What are the most common skin allergens for dogs

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.

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.