Dog Skin Allergy

Common Dog Skin Allergies

Common dog dander allergies is known as as Atopica, Atopic dermatitis, Atopy and Canine Dermatitis which can be caused by airborne allergens. Pollen allergens include pollen, dust mites, trees, weeds, mould spres and people dander. Of these dust mites are the most common of dog skin allergy as they thrive in our households in areas that are warm and moist such as mattresses and furniture upholstery.

Invisible to the naked eye, dust mites feed on dead skin scales and defecate pellets of half-digested food and enzymes which contain allergens. Humans react to allergens usually by sneezing and nasal congestion. Dogs react differently.

How To Spot Dog Food Allergies

When a dog has an allergic reaction, allergies in dogs usually manifest in the form of itchy skin, ears and paws. This condition causes dogs to scratch and bite themselves constantly sometimes resulting in chunks of fur being removed exposing raw skin. If severe, the skin may become infected.

Atopic dermatitis often shows itself in the first two years. Dog skin allergy symptoms include rashes, very itchy skin, scratching constantly, rubbing the face often and/or frequently chewing on their paws

Others will have red hot to the touch ears, and/or frequent ear, bacterial and yeast infections may occur. Atopy is diagnosed using different methods, including ruling out other issues with similar signs such as lice, flea infestation or sarcoptic mange.

Atopic dermatitis often shows itself in the first two years. Dog skin allergies symptoms include rashes, very itchy skin, scratching constantly, rubbing the face often and/or frequently chewing on their paws Others will have red hot to the touch ears, and/or frequent ear, bacterial and yeast infections may occur.

Dog Skin Allergies Treatment

Atopy is diagnosed using different methods, including ruling out other issues with similar signs such as lice, flea infestation or sarcoptic mange. Dog food allergies can also cause similar skin problems and can exist concurrently or separate from allergies to airborne particles.

Sensitivity testing can also be done, allergens are injected under the skin to see whether there is a reaction to the potential allergen.

So if you notice that your dog seems to be biting or scratching itself more than usual, you should examine the dog's skin or if in doubt, bring your dog to the vet to check if it is suffering from dog skin allergies.

Inhalant Allergies In Dogs

Dog Skin Allergies Caused by Inhalants

A common dog skin allergies cause, inhalants such as pollen, dust, mold and mildew can trigger off certain allergies in dogs. Unusually high quantities of these allergens may be found In certain environments, both in the home and outdoors. Outdoor allergens can be found in the form of pollens from trees (oak, ash, cedar), pollens from Bermuda grass and also ragweed pollens.

Symptoms Of Inhalant Dog Allergies

Inhalant allergy is known as atopy, the most common form of dog allergy. But unlike humans who react to inhalant allergy by coughs and sneezes,dog food allergies manfest in the form severe itching. When a dog suffers from an allergy, it will react by frenzied scratching and biting all over its body including its paws.

The extent of the itching may be so bad that it causes the dog to chew off turfs of fur leaving bald patches on its body. The most badly affected areas are often its armpits, flanks, groin and feet. Contrary to popular belief, such itching is not caused by fleas but by inhalant allergies.

If the dog bites itself to the extent of leaving skin lesions, inflammation can occur which leads to infection called atopic dermatitis.

Inhalant Allergies In Dog Breeds

Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to inhalant allergies. This is a genetic predisposition that makes some dog breeds to be more commonly affected.

These breeds include the Irish Setters, Schnauzers, Scottish Terriers, Boston Terriers, Cairn Terriers, West Higland White Terriers and Wire-Haired Terriers. Female dogs are more susceptible to inhalant allergies which usually occur within 3 years of a dog's growth.

Treatment for Inhalant Allergies In Dogs

Unfortunately there is no cure for inhalant allergies in dogs. There are treatment options to control atopy symptoms but the best option would be to avoid the allergen. However, since this is almost impossible, certain desensitization therapy and treatment are used.

Weekly antigen injections can be used to help the dog become immune to allergens. Steriods and antibiotics can effectively reduce itching together with fatty acid supplementation to help relieve dog dander allergies.

Dog Allergy Symptoms

How To Recognize Symptoms Of Dog Allergies

When allergies in dogs start, various dog allergy symptoms appear and dog owners should be aware of what to look out for to take immediate action to relieve the dog of its discomfort. As in human beings, some people get watery eyes or running noses as manifestations of allergy. In dogs, they too manifest dog allergies in various ways.

Symptoms Of Dog Skin Allergies

Some dog skin allergy symptoms to look out for are redness of skin especially around the eyes and mouth, and continuously licking at paws. Bald patches is a sign of allergy caused by constant scratching and itching. Some dogs also begin to smell very bad. When a dog keeps scratching its ears and they smell bad, it could be a sign of ear infection. In severe cases, dogs can lose their appetite leading to weight loss and digestive problems.

For inhaled dog allergies, look out for watery eyes, coughing and sneezing. This usually happens during spring and fall while in summer, flea allergies are common. Hives and rashes can be symptoms of various types of allergies. In food allergies, the symptoms are often vomitting and diarrhea. If any of the above dog allergy symptoms are spotted, bring your dog to the vet immediately as they could be signs of some serious underlying medical condition.

Dog Food Allergies

Some types of food that can cause dog allergies include corn, beef, dairy products, wheat and soybeans. If so, discuss with your vet about putting your dog on a special protein diet where different foods are gradually added to determine the exact food that is causing the allergy. If results are not conclusive, the vet may recommend allergy tests to find the allergen. Finding out about dog food allergies can save your dogs' life.

Dog Allergies Caused By Dust Mites

Keep your house dust-free by vacuuming frequently to get rid of dust, mold spores, pollen grains and other chemicals such as air fresheners. Surfaces around the house such as bedding can cause dog dander allergies. Cedar wood chips and wool are two common culprits. Grass is another possible offender. If your dog is using a plastic feeding bowl and shows redness around its chin, try changing its feeding bowl to other materials such as steel or ceramic.

Ensure that your dog is happy and healthy by learning to recognize dog food allergy symptoms.