Dr. Eugene Aversa, DVM is a trusted small animal veterinarian with 24 years of experience
PITTSBURGH, PA / ACCESS Newswire / July 16, 2025 / If your dog has been keeping you up at night with constant scratching, or your cat can't stop licking its paws, you're not alone. Across the nation, pet owners are flooding veterinary clinics with concerns over chronic itching, skin irritation, fur loss, and foul-smelling ears. For Dr. Eugene Aversa, DVM, a trusted small animal veterinarian with 24 years of experience, this is familiar territory but one he meets with renewed passion every day.
"Allergies are probably the single most common reason people bring their pets to see me," says Dr. Aversa. "They come in exhausted, distressed, and desperate to help their animals feel better. And thankfully, in most cases, we can help them."
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Aversa has spent over two decades building a career defined by compassion, clinical excellence, and a relentless drive to improve animal well-being. His practice, now based in New Mexico, sees a steady stream of itchy, inflamed pets whose owners have tried everything from shampoos to supplements without success. Dr. Aversa knows that the problem is rarely skin-deep.
The Allergy Epidemic: What's Really Going On
"It's not just a rash," Dr. Aversa explains. "It's not just an ear infection or some hot spots. Allergies are a systemic, complex issue and they can be incredibly frustrating to treat if you don't understand the root cause."
According to Dr. Aversa, there are three main culprits driving the epidemic of skin and ear issues in pets: seasonal allergies, food allergies, and fleas.
Seasonal allergies are remarkably common in both dogs and cats, especially in the Southwest where pollens, dust, and other environmental allergens are rampant nearly year-round. Unlike humans, who sneeze and sniffle, animals tend to show their allergic response through itching, scratching, chewing, and even hair loss or skin discoloration.
"People think of allergies as hay fever with runny noses and watery eyes. But in pets, allergies attack the skin. They'll chew themselves raw or keep the whole house awake with constant scratching."
Food allergies are also more widespread than most pet owners realize. While seasonal allergies tend to follow a pattern: flaring up during spring, fall, or another specific time-food allergies persist throughout the year.
"Many commercial pet foods are loaded with proteins and additives that can trigger allergic reactions," says Dr. Aversa. "What makes it tricky is that the signs of itchiness, ear infections, skin irritation, look exactly like seasonal allergies. That's why a proper diagnostic process is critical."
Fleas, the third major player, may seem like an old-school problem, but they're far from obsolete. "Some animals are just hypersensitive to flea saliva," Dr. Aversa notes. "One bite can send them into a scratching frenzy."
Cats often show flea-related irritation on the neck, shoulders, and face, while dogs usually exhibit symptoms on their hindquarters and bellies. Fleas are also notorious for being a household problem, not just a pet one. If one animal has them, there's a high likelihood the home is infested.
More Than Skin Deep: Secondary Infections and Emotional Toll
As if the itching weren't bad enough, many allergic pets develop secondary infections, often bacterial or yeast, in their skin and ears. These infections can produce a foul odor, oozing, or crusting, and significantly worsen the animal's discomfort.
"The ears are like an extension of the skin," Dr. Aversa explains. "When the immune system is reacting everywhere, the ears often follow. They get red, swollen, and painful, sometimes even resistant to regular treatments."
Pet owners frequently arrive at his clinic not only distressed about their animals' suffering but also feeling defeated themselves. "They tell me they've tried everything from baths, ointments, even switching foods but nothing helps. That's where we come in."
Hope Through Science: Tailored Treatment Plans
The good news, says Dr. Aversa, is that modern veterinary medicine has powerful tools to help allergic pets and fast. "One of the most satisfying parts of my job is making these itchy, miserable pets feel good again. It never gets old."
Anti-itch medications, including newer options that are fast-acting and long-lasting, have transformed treatment for many pets. "We have medications now that can stop the itch within hours," he says. "That gives the skin a chance to heal, and it gives the owners a break."
If food allergies are suspected, hypoallergenic food trials are prescribed. "It's not just buying a bag that says ‘grain-free,'" Dr. Aversa cautions. "We use prescription diets with hydrolyzed proteins, literally broken down so the immune system doesn't recognize them."
For fleas, he recommends a comprehensive plan: treat the pets, treat the home, and treat every animal in the household. "If you don't treat the environment, you're just putting a Band-Aid on the problem."
In cases of seasonal or chronic allergies, long-term management may include regular treatment, allergy testing, or even immunotherapy, where pets are desensitized to allergens over time.
Diagnosis Matters: Ruling Out the Rare but Serious
While allergies are the most common cause of itching and skin irritation, Dr. Aversa warns that other serious conditions can mimic allergy symptoms. Mange mites, immune-mediated diseases, and even certain cancers can present as chronic itching or skin abnormalities.
"This is why seeing your veterinarian is so important," he says. "We take a thorough history, perform a full physical exam, and rule out everything else before jumping to conclusions."
The Personal Touch: A Veterinarian with a Mission
What makes Dr. Aversa stand out isn't just his clinical expertise, it's his heart. Whether it's rescuing pigs, shelter dogs, or horses bound for slaughter, his life outside the clinic mirrors the compassion he brings into every exam room.
"Animals don't have a voice," Dr. Aversa says. "It's our job to speak for them. To see their pain even when they can't express it. That's what this work is all about."
His current New Mexico-based practice continues to serve as a refuge for both pets and their people. Clients know they can trust Dr. Aversa to treat the symptoms and care deeply about the animals behind them.
Final Words: Relief Is Possible
"Allergies can be exhausting for the animal and the family," Dr. Aversa concludes. "But they don't have to be a life sentence. With the right diagnosis and treatment plan, most pets can find relief and live comfortably."
His advice? If your pet is persistently itchy, licking, chewing, or scratching; don't wait. Relief is possible, and the sooner the issue is addressed, the better the outcome for everyone involved.
Media Contact:
Aversa Veterinary Services
Location: New Mexico, USA
Eugene Aversa
eugene@eugeneaversa.com
https://www.eugeneaversadvm.com/about-me.html
SOURCE: Eugene Aversa DVM
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