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Could
my Dog have an Allergy?
Is
your dog scratching a lot at one place on his skin? Or is your dog wheezing and
sneezing like you do when hay fever sits in? Believe it or not, your dog could
be experiencing the same problems you are. Almost 20% of all domestic dogs in
the United States have an allergy of some sort.
Just like us humans,
there are ways to treat the allergy, but first you need to know the trigger. The
most common allergic disease among dogs is Dermatitis. The most common signs of
dermatitis are excessive licking or grooming and constant chewing of the paws,
stomach, and hind quarters. You may also want to check your dog's ears. Often,
if a pet is having some sort of allergic reaction their ears will become red and
warm to the touch.
Dermatitis
is most commonly caused by the flea, or rather the saliva of a flea. If your dog
is allergic to fleas, which a simple skin allergy test can determine, you will
need to adopt a very strict flea control program. A monthly topical solution such
as Advantage, K9 Advantix, or Frontline will normally suffice. The other form
of dermatitis seen most often in dogs is Atopic Dermatitis. Common environmental
substances such as dust mites and mold spores are the main triggers behind this
form of dermatitis. There are many different types of daily medications or creams
today that can help control your dog's sensitivity to these common factors.
Another
common allergy is inhalant allergies. This is common to some of the human allergies
such as Hay fever. Common pollens, such as trees and grass, dust mites, and chemicals
are the main contributors to this form of allergies. Once again, the signs are
most evident when your dog begins excessively chewing at their feet or constant
licking. Also, inhalant allergens are often the main cause of ear infections in
your dog. If you live in a high allergen area, it is best to keep in mind that
certain breeds are more susceptible to this allergy such as terriers, poodles,
pugs, and even golden retrievers.
Dogs
are also allergic to certain foods, including developing a sudden allergy to a
food they have eaten for over 10 years. While this only accounts for about 10%
of all canine allergies, it should not be overlooked. Food allergies are often
the hardest and most difficult allergy to diagnose among dogs. With so many other
allergens today, food is often the last allergen to be tested for. Testing also
normally requires cutting a dog's diet back to the very basics, a homemade food
consisting of one protein and one starch not introduced to your pet before. About
every week, you will need to add in one food component until you finally find
the allergen. Once you find the allergen, you can easily keep food allergies at
bay by checking the ingredients in your dog's food, or if you're really industrious,
you can even continue making your dog's food.
There
are other types of allergies, such as contact and bacterial, but those are quite
uncommon in dogs. No matter what, if you notice your pet licking or chewing excessively
or if you notice "hot spots" on their skin, you need to take your dog
to a vet. Although the vast majority of allergies are not life threatening, they
can make your dog's life very uncomfortable if left untreated.
