Allergic Pet Blog

itch (Photo credit: brontosaurus)

When people see their dog scratching a lot, they automatically assume it has fleas. Although flea bites do cause itching, the truth is that dogs can be allergic to certain food products, environmental pollutants, bug bites, dust mites, pollen and exposure to the sun. Dogs can be allergic to, among other things, another animal and even to their very own owners. These all cause dogs to have itchy skin.

Dogs that are observed scratching more than usual should have their skins checked carefully. If the skin is red and scaly or scabby, or the owner notices unusual hair loss, the dog should be taken to the vet. Sometimes, a dog’s paws will become swollen from constant licking and chewing. All these signs are symptoms of allergies.

Diagnosing dog allergies that cause itching.

Dogs can be allergic to the same substances that cause human allergies. In order to identify the specific allergen, the veterinarian performs the same types of tests that allergists perform on humans. Dogs may need to be put on an elimination diet to determine if they are allergic to a certain food. Skin and blood tests may be performed. If the problem cannot be diagnosed, or treatment seems ineffective, the dog should be seen by a veterinary dermatologist.

Natural Remedies.

Some of the same remedies to relieve the allergic itching that are prescribed for humans are also prescribed for dogs. This includes antihistamines and steroids. There are also a number of natural remedies that can be tried.

• The dog should be bathed weekly with a soothing shampoo recommended by a vet.

• Feed the dog only hypoallergenic food.

• Grind oatmeal into a powder and rub into the coat. It relieves itching, but may need to be applied several times a day.

• Rub baking soda into the coat and skin to relieve itching.

• Avoid using chemicals on your pet. Flea collars should be avoided, since they contain toxic chemicals causing allergic reactions in many dogs.

• Dogs that have allergies to the sun need to have sunscreen applied before going outside.

• Adding some herbs and fatty acids to the diet, with the approval of your vet, may alleviate the itching.

• There are chewable dog allergy tablets with herbs and special herbal shampoos that can be purchased through your vet or online that are designed specifically to treat a dog’s itchy skin.

Shelves of dog food. Includes Beneful and Pedigree (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A food allergy in dogs can start at any age, but they are most commonly found in dogs that are 2 years of age and older. Studies have shown that dogs who consistently eat the same food each day and the same source, such as the brand of food or the same source of protein, are more susceptible of developing a food allergy. When a dogs immune system continually deals with the same type of allergens for several years, it may end up developing negative reactions toward the source of food.

Intolerance or Allergies 

It is important to not confuse food intolerance with food allergies. Both are often the most difficult aliments for pets to diagnose and the symptoms of allergies and intolerance can be uncomfortable for your dog. Food intolerance does not cause the same type of reactions as an allergy, such as skin problems and itching. In some dogs a food allergy can literally begin within a day and the allergen could be due to something the dog has eaten for years with no problems. In most cases, dogs with food allergies will the symptoms will increase and decrease overtime and new symptoms may occur as other symptoms diminish. Some of the most common chronic symptoms of allergies may include:

• Hair loss
• Flaky skin
• Skin hives and rashes
• Itchy paws and feet, which often leads to chewing at paws
• Dry skin
• Itchy skin
• Chronic vomiting
• Recurrent ear infections
• Chronic diarrhea
• Recurrent hot spots and skin infections
• Frequent bowel movements

Most common dog food allergens

It has been shown that specific ingredients that commonly found in dog foods have a higher tendency to cause dog food allergies than other ingredients. Some of the most common ingredients in dog food that may trigger food allergies may include:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Dairy products including cheese and milk
• Wheat
• Corn
• Soy
• Yeast
• Certain spices and/or additives

Treating Dog Food Allergies 

Dogs with a food allergy usually will not respond to a steroid or anti-histamine treatment, or they may have a limited response that only lasts a day or two, before symptoms will return. Typically treatment for food allergies in dogs is treatment with an exclusion diet. This type of diet involves removing one ingredient at a time from his diet for two weeks. In most situations this means serving him special foods or homemade food until the allergen can be identified. Once a particular ingredient is excluded and his symptoms disappear or improve, it is usually an indication that the food excluded was causing the reactions.

Puggle Puppy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dogs, like humans, can and do suffering from a number of allergies. However, in the dog world some of the reactions can be far more severe, especially given the fact that dogs use their noses far more than any human could ever use all of his five senses.

A dog can suffer from breathing, skin, and digestion allergies. Unfortunately, many of these conditions won’t become apparent until a dog tends to be older, which makes puppy life rather difficult. Common symptoms can include conjunctivitis in the eyes, frequent sneezing, vomiting, runny eyes, frequent scratching, and diarrhea. An allergic reaction in a dog can include one or multiple symptoms, depending how the dog’s body is reacting to something. Veterinarians who are trained to look for dog allergies early on, however, will spot these conditions and prescribe both treatments and medication to alleviate symptoms as well as help dogs recover.

Treatment for a dog’s allergies can usually include prescribed chemical treatments. However, drug and chemical treatments can be harsh on an animal, especially one never previously exposed to such cures. A number of natural treatments and practices can provide significant relief as well. Additionally, natural treatments provide far less negative side effects for dogs.

First, once an allergy is identified, the reaction programs can be reduced greatly if exposure can be reduced. Second, where inhalation of dust or dander is a problem, regular cleaning and vacuuming of the dog’s bed as well as washing the dog weekly can reduce a lot of sources triggering an inhalation allergy. Further, a food allergy can be alleviated with a controlled diet under the advice of a veterinarian. With the causal food source eliminated, the vomiting and diarrhea symptoms should die down and disappear as the dog’s system removes the remaining food causing problems. Finally, skin reactions can be soothed and alleviated with natural remedies such as oatmeal, aloe, and medicated shampoos.