How do you wash a dog with skin allergies
Skin allergies in dogs: Vet's guide to signs and treatment
Is your pup incessantly itchy and scratchy? The presence of skin allergies in dogs is an uncommon but certainly uncomfortable condition that can occur at any age and in any breed.
While it may be tempting to try home remedies or over the counter medications to treat your dogs itching, these treatments rarely work and may even be harmful in some cases. Instead, its best to see your veterinarian to have the problem appropriately diagnosed and treated. From the selection of appropriate dog food for allergies to tackling environmental causes, read on to learn more about skin allergies in dogs and what you can do to help get your dog feeling better quickly.
What causes skin allergies in dogs?
Like humans, dogs can have allergies to foods, environmental allergens, or both. Both food and environmental allergies can result in cutaneous (skin) reactions.
Food allergies
A food allergy, better defined as an adverse food reaction, is an abnormal response to the ingestion of a particular food or food additive. The body incorrectly identifies the food molecules as an antigen, or a threat, and mounts an immune response against them, leading to symptoms like itchy skin or diarrhea.
Food allergies most often develop after prolonged exposure to one type of food. In dogs, the most common food allergens are beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat. Allergies to soybean, milk, eggs, corn, walnuts, and possibly peanuts have also been reported. Dogs that have developed an allergy to one type of food may also develop allergies to additional foods in the future.
Environmental allergies
Environmental allergies results from a defect in the skins epidermal barrier, which is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These epidermal barrier defects allow allergens such as pollen to penetrate the skin surface and bind to immune cells, triggering an inappropriate immune response.
This results in an inflammatory process that leaves the dog itchy, red, and uncomfortable. Common allergens in dogs include pollens, grasses, dust mites, molds, and dander.
Symptoms of skin allergies in dogs
Food and environmental allergies look very similar and are impossible to distinguish by symptoms alone. The common symptoms of allergies in dogs include:
- Chronic itching
- Recurrent skin or ear infections
- Hair loss, redness, and crusting of the skin
- Self-trauma such as scabbing, hair loss, and saliva staining
- Frequent scratching or licking
Other skin conditions can also cause similar symptoms, so if you suspect your dog may have allergies, its important to see your veterinarian first for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
Your veterinarian will perform a full head to tail physical examination and may recommend some additional testing such as a skin scraping or sampling from your pets skin. Once the underlying cause of your pets itching and discomfort has been diagnosed, your vet will be able to develop an appropriate treatment plan to help get your pup feeling better.
How are skin allergies in dogs treated?
Treating food allergies
Food allergies are both diagnosed and treated using an elimination diet trial. Your dog will be put on a special diet for a minimum of eight weeks. This diet may be a limited ingredient diet, a novel protein diet, or a prescription hydrolyzed diet. Your dog must eat this food and no other food, treats, table scraps, or flavored medications for a minimum of eight weeks.
If your dogs skin symptoms resolve during the eight week trial, then this is diagnostic for food allergies. Your dog will need to stay on a special diet for life to avoid the ingredients that he or she is allergic to.
Managing environmental allergies
Environmental allergies are more difficult to manage because your dog cant avoid pollens or dust. Environmental allergies are typically managed with prescription allergy medications.
These may be given in the form of daily pills or monthly injections. Some dogs with environmental allergies may also benefit from immunotherapy injections, where they are exposed to low levels of the allergens they are allergic to and thus slowly desensitized to them.
Your dog first must have an allergy test to determine which environmental allergens he or she is sensitive to, and then your veterinarian can special order the injections for your dog.
In both cases, your dog may also need to be treated for any skin or ear infections that have arisen secondary to the allergies. Ear infections are typically treated with topical medications, such as medicated ear cleaners or topical ointments. Skin infections typically require oral antibiotics to treat.
Your dog may also need a course of steroids or prescription allergy medication to help reduce the itching and inflammation associated with these skin infections. Treating the underlying infection will help improve your dogs itching and also make your dogs allergies more responsive to treatment.
Can skin allergies in dogs be prevented?
Unfortunately, because allergies are caused by genetic and environmental factors, they cannot be prevented. We can only manage allergies as they occur. We can prevent flare-ups of allergies by avoiding the offending allergens, such as by feeding a prescription diet to prevent food allergy flare-ups or minimizing dust in the home to reduce environmental allergies.
