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We all want our pups to have healthy, active immune systems, but sometimes what shows up is an overly active, overstimulated immune system when exposed to certain element. That’s what’s known as an allergy, something that’s all too common in people, but they affect dogs as well. If you experience allergies, you know the discomfort and inconvenience caused by these reactions. Well, it’s no different for your pup. Read on to get a better handle on dog allergies so that you can get on the road to providing your pup with some much-needed relief and preventing some of the unwanted consequences that untreated allergies can bring.
Types of Dog Allergies
A dog allergic reaction can be to a wide number of irritants, some of which they are around every day and some only seasonally. Dog allergies can be divided into two broad categories.
Environmental Allergies in Dogs
This type of allergy is to stimuli in a dog’s environment. So basically, anything that they can come in contact with. Fleas are a major one, but so are pollens, molds, or chemicals that you use to clean your home and laundry, or that you use in your yard. These allergies typically present with a skin rash on the parts of the body with less fur, such as the face, feet, or belly, since this is where they get the most contact with the skin. They could also show up as watery eyes, a runny nose, and sneezing.
Food Allergies in Dogs
The other type of dog allergy is to food. Dogs can develop allergic reactions to certain ingredients in their food, even if they have been eating the same food for years. The most common ingredients to elicit allergy signs are the protein sources, especially beef, chicken, lamb, and dairy. Dogs often show up with not only itchy skin, but also vomiting, diarrhea, and chronic ear infections.
Dog Allergy Signs
Because dog allergies are so widespread, affecting many furry friends, and can mimic other health concerns, a deeper understanding of their symptoms is essential. This will help pet parents distinguish between allergies and other issues, and ultimately get their pups the targeted relief they need. Allergy signs can include:
Itchy skin, either all over or in one area (again, often the more exposed parts of the body). Dogs may itch and scratch, rub their face and body, and shake their head. They may even scratch so much that they create sores on their body.
Oozing, smelly skin infections can develop if dog allergies aren’t treated as it’s easy for bacteria to move in once the skin is compromised by excessive itching.
Hives can pop up on the skin where the allergen has contacted the body. These will look like bumps that may or may not be itchy.
Rashes are common with allergies and may show up as red, bumpy skin. Flea allergy dermatitis is a common rash-causer creating bumps at the base of the tail.
Respiratory issues such as coughing, sneezing and a runny nose may occur when a dog develops a dislike for airborne things like pollen or smoke.
Red, watery eyes can also develop with airborne allergens and can resemble pink eye in dogs. Actually, allergic conjunctivitis in dogs can’t really be distinguished from a bacterial pink eye infection without further diagnostics.
Chronic ear infections can show up in dogs with food allergies, along with itchy, rashy skin. These are frustrating ear infections that just keep coming back with no respect for proper treatments.
Vomiting, diarrhea, and gas are common for food allergies as well. Dogs may have digestive issues that last long-term or that come and go until the offensive ingredient is removed from their diet.
Diagnosing Dog Allergies
Dog allergies are fairly common, so much so that most veterinarians deal with them daily. The process of diagnosing allergies all starts with an exam. Most commonly, dog owners will bring their pup in because of itching that is keeping them up at night or red, angry-looking spots on their skin. Sometimes it’s because they have a case of diarrhea that just won’t go away.
The vet will use the history of the signs as well as look at the skin, ears, etc. to see what kind of itchy issue they are dealing with. This may include taking skin scrapings or fecal samples to rule out parasites, along with blood work or imaging.
If allergies are suspected, your vet may suggest allergy testing to try to pinpoint the exact triggers and to definitively diagnose allergies as the cause of your dog’s problems. Allergy testing can come in the form of multiple skin injections similar to what’s done in humans, or as a blood test that gets sent off to an outside lab.
Dogs with food allergies may be prescribed an elimination diet as a way to single out the food-borne culprit.
Treatment and Management of Dog Allergies
Now comes the tricky part: treatment—or better yet management—of dog allergies. We call this tricky because allergies can be difficult to get under control. You see, the best treatment for dog allergies is removal of the allergen, but what if that allergen is something that your dog can’t get away from?
In those cases, you’ll need help from your veterinarian to make environmental and dietary changes to reduce contact with those allergens, and possibly medications and other therapies as well.
Environmental Changes for Dog Allergies
If you know of a plant that is causing your dog’s problems, consider removing it from your yard, if possible. Avoid walks in areas where the plant grows or limit time outside during the season that plant is in bloom. Limit outside time on smokey or high pollen days and wipe off your dog’s feet and body when they come in from outside. Regular bathing with a mild or oatmeal shampoo can help remove allergens, and regular brushing will let you keep an eye on their skin health.
Dietary Changes for Dog Allergies
If your elimination diet was successful, you should know what ingredient it is that is putting your dog’s body in an uproar. Keep that ingredient out of their food bowl. This can be difficult for some more common ingredients like chicken, so be ready for some diligent label reading. Feeding a novel protein diet may be the best option as these foods utilize proteins from animals such as duck, salmon, rabbit or buffalo so that your dog still gets the high-quality protein that they need without the allergy signs they don’t. For dogs with a longer list of food allergens, a limited ingredient diet may be best. Remember, dietary changes don’t apply to only a dog’s everyday food, treats need to comply as well.
Medications and Other Therapies for Dog Allergies
If making changes to a dog’s food and living aren’t enough, medications such as antihistamines and anti-inflammatories may be necessary. One of the most common, and effective, anti-inflammatories used are corticosteroids. These medications really knock out allergy signs, but they aren’t the best things to give long-term, so your vet will try their hardest to control your dog’s allergy signs through other routes. Dogs that develop secondary infections to allergies may also require antibiotics.
Dogs with flea allergy dermatitis should, of course, receive flea medication. This is preferably done year-round with a veterinary prescribed medication rather than an over the counter.
Allergies in dogs may also respond to medicated shampoos and supplements such as omega fatty acids or local honey. Just be sure to speak with your veterinarian before giving or using anything new on them to make sure it’s safe.
Like humans, dog allergies may also be treated with desensitization therapy where an increasing amount of the allergen is injected in the dog so that they can gradually build a tolerance to it. This can help decrease the signs when a dog is exposed to the allergen naturally.
So What Can you Do for Your Dog with Allergies?
Dog allergies can be very irritating, not only to your dog, but to you as well. Allergies in dogs aren’t something you should try to handle alone. Be sure to see your veterinarian to make sure what you’re seeing is indeed allergies and that you are getting the right treatment to best manage their issues.
It’s important to keep in mind that dog allergies aren’t typically something that will just go away, though they may come and go with the change in seasons. They require lifelong management, which can get quite costly. This is where pet insurance for your dog comes in. Pet health insurance can help you with some of those costs if you purchase a policy before your dog gets diagnosed. It can cover the diagnosis as well as any treatment needed.
An add-on pet wellness plan can help you budget for additional costs, from regular checkups and vaccinations to flea medication and prescription foods to keep allergies in check. Knowing that you have a plan that will keep your pup safe and healthy without breaking the bank is invaluable.
Understanding dog allergies is the first step to keeping your furry friend happy and itch-free. Remember, managing allergies may be an ongoing process, but with consistent care, your dog can still live a full and active life. Now, it's time to partner with your veterinarian to create a personalized plan for your pup. Think of it as a detective story – you and your vet working together to uncover the culprit so that you and your furry friend can get back to enjoying all of life's adventures.