Dog Allergy Treatment And Medication

Treatment And Medication For Dog Food Allergies

Vets treat dog food allergies with several methods. Since some dog food allergies have the symptoms that are similar to inhalant allergies in dogs and can even co-exist, vets will recommend a change in diet before further testing. Apart from sensitivity testing, allergens are injected under the skin to see whether there is a reaction to the potential allergen. Once diagnosed, there are several dog allergy treatment options available, including Atopica.

Oral Medication In Dog Food Allergy Treatment

One dog skin allergy treatment option is oral medications, although some dog owners will find administering the oral medication somewhat challenging. In the past, cortosteroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone have been used to treat atopic dermatitis, however, Corticosteroids are usually given on a short term or limited basis as steroids often have long term side effects and can interfere with the dog's immune system and ability to fight infection.

Recently, an oral form of cyclosporine known as atopica, from Novartis, has been released in hopes of treating dog skin allergy issues without long term side effects of previously used meds.

Atopica is usually given once a day in the beginning and eventually tapered off to a schedule of every other day or less. The most common side effect seen with cyclosporine is an upset stomach that may manifest itself through a loss of appetite, vomiting or diarrhea. In this case the dosage is usually reduced, however, the upset stomach issues usually resolve themselves after a week or two and the dog can then proceed with the recommended dose.

Possible Side Effects In Dog Skin Allergy Medication

As with any drugs, Atopica can have side effects and/or interactions with other pet medications, and should therefore be administered carefully. Consequently, atopica and other cyclosporine products are not a good solution for every dog, including pregnant or lactating females.

Another treatment option sometimes recommended by veterinarians is a hyposensitising vaccine, what we might call "allergy shots" formulated to your pet's specific needs. A vaccine is created focused on your dog's specific dog skin allergy.

The vaccine is injected into the dog beginning with a very small dose and then gradually increasing the dose. The goal is for the dog's body to slowly get used to these allergens to where it will stop reacting adversely to them. The down side to allergy shots is that they can be very expensive and pet owners generally do not feel comfortable administering the shots.

Knowing how to spot dander allergies symptoms early saves your dog great discomfort and in certain cases, even save its life by taking it to the vet for dog skin allergy treatment and medication.

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.

Dust Mites And Dog Allergies

Dog Skin Allergies Caused By Dust Mites

Among the most common dog skin allergies are inhalant allergies. Over 25 percent of dogs in the US suffer from some form of dog allergy caused by dust mites, molds, mildew and pollen.

Dust mites are microscopic insects that cannot be seen by the naked eye. They belong to the arachnid family of insects which include spiders, chiggers and ticks.

Dog Skin Allergies In High Risk Environments

Certain environmental conditions encourage the growth of dust mites and they can be found in moist, warm areas such as inside your pillow, mattress or cushions. They feed on dead human and animal skin flakes known as dander which can cause dander allergies. Dust mites are not harmful in themselves in that they do not bite and spread disease. They only become a source of irritant when humans and animals develop an allergy to them.

Dust Mites A Common Cause Of Dog Skin Allergies

Dust mite feces and proteins in their bodies can cause dog food allergies. Such fecal matter are found in large quantities in places such as sofas, mattresses, carpets and pillows.

They may be invisible but as many as 19,000 dust mites could be found in 1 gram of dust although up to 500 dust mites are more commonly found to be living in a gram of dust.

It is impossible to get rid of dust mites as the home environment provides ideal living conditions, thus the most common dog allergies are caused by dust mites.

Reduce Chances Of Dog Skin Allergies

You can take certain steps to reduce the dust mite population by changing bed sheets and cleaning carpets and upholstery regularly to reduce chances of dog allergies occurring.

Small populations of dust mites do not cause dog allergies but large populations heighten the risk of dog allergies. It has been found that over 43 percent of US households in specific locations have dust mite levels that cause allergies both in dogs and humans.

If you suspect your dog to be suffering from an allergy, seek professional treatment from your vet who will run tests and prescribe proper medication for treatment for dog allergies to relieve your dogs' discomfort.

Treatment Of Dog Allergies

Dog Allergies: Their Symptoms And Treatment

Learn about dog food allergies and recognise dog allergy symptoms so that you can seek early treatment for your dog. Failure to do so causes your dog to suffer discomfort and in certain cases, may even endanger your dog's life. Many dog owners are ignorant that dogs too can have allergies, just like human beings.

The types of dog skin allergies differ according to the causes and the different dog breeds. You may need to conduct specific tests to find out what exactly is causing the dog allergies which may manifest as skin irritation and redness, or strong bad smells.

The 5 main types of dog allergies are contact, flea, food, bacterial, and inhalant. Each of these have their own peculiar symptoms.

Dog Allergy 1: Contact
Dogs get an allergic reaction when they come into contact with certain materials or surfaces. It could be flea collars, types of bedding or the plastic in drinking bowls. When a dog is allergic to these substances, there will be skin irritation and itching causing the dog to scratch and bite constantly. Simply removing the object or material that is causing the allergy solves the problem but finding the cause may require sharp observation.

Dog Allergy 2: Flea
Dogs normally feel only a slight irritation from flea bites. But when flea bites causes a dog to itch severely, then the dog is likely to be having an allergic reaction from dander allergies. Some dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas which causes them to scratch intensely and chew on themselves to the point of leaving a bald patch. Getting rid of fleas may require the use of steroids especially since it is nearly impossible to control fleas in humid climates where fleas reproduce very fast.

Dog Allergy 3: Food
The best way to tackle dog food allergies is by trial and error. Running food tests are unreliable so it is best to watch your dog closely when trying out different types of dog food.

Dog Allergy 4: Bacterial
Several types of bacterial can be found on normal dogs but pose no danger to dogs if their immune system is healthy. But if a dog develops an allergy to the bacteria, the dog may suffer hair loss giving rise to skin patches that look much like ringworm. Antibiotics are used to treat such allergies in dogs. However, the dog may develop a resistance to the antibiotic in the long term causing the allergy to return.

Dog Allergy 5: Inhalant
Dog skin allergies caused by inhalants are most common. These are much the same types of inhalants that cause human allergies such as tree pollen, molds, mildew, and house dust mite. The most common dog allergy reaction is general itching. If the allergen is seasonal, then the itching may only last for a few weeks. Using hypoallergenic dog shampoo frequently can help relieve itching since some allergens are absorbed through the skin. Some dogs react favorably to fatty acid supplementation when implemented with steroids and antihistamines. Allergen therapy in the form of weekly antigen injections are also used to help the dog become immune to allergens.

Recognizing dog allergy symptoms is important for dog owners to keep their dogs healthy and free from dog skin allergies.