And although allergies cannot be truly prevented, we do know that there is a genetic component to the development of allergies. This means it is best to avoid breeding dogs with allergies to avoid passing on this condition to the next generation of puppies.
Conclusion
Allergies in dogs can cause a lot of itching and discomfort, but the good news is that they can be managed. If you suspect your dog has allergies, the first step is a visit to your veterinarian for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Remember to follow your veterinarians instructions closely to ensure the best outcome for your dog.
Whether your dog has food allergies, environmental allergies, or a combination of the two, there are steps you can take to manage this condition and help get your dog back to feeling his or her best again.
Skin allergies in dogs
Treatment
No one size fits all, and every dog with a skin allergy needs a slightly different treatment plan. However, its likely that your vet will suggest some or all of the following:
Avoid your dogs triggers
If you know what your dog is allergic to, its best to try to avoid those factors as much as possible. However, even if you dont know what your dog is allergic to, there are still many things that you can do to reduce the chance of them flaring up:
- Regularly de-flea them (as well as other pets and your home).
- Avoid walking them when the pollen count is high.
- Avoid walking them in long grass (or rinse them off well afterwards).
- Avoid sprays, aerosols, perfumes, and air fresheners in the household.
- Vacuum and dust regularly.
- Feed them a diet specially designed for sensitive skin (recommended by your vet).
Anti-itch medication
There are certain medications that can be used to reduce itchiness, such as:
- Steroid tablets and spray (such as Prednisolone tablets, Medrone tablets and Cortavance spray).
- Lokivetmab injection (Cytopoint)
- Oclacitinib tablets (Apoquel)
The exact drug your vet prescribes will depend on your dogs symptoms, how long they need to be treated for, and your budget.
Supplements, shampoos and antihistamines
Most dogs with skin allergies benefit from the following:
- A skin supplement containing essential fatty acids
- A topical emollient shampoo (skin calming)
- Daily antihistamines
Its important to be aware that these treatments are often useful when used alongside other treatments (and can reduce the amount of other medications that are needed), but are unlikely to control the problem on their own.
Immunotherapy
If your dog has been allergy tested, it may be possible to desensitise them to their triggers with immunotherapy. Immunotherapy involves injecting your dog with a tiny amount of what they are allergic to, to get their body used to it. The injections work slowly over time, and usually need to be given for a few years (sometimes for life). Unfortunately, immunotherapy doesnt work for every dog, and in many cases, medication is still needed to reduce symptoms. Its also not possible to use immunotherapy for all types of allergy.
Other treatments
12 home remedies for dogs with itchy skin
Your dogs skin allergy symptoms may vary from mild to severe, and early veterinary intervention is essential to treat those more serious conditions. Below are 12 vet-approved ways you can help soothe canine itchiness and discomfort from home.
1. Use salmon oil supplements to add omega-3 fatty acids to your dogs diet
Salmon oil has many benefits including keeping your dogs skin and coat healthy. Its a great source of omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties. If your pup has skin allergies ff, try our favorite salmon oil-based supplement: Premium Cares Omega Chews. If your dog has dandruff, adding an omega-3 fatty acid to their diet is one of the best ways to treat it. Note that it may take 4-6 weeks of use to see results.
2. Use dog shampoos with oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile
Your dog needs regular baths with warm water to stay clean. Use this opportunity to help soothe dry skin by using a formulated shampoo. Giving weekly baths can actually cause dry skin and itchiness, so try to bathe your dog at least 2 weeks apart.
Choose a pet shampoo that contains oatmeal, aloe vera, or chamomile as these ingredients help with itching. Weve rounded up some of the best shampoos for dry itchy skin to help you find the right product for your dogs allergies and skin type.
To prevent your dog from licking any ingredients, rinse them well after shampooing. Washing all the residue off can also relieve itchiness.
3. Consider an herbal tea bath
If your dog is itchy with patchy, dry skin, consider the anti-inflammatory properties of green, chamomile, or calendula tea to soothe their discomfort. Soak three to four tea bags of tea for five minutes in lukewarm water before placing your dog into the bathtub or, if you only want to target affected areas of smaller, itchy dry patches, steep one or two tea bags in hot water, let it cool and apply the water to your dogs skin without rinsing.
