If you own a dog, it’s important to know what allergies they may have. Allergies are an immune response by the dog’s body to something that is not typically harmful. For example, if your dog has allergies to pollen or dust mites, their immune system will produce antibodies for these substances and send out histamine. This can cause itching and scratches in dogs which will make them uncomfortable. Keep reading to find out more about dog allergies.
Can dogs have allergies?
While dog allergies are less common than dog skin allergies, they do exist. Allergies in dogs can be caused by a variety of things such as food, pollen, and even chemicals found in the home.
Today many dog owners want to know whether or not their dog could have an allergy or if it is just a case of having dry skin that needs dealing with through moisturizing creams etc. The most important thing you should do when trying to identify what type of allergic reaction your dog has visited your veterinarian for proper diagnosis and treatment recommendations.
An allergist will likely begin by asking questions about your dog’s symptoms including where on his body he shows signs of irritation; how long this area has been affected; what makes these signs better or worse; if he is scratching more than usual, and how long it takes him to stop.
Your dog’s veterinarian will also do a skin test by taking either a small piece of the dog’s skin or some hair from an affected area, placing them in certain allergens found in your dog’s environment such as grasses, trees pollens, etc., looking for any type of reaction which could indicate allergies.
If you are not able to see your regular veterinarian you can always visit one of our clinics where we would be happy to help diagnose why your dog may have developed allergies. We offer both traditional allergy testing methods that use injections along with sublingual (under the tongue) therapy that uses drops placed under the dog’s tongue.
Types of allergies in dogs
There are different types of dog allergies in dogs, but the most common type is a food allergy. Food allergies often present themselves as itchy skin (most commonly on your dog’s face and paws) or ear infections.
Another type of dog allergy is contact or inhalant allergies. This type of dog allergy often presents itself as itchy eyes, sneezing, and other nasal symptoms, among others. Allergies to certain types of bedding can also trigger an allergic reaction in your dog. Lastly, if you have another dog at home that has a specific type of dog allergy (for example a pollen allergy), there is the possibility that your second dog could develop similar allergies from exposure to those allergens. However, this would be rare since most dogs are not allergic to allergen sources present in their environment such as pollens and dander from animals like cats and rodents which normally don’t affect them either way.
Allergies to certain ingredients in commercial dog foods can be identified by performing dietary trials with novel protein/ingredient sources for which there is no known history of use in dog foods; this process usually requires a prescription from your veterinarian because diets must meet all nutritional requirements for optimal dog health.
Common symptoms of allergies in dogs
Dog owners should be aware that dogs can have different causes for their itching (for example seasonal), he could also suffer from allergies caused by plants or grasses – the most common cause is still environmental allergens such as pollen, dust mites, etc. Other possible reasons include infections with parasites like fleas; bacterial skin diseases; dry flaky coat or irritations due to frequent shampooing or swimming in chlorinated water. Some products used on your dog may even be causing him irritation too! If you suspect a particular product is making things worse consult your vet before switching dog shampoo or medicine.
Dog allergy symptoms are pretty easy to spot – dog’s skin will be red and inflamed, dog hair may fall out in patches, the dog could also show signs of infection like runny eyes and nose. The most common allergies dogs suffer from are food allergies which cause itchy skin; contact allergies caused by the saliva of other animals (for example cat dander) can lead to an itching sensation around the dog’s mouth area.
Some vets recommend using antihistamines for your dog but don’t forget that there is no cure for canine allergies so try avoiding specific allergens as much as possible! Consult with your vet before trying alternative therapies such as homeopathy dog allergy remedies.
Why does my dog have allergies?
One of the most common dog allergies is caused by fleas. If your dog has an allergy that causes them to scratch, you should check for fleas before anything else. Flea allergies can be very uncomfortable and affect dogs on a day-to-day basis. They may also end up with skin infections from scratching too much at their body trying to get relief from the itchiness they feel because of the allergy. Make sure if you use any type of flea preventative or treatment that it does not have ingredients such as Permethrin in it which could make the situation worse for your dog’s health condition. It would be best to consult a veterinarian about this issue first before going ahead with whatever products claim to repel and kill fleas and ticks.
Dogs can have allergies just like people. Dog allergies are becoming more and more common in dogs today because of the food they eat, their environment, and other factors. You may not think it’s a big deal but dog allergies can cause discomfort to your dog’s skin which could lead to many other problems for them down the road if left untreated.
A dog having allergies is a common ailment, and unfortunately, there isn’t always one solution to solve them. So what can dog owners do?
- Dog breeds with allergies include German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Great Danes, and Boxers.
- Dogs might develop allergies as they get older (especially if they’re around humans more often). As well as this, dogs who suffer from food intolerances such as lactose or gluten intolerance may also show allergy symptoms when exposed to non-intolerant foods that their bodies cannot process properly. For example; peanuts which are found in many dog treats could cause severe allergic reactions for some dogs due to the high levels of protein contained within them.
