Allergies in dogs: amazing treatment options

Signs of allergy in dogs and the treatments

Allergies are common in dogs and may affect the skin, ears or digestion. Itching has many possible causes, so a veterinary workup matters more than an unsupported prevalence percentage.

When dogs come into contact with common environmental allergens like pollen or flea allergen, the proportion of the canine population suffering from allergies drastically increases.

What is allergy ?

An allergy is an excessive immune response to a substance called an allergen. Many allergens are otherwise harmless proteins from plants, insects, animals or foods; they are not necessarily pathogens.

In dogs as well as humans the immune system is normally responsible for providing protection against diseases. However, in case of allergies, the immune system goes into hyper drive and harms the body.

Immune response to allergies

In an allergic reaction, immune-cell activation and chemical release, including histamine, can cause redness, swelling and itching. This is not simply mast cells rupturing in the blood.

Are allergies common in dogs?

Allergies can develop at different ages. Many begin after six months, and environmental allergy signs often first appear between one and three years; most dogs do not necessarily show signs by six months.

Is this condition inherited?

A genetic predisposition can contribute to atopic dermatitis. An inherited tendency is not the same as inheriting a guaranteed allergy to a particular pollen.

Dogs suffer from multiple types of allergies

How to discover if your pup has allergy problems?

There are a myriad of diseases which can cause symptoms similar to that of allergy in dogs.. Thus, it will be the best option to trust your veterinarian for the purpose of diagnosing the real cause of the ailment.

Consult your vet for persistent itching or recurrent skin or ear problems. Sudden breathing difficulty, collapse or rapidly worsening swelling after a suspected exposure is an emergency; go to an emergency veterinarian rather than trying shampoo or a home remedy.

Let’s talk about the different types of allergy which can affect your dog

Allergies are mainly classified on the basis of the following : –

• On the basis of the type of allergens : 

  Food allergy, flea allergy.

• Route of allergen entry: 

  Food allergy, skin contact allergy or inhalant allergy.

• Time taken by immune system to respond to the allergen:

  Immediate type hypersensitivity: – shock/ anaphylaxis.

  Delayed type hypersensitivity

• Clinical signs of the allergy:

  Allergic dermatitis or allergic bronchitis.

• Mode of inheritance : 

  Seasonal allergies or atopy.

Let’s dive into the details about the different types of allergy in dogs:-

1. Flea or insect bite allergy:  

This type of allergy involves excessive and harmful immune response towards a sting or insect bite. Such allergic reactions in dogs are mostly caused by arachnids (spiders and ticks) and insects like ants, bees, horseflies, deerflies, fleas etc.

Check out this blog post on Flea infestation in dogs.

The most common insect allergen known to affect dogs is flea saliva. This is referred to as flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). Dogs suffering from FAD will want with severe itching to a single bite. Such dogs may also scratch and remove large tufts of hair from the tail base region. Eventually bacterial infection may develop in the regions of broken skin.

As a dog guardian one needs to be very careful and vigilant

2. Inhalant allergy:

Environmental allergens such as pollens, molds and dust mites can cause atopic dermatitis, with face rubbing, paw licking and itching. Many dogs react to more than one allergen. Symptoms can often be controlled, but a permanent cure is not usually possible.

3. Contact allergy :

This is the least common type of allergy observed in dogs. It is a result of coming in direct contact with allergens like lawn pesticides, carpet or bedding synthetics, wool etc. Contact allergies can develop in your dog against anything and at any age. The most common symptom of this type of allergy is skin irritation and itching at the points of contact. Removal of the allergen mostly, results in resolution of the symptoms .

Signs that your dog is suffering from allergies: –

• He/she is always scratching: –

One of the most common allergy symptoms in both humans and dogs is scratching/ itching. It can vary from mild (the hair coat and skin looks normal in this case) to severe (non-stop scratching leading to loss of fur). In extreme cases , there might be severe hair loss and the underlying skin may begin to appear red in color due to rawness and inflammation. The classic itch centers in the dog’s body are:

1. Armpits
2. Belly
3. Ears
4. Paws (mostly the front paws are affected)
5. Eyes
6. Chest
7. Groin
8. Anal region
9. Mouth.