Note that chamomile, when ingested in large amounts for long periods of time, can lead to a range of medical problems, including gastrointestinal upset and bleeding issues. Aloe vera also contains a toxin called saponin that, when ingested, may cause severe vomiting, diarrhea, and low blood sugar.
4. Soothe your dog with oatmeal
Oatmeal has been known to soothe dry, itchy skin in dogs. Though many dog shampoos already contain oatmeal, you can create colloidal oatmeal or finely ground oats and mix them into skin care products like lotions and creams or even add them to bathwater.
5. Use a balm to moisturize patches of dry skin
Dry skin often causes itching, so when you combine that with allergy symptoms your dog may continue to scratch. This is why you should keep your dogs skin hydrated. If your dog has only patches of dry skin or hot spots, try a dog balm for the affected areas, such as Natural Dog Companys Skin Soother. Avoid using coconut oil as a moisturizer as it may not be the best option for your dog. When coconut oil is used on hot spots, it can cause too much moisture and make hot spots worse.
Though some may use apple cider vinegar for a slew of home remedies, apple cider vinegar is not recommended on raw skin as it tends to be acidic and thus may cause discomfort and further irritation.
6. Try manuka honey to reduce inflammation
Manuka honey may reduce inflammation and help doggie allergies. This is one tasty treat you can share with your pup! Some researchers believe honey contains many types of pollens. If a dog eats the honey, it may help desensitize the dog to certain types of pollen. They may enjoy the sweet taste while their allergy symptoms improve. You can also use manuka honey to treat woundsTrusted SourcePubMed CentralArchive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.Go to source, but your dog might try to lick it off, so supervise them when using it
7. Use dietary supplements to manage symptoms
If your dog is suffering from allergies, they may benefit from supplements that contain vitamin C, spirulina (another great source of omega-3s), bee pollen, and apple cider vinegar. Like any other dietary supplement you might offer your pup, dont try one of our favorites without having a chat with your vet first. You shouldnt combine some supplements and medications, so always make sure the supplement you want to offer will not have any interactions with any meds your dog may be on first.
8. Dont forget to wipe your dogs paws after outdoor time
Allergies caused by environmental irritants can lead to inflamed, itchy, pink or red rashes of dermatitis between your dogs toes, especially during the spring and summer months when sweat combines with environmental irritants like ragweed, grasses, foxtails, or dust mites. Exposure to ice and snow in the colder months can also leave your pups paws dry, cracked, and itchy.
Common environmental factors that can cause itchy paws
- Grasses
- Ragweed
- Dust mites
- Pollen
- Mold
- Fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides
- Ice and snow
9. Remove indoor allergens
If your pup is suffering from allergies, check for culprits within the home. You may need to eliminate:
- Dust
- Cigarette smoke
- Certain cleaning products
- Chemical fragrances like those found in laundry detergent and scented candles
10. Invest in a humidifier and keep an eye on indoor temps
Extreme heat or cold can also trigger allergy symptoms in pets, so its important to maintain the temperature in your home. Another thing to consider is humidity levels. If the air in your home is too dry, it can cause your dog to have dry skin, which can intensify the itching. So invest in a humidifier if you need one. Plus, this can also benefit the humans in your home as well.
11. Keep up with flea and tick preventatives
Since dogs can be allergic to flea and tick bites, its important to prevent your dog from bug bites before they start. Chat with your vet about using monthly flea and tick preventatives, which typically come in a topical or an oral form. It is rare for dogs to be allergic to both forms, so if you notice an allergic reaction to one form of preventative, it is unlikely they will react to the other.
Its up to you to make sure youre administering these treatments as directed. Missed doses can cause the preventatives to not work, putting your pup at risk for bites and the issues that come with them.
12. DIY dog anti-itch spray
One way you can help your dogs irritated, dry skin is to make a DIY anti-itch spray, either with colloidal oatmeal to soothe inflamed, hot skin; coconut oil for dry and itchy skin; or peppermint, chamomile, and green teas to cool raw, rot skin. You can keep a small spray bottle handy to apply throughout the day.
