Common Dog Allergies
He paces around the room and will lie down only long enough to scratch. He has scratched so much that the skin is red, swollen and broken. Sometimes he digs at his ears for what seems like hours. You don’t see any fleas. What is wrong with my dog?!
Allergies are a frequent cause of skin irritation and itching in dogs. Your pet can be allergic to a variety of things but most commonly the cause can be narrowed down to one of three causes; fleas, food and atopy. Unfortunately in some cases, your pet may have a combination of allergies.
Flea Allergies in Dogs
Dog allergies to fleas are the most common triggers of allergic reactions in dogs. Ironically, the flea allergies in dogs are most commonly caused by the cat flea. Infestation with cat fleas can cause intense itching, inflammation and disease transmission.
Symptoms of Flea Allergies in Dogs
Animals that are sensitive to the flea bite will experience itching of variable intensity, crusted skin lesions, restlessness, hair loss and sometimes infections. If the flea infestation is severe the dog can also experience blood loss anemia. Symptoms are most noticeable during the summer months when flea populations peak. Flea allergy is uncommon in puppies.
Diagnosis of Flea Allergies
Diagnosis is made by evaluating the dog allergy symptoms and finding fleas. It may be difficult to see fleas because they scatter quickly when the hair is parted. Often one must look for evidence of fleas by examining the skin for small black speckles of flea waste.
Flea Allergy Treatment
To eliminate symptoms the fleas must be removed from both the dog and its environment. There are many different products that are available for flea treatments. Your dog’s veterinarian will evaluate your pet thoroughly to determine which treatment is best for your dog. Once eradicated, it is important to maintain routine preventative flea control.
Dog Food Allergies
A common cause of itching and skin lesions is an allergy to the food that your pet is eating. Allergic reactions to food can develop at any time but most commonly appear during puppyhood. The most common triggers for allergic reactions are corn, soy, wheat, chicken, eggs and beef.
Dog Food Allergy Symptoms
Symptoms may include frequent ear infections, constant scratching and skin lesions. Dogs with food allergies will often have intense itching and variable response to treatments.
Dog Food Allergy Treatment
The veterinarian will recommend systematically eliminating foods to determine if there is a specific food allergy. The vet may recommend replacing your current food with a special hypoallergenic dog food for up to twelve weeks. If the dog allergy symptoms disappear the vet may suggest reintroducing the suspected allergen to monitor for itching and confirming diagnosis.
Best Dog Food For Allergies
There are many different companies that specialize in making foods for dogs that are free of allergens. The best dog food for allergies are products that contain only the essential ingredients and are free from artificial flavors and dyes. Candidae, Wellness and Avoderm are a few companies that make pet foods that are created with the intention to limit exposure to artificial ingredients and to reduce the risk of allergic reactions to food. Many of these brands contain different types of meats and grains that are not common allergy triggers. Explore K9 Depot to learn about different brands of hypoallergenic dog foods.
Allergic Inhalant Dermatitis (aka Atopy)
Atopy is an allergic condition to an environmental trigger that has contact with the skin or is inhaled.
Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms
Symptoms usually develop in the first 3 years of life and are often seasonal. Typically the dog will have itching and inflammation of the skin but runny nose and difficulty breathing can also occur. The dog may experience severe itching and scratch so intensely that there hair loss, open sores and infection may develop.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis in Dogs
Diagnostic testing is not reliable, so the vet will makes this diagnosis based on physical exam and history.
Atopy is treated by removing the allergen, if possible, and relieving itching. Sometimes the vet will recommend treatments, such as allergy shots, to reduce the animal’s sensitivity to the allergen.
If your dog has symptoms that are suggestive of an allergy, it is important to have your pet evaluated by your veterinarian. Never attempt to treat the animal on your own.
photo credit: Sukanto Debnath