Itching near the tail base can suggest flea allergy, but it is not diagnostic. Persistent darkening, odor, hair loss or sore skin needs a vet examination and assessment for secondary infection.

• The feet of your dog smell like corn chips and your dog is obsessively licking his feet.

A paw odor alone does not diagnose allergy or infection. Persistent licking, redness, swelling, pain or discharge warrants a veterinary examination. Allergies, foreign material, parasites and infections are among the possible causes; saliva can stain light-colored fur.

•   Your dog is suffering from repeated and chronic ear infections:

Allergies can contribute to recurrent ear inflammation and secondary infection, but they are not the only cause. The vet may examine the ear and check samples for yeast or bacteria before choosing treatment. Do not start leftover ear drops or assume every recurrence needs antibiotics or surgery.

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•   Recurring hot spots:

Acute moist dermatitis or hot spots as they are otherwise known are very common in dogs, especially in Saint Bernard, Labradors and Golden Retrievers. Hotspots can either form on their own or be secondary to airy underlying allergy that your dog might be suffering from. In case you notice your dog showing repeated hotspot occurrences, it is definitely time to pay a visit to your vet.

• Your dog is suffering from chronic diarrhea and similar symptoms:

Skin is not the only area which gets affected by allergies. Your dog’s gastrointestinal tract is equally vulnerable to suffer from this condition. The symptoms of GI allergy include:

1. Recurrent diarrhea
2. Gurgly noises in the gut.
3. Increased bowel movements

• Presence of red eyes :

Red eyes, squinting or pawing at the face need prompt veterinary assessment. Allergy is only one possible cause; painful eye problems should not be treated at home as allergy.

•  Constant coughing:

Persistent coughing, especially if exercise makes it worse, needs veterinary assessment for heart, airway, infectious and other causes. Do not assume it is an allergy. Labored breathing or collapse requires emergency care.

Treatment for allergy in dogs:

Treatment of allergies in dogs depends on several factors like the length of the allergy season, the extremity of the reaction and the symptoms displayed.

1. Shampoo therapy:

If your dog has an itchy and inflamed skin, bathing him/her regularly with a hypoallergenic shampoo can provide relief and soothe the inflamed and itchy skin. Regular bathing also removes allergens which might be present on the coat and may eventually get absorbed through skin. Some shampoos may also have anti inflammatory ingredients which can be beneficial in case of allergies.

2. Desensitization/hyposensitization therapy:

For selected dogs with environmental allergy, the vet may recommend allergen-specific immunotherapy after appropriate testing. Doses and schedules are individualized. The aim is to reduce symptoms and medication needs over time; improvement is variable, not a guaranteed cure or a fixed success percentage.

3. Treating food allergies in dogs:

The most common food proteins have been found to be associated with allergies are – beef, chicken, egg, wheat gluten, soy or lamb. The most common clinical signs of food allergy are

• Digestive disorders
• Respiratory problems
• Itching.

A veterinary elimination diet trial uses a suitable hydrolyzed or genuinely novel-protein diet fed exclusively, commonly for 8–12 weeks as directed by the vet. Avoid other foods and treats, and ask about flavored medicines without stopping necessary treatment yourself. The trial duration allows time to assess clinical improvement; it is not the time needed for old food to leave the body. If signs improve, the vet may recommend a supervised challenge with the previous food to confirm the diagnosis.

Conclusion:

The symptoms which are observed in care of allergies in dogs, may be confused with symptoms of other disorders. Alternatively, these symptoms can also occur along with other problems. Thus, you must never try to diagnose the problem yourself. Always go to your veterinarian for consultation and diagnosis. Be ready for your pup to undergo a complete diagnostic check up to eliminate all other causes behind skin problems and itching. In case your pup is diagnosed with allergy. you must follow your veterinarian’s advice to provide comfort to your pup.