Identifying and Treating Dog Allergies
Do you know anyone whose dog has been diagnosed with allergies?
Your dog may have allergies; has the vet mentioned this?
Does your dog have a sensitivity to something?
Having come to this conclusion, you've probably learned that dog allergies are more complex than we'd like to believe
Different Canine Allergies
People and animals are susceptible to developing allergies dueto the immune system's erroneous response to harmless invaders. For example,dogs can suffer from a wide variety of allergies. In addition, dogs and theirowners face difficulties due to various allergens, including skin allergies,food allergies, and environmental allergens.
Skin Allergies
Most dogs suffer from skin allergies (also known as allergic dermatitis). Dog skin allergies typically stem from one of three sources:
● An itchy rash brought on by a flea allergy
● Anaphylaxis to food
● Pollen, dust mites, and other environmental allergens
Dermatitis caused by flea bites is an allergic reaction. Some canines are susceptible to flea saliva. Affected dogs' skin may become red,inflamed, and scabbed, and they may experience extreme itching, especially at the base of the tail. Seeing fleas or flea dirt is another possible indication that you have a flea problem.
Skin rash is another symptom of food allergies and sensitivities. In addition, dogs with food allergies often experience itching in the ears and paws and possible gastrointestinal symptoms.
Environmental allergens like dust, pollen, and mold can trigger atopic reactions and dermatitis. Dogs with these types of allergies typically only show symptoms during specific times of the year. Paws and ears are the most typical target areas, just like human food allergies (including the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and between the toes).
Secondary infections can occur with any skin allergy. For example, your dog may develop yeast and bacterial infections on his skin if he constantly licks, bites, and scratches at it.
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Allergic Reactions to Food
According to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer of the AKC, true food allergies may not be as common as people think. The immune system's reaction to a particular food can cause various symptoms. These can manifest on the skin (hives, facial swelling, itching), in the digestive tract(vomiting and diarrhea), or in combination. In addition, anaphylaxis, a life-threatening allergic reaction, can occur in highly unusual cases.
But what about the many canines that need hypoallergenic dogfood due to severe food sensitivities?
Food sensitivity, also known as food intolerance, is what most people mean when they say their dog has a food allergy. Dogs can develop sensitivities to various foods, including beef, chicken, eggs, corn, wheat,soy, and milk. Still, unlike true food allergies, these don't involve the immune system.
In addition to gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, dogs with food sensitivities may also show dermatological signs like itchiness, poor skin and coat, and chronic ear or foot infections.
Working with your veterinarian to manage your dog's symptoms and identify the offending ingredient is the best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy.
Acute Allergic Reactions
An acute allergic reaction is one of the most concerning manifestations of dog allergies. Like humans, dogs can experience life-threatening anaphylactic shock if they have a severe allergic reaction to a trigger. If left untreated, this can be fatal.
Suppose your dog has ever had an anaphylactic reaction to anything, including bee stings or vaccines. In that case, you know how important it is to keep a close eye on him after he is given a new vaccine,drug, or food. Unfortunately, dogs rarely have anaphylactic reactions, which is fortunate.
In addition to itching and scratching, your dog may develop facial swelling or hives if allergic to something. Facial, throat, lip, eyelid,and ear flap swelling may look severe but is usually treatable with an antihistamine.
Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs
The manifestations of canine allergies are only sometimes consistent. For example, the drop in blood pressure and subsequent shock that accompanies anaphylaxis in a dog is very different from the symptoms of a skin condition. Nevertheless, when a dog has allergies, they show signs like these.
● Itchiness
● puffiness of the cheeks, lips, eyes, or earflaps
● The skin is red and inflamed.
● Diarrhea
● Vomiting
● Sneezing
● Itchy ears
● Constant earache
● Red, watery eyes
● Excessive licking
These signs and symptoms may be indicative of something else.Schedule a visit with the vet to get a proper diagnosis and get your dog feeling better.
The Challenge of Canine Allergy Diagnosis
If you've ever had allergy testing done, you know how tricky it can be to pinpoint precisely what's causing your symptoms.
First, your vet may conduct diagnostic tests to rule out other possible causes of your dog's symptoms. In cases where your vet suspects anallergy is the root of the problem, they may suggest allergy testing to zero in on the specific allergen(s) responsible for the reaction. Keep in mind, though,that testing might not always be able to identify the root of an allergy.
An elimination diet is commonly used to identify potential allergens in a person's diet. For example, in a food trial, dogs eat only asingle, untested source of protein and carbs for an entire month.
The skin condition caused by flea allergies is the most straight forward to identify. To make a diagnosis, veterinarians look for fleason your dog and treat him with a medication that eliminates the pests before they can bite.
Dog Allergy Relief
Allergies are best treated by avoiding the triggers that cause them. Unfortunately, not all cases will allow for this to happen. However, how to treat your dog's allergies is conditional on what kind of allergies it has.Unsurprisingly, one of the most effective treatments for flea allergy dermatitis is getting rid of the fleas themselves. In contrast, the most effective treatment for food allergies and intolerances is, unsurprisingly, a dietary change.
Your veterinarian may recommend an allergy relief medication for your dog in addition to making any necessary changes to your dog's lifestyle to alleviate the symptoms of the allergic reaction, such as itching and secondary skin infections caused by the irritant.
Your dog should be rushed to an emergency veterinary hospital if he experiences a severe allergic reaction.
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