My Dog Allergies -

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Understanding and Treating Dog Allergies

When your best friend is miserable so are you. A dog experiencing seasonal or long term allergies is just as uncomfortable as a human dealing with this health issue. The dog however, is completely dependent on you for help. Whether short term or a chronic issue, dog allergy symptoms can affect the animals overall health. Understanding the condition and how to treat allergies in dogs can provide help in relieving the symptoms, and give you the opportunity to make your pet more comfortable.

 

The Occurrence of Allergies in Dogs

Just as with humans, allergies are very common in dogs. All breeds, sizes, and types of dogs can have an allergic reaction or condition. Breeds believed to be more susceptible are the West Highland Terrier, the Golden Retriever, the Boxer, and the Poodle. Allergies are also frequently seen in flat-faced breeds such as the Boston Terrier and Pugs.  Susceptibility to an allergen is not considered a breed fault however, though it is known to be a genetic tendency just as is seen in human beings. If either the sire or dame of your puppy has allergies then there is greater chance your puppy will have them too. Unless the allergy is extreme or life threatening, it isn’t usually seen as a reason not to breed a dog..

Common Dog Allergy Symptoms

All dogs scratch themselves, but when allergies kick in this behavior seems to become an unhappy obsession for the animal. The skin will become red, moist, or scabbed. The dog’s eyes might become runny and reddened. Often the tail will be bitten along the base rapidly and repeatedly, sometimes until bloody. A dog might persistently scratch at the ears, and ear infections crop up again and again especially in breeds such as the Cocker Spaniel and others with droopy, furry ears that flap over instead of remaining naturally upright. The dog might lick the skin or fur more than usual or chew at the paws. Besides these signs of dog skin problems there’s often sneezing, vomiting or diarrhea. Snoring because of an inflamed throat is also reported as a dog allergy symptom.

A dog with allergies will also suffer other types of secondary bacterial or yeast infections predominately evident in the ear. Allergies can also cause bald patches in the fur, or scabs and crusts on the skin from excessive scratching.

The Causes of Dog Allergies

Allergies will usually show up between the ages of 1 to 5 years of age in your dog. Allergies can’t be completely cured, but they can be controlled. Allergies in dogs are caused by the dog’s own immune system reacting to something in the environment the system sees as a threat to the body. The body will release antibodies to target molecules of the allergen and then direct them to the white blood cells to be destroyed. As the allergen is destroyed, a chemical called histamine is released into the dog’s bloodstream. Large amounts of histamine inflames the body tissues, causes itchiness, dilated blood vessels, excess secreted fluids, and muscle tightening of airways.

Dogs can develop allergies to a number of things in their environment or from foods they eat. Common allergens that cause dog skin problems and dog allergy symptoms are from tree, grass, and weed pollens. Mold spores, dander, dust mites, cigarette smoke, feathers such as found in pillows can also be culprits. Occasionally dogs will have allergies to cleaning products, fabrics, or even rubber and plastic. An allergy in dogs caused by an inhaled substance is called canine atopy.

One of the more common allergies seen in dogs is due to fleas. Flea allergies are easily treatable with the removal of all fleas, as even one flea bite can cause a full blown skin allergy. The dog is not allergic to the flea itself, but to the saliva in the fleas bite.

Diagnosing Dog Allergies

Since allergies are a common problem most veterinarians have little trouble in diagnosing whether dog skin problems are caused by an allergen. When your best friend’s skin is red, itchy, and irritated, both of you want relief quickly, and a veterinarian will usually treat for allergies even while running skin and blood test to see if the allergen can be pinpointed.

The most common test for air born or environmental allergens is the intra-dermal skin test, very much like the test humans have for diagnosing allergies. For food allergies, the veterinarian will prescribe an elimination diet to find the food causing the problem.

After diagnosis through testing, a veterinarian might change the course of treatment or advise you to stay with the medications the pet is currently taking. Pinpointing the cause gives owners the best chance to eliminate the dogs contact with the allergen as much as possible.

 Treatment of Dog Allergies

The best treatment is to either remove the allergen or keep the pet away from exposure, but this often isn’t a possibility. If you can’t rid the home of those things you believe your pet is allergic to, then seeing a veterinarian is recommended. A veterinarian will often recommend natural treatments such as putting Omega 3 in the dog’s diet, or giving the dog a prescribed amount of Yucca to help the dog’s immune system function normally. Medicated shampoos and conditioners are also frequently recommended as are over-the-counter medications and antihistamines. If nothing seems to relieve the problem then steroids and immune-modulators can be prescribed for dog allergies.