmental allergies (atopy) that may require hyposensitization inj, immunotherapies, therapeutic baths, prescription diets, etc. to a history of poor environment, husbandry or sanitation and/or flea infestation that is likely to resolve with a decent quality diet and regular flea preventative. Sorting out which is which can take weeks to months and it is never in the pet's best interest to prolong their shelter LOS long enough to fully diagnose, treat and choose long-term management strategies (if necessary). There is no consensus on "best" diagnostic or therapeutic approaches that shelters must be mindful of when choosing how to proceed so as to ensure they are meeting a minimum standard of care. 

Our approach is to provide good basic care and diet, appropriately treat acute skin infections topically and/or systemically, r/o treatable conditions such as mange and then focus on getting the pets through the system and into adoptive homes where their new owner can work with their veterinarian to decide on the best options going forward. We rarely start formal "food trials" as it is nearly impossible to fully implement in the shelter setting (with multiple staff. fosters and volunteers providing food and treats), so the shelter winds up paying for an expensive food (while volunteers hand out the cheap treats :-)) and then the food trial is deemed a "failure". 

I have seen pets with chronic, severe allergies blossom and grow a whole new, healthy coat with grocery store-brand food and a single dose of topical Frontline and I have seen pets whose relatively minor but persistent, uncomfortable signs are refractory to every treatment available on the market. You just can't tell which is which at the time of intake.

I agree with other comments that transparency and good medical records are key. And regular QOL assessments for severely affected pets for whom the most humane option may be euthanasia.

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Rachel Powell DVM
ASV Board of Directors
Director of Surgery
Greenhill Humane Society
Eugene, OR
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