Tips for talking allergies with clients

Talking about allergies with pet owners can be a dreaded conversation. Allergic skin diseases are almost never simple to manage long term, which can make them very frustrating for owners and veterinarians alike. It takes time to dissect for owners the lifelong implications for allergy-prone pets. Since time is often something we don’t have a lot of as veterinarians, we want to provide you with a few key talking points to make this conversation easier and reduce the long-term frustrations for everyone involved with allergic pets. 

1.  Set Long-term Expectations as Early as Possible

Even if it is the first time this patient is having a problem with allergies, it is worth laying some groundwork with the owner about allergy basics and what to expect. A thorough history is critical to identify seasonal patterns, predisposing conditions, or perpetuating factors that are key to your management approach and prognosis. You can help shape owner expectations by quickly explaining the most common forms of allergy (flea, food, atopy) and educating the client on which type you most suspect. Also, being transparent when more than one type of allergy is on the list of differential diagnoses is helpful to establish a collaborative problem-solving approach. This helps the owner anticipate the importance of follow-up appointments or even lifelong management. 

2.  Verbalize the Possibility (or Likelihood) of Frustrations Along the Way

Owners usually want (or expect) a quick fix. It is important to let them know in advance that this is usually not the case with allergies. That way, when a flare-up occurs the owner may be more understanding that flares do not indicate a treatment failure. Establishing this predictability builds the owner’s confidence in our abilities, which in turn will make them more likely to seek your help when relapses do occur. Alternatively, when an owner does not understand that there will be setbacks, they may not trust that you managed the case well. This unfortunately creates clients that take their allergic pet from one veterinarian to the next, never establishing a strong VPCR or consistent treatment.  

3.  Emphasize Your Commitment to Working Together Long Term

Working as a team, the veterinarian and owner aim to keep the allergic pet comfortable, happy, and healthy. Let the owner know that there are many approaches to managing allergies, and that we as veterinarians have options. Ensure that they know you have back up plans for acute pruritus, plans for treating recurring flare-ups, and plans for lifelong management if necessary. If we can proactively create trusting, collaborative client relationships, then we can benefit the patient by establishing better continuity of care through the ups and downs of allergic management.