Environmental or food allergies in dogs are an increasingly common diagnosis in modern veterinary medicine. Allergies cause considerable inconvenience to both the animal and its owner, so diagnosis and proper treatment are very important.
What exactly is dog allergy?
An allergy is an excessive immune response or hypersensitivity of the body to a certain substance. Allergies can be caused not only by food products or meat/fish proteins, but also by environmental factors (eg, dust mites, shampoo, detergents, cleaning products and other household chemicals, pollen).
Most allergy-causing substances are found in plants, insects, other animals, and proteins in foods. In case of allergies, the dog’s immune response can be harmful to its own body. When this happens, the dog’s immune system causes the body to release histamines, which can cause inflammation, swelling, or itching. Therefore it is always very important to first determine the cause of your dog’s allergy.
What are the symptoms and signs of allergies in dogs?
The symptoms visible to the dog owner largely depend on the cause of the allergy. The most common signs of allergy in dogs observed by veterinarians are red, itchy skin between the toes, in the groin, armpits, head area, muzzle and ears, as well as rashes or swelling of the skin in the same areas of the dog’s body.
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These skin changes lead to increased hair loss and sometimes even bald patches in various areas of the body. Dogs with allergies to food or food products often experience diarrhea, vomiting and other gastrointestinal symptoms. Signs of environmental allergies in dogs often include sneezing, watery eyes, itching, red eyes, runny nose, cough and wheezing.
Anaphylactic shock – a particularly serious symptom of dog allergy
Anaphylactic shock is characterized by sudden swelling of the dog’s face, difficulty breathing, discoloration of the mucous membranes, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, and even sudden death if veterinary care is not provided in time.
This reaction to an allergen usually occurs after a bee or wasp sting, after eating a food to which the dog is highly allergic (e.g., peanut butter, etc.), or after receiving a vaccine or new medication.
If you notice even just one sign of a particularly strong and severe allergy in your dog, contact your veterinarian immediately so he can prescribe the appropriate treatment.
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Dermatitis – a consequence of allergies in dogs
Dermatitis in dogs is a secondary skin inflammation that is very often the result of an allergy not treated in time. In these cases, dogs need to be examined not only by an allergist, but also by a dermatologist.
Another common case of dog allergy in veterinary medicine is allergy to flea saliva. This is a dog allergy that causes dermatitis. Dogs suffering from dermatitis often rub, lick, chew and scratch their paws, sides, ears, armpits and groin, which can cause hair loss, redness or flaking of the skin, increased dryness or greasiness.
Dog food allergies
As mentioned above, allergies in dogs most often manifest themselves in the form of skin or gastrointestinal symptoms. Dog food allergies most often manifest themselves in the form of redness of the skin, swelling, itching, hair loss, increased salivation, diarrhea, vomiting and bloating.
Food allergies in dogs can develop at any age, regardless of whether the food or environment has been suitable for several years. A more intense reaction to an allergen may be triggered by an age-related sensitivity or a weakened immune system during seasonal changes.
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Often dog allergies to food or food products are caused by meat proteins present in the food. However, with the advancement of veterinary diagnostic methods, allergies are increasingly being identified not only to meat proteins, but also to additives in foods (for example, gluten, stabilizers, rice, corn, dairy products, etc.).
If you suspect your dog has a food allergy, consult a veterinarian, dermatologist, or allergist. The first step in managing your dog’s allergy to food or food products is a strict elimination diet, which should be selected by a veterinarian based on the pet’s age and allergy symptoms.
Diagnosis of dog allergies
Diagnosing allergies in dogs is a process that requires a lot of patience and time. The first and most important step for a responsible owner is to choose a good specialist. Only a veterinary allergist can select the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
If during the initial examination you suspect that your pet has an allergy, it is very important to exclude all other related diseases that could cause the same allergy symptoms. It is important to perform a wide range of blood tests to rule out the possibility of diseases of the digestive tract, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas, as well as to check for drugs used to treat parasites that can breed and live in the skin.
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Once any disease or parasite has been ruled out for treatment, the allergist will often prescribe a veterinary elimination diet to remove allergens from the dog’s food. If you use this type of diet and do not get the desired results, further testing is done. A blood sample is taken to look for environmental allergens.
Are there any medications for allergies in dogs?
Medicines in the form of tablets, injections and ointments are used to treat allergies in dogs.
Topical medications for canine allergies are often used to locally reduce your dog’s discomfort, itching, and scratching. Injections and tablets are used to reduce the body’s reaction to the allergen. In many cases, both treatment methods are used together.
Allergies in dogs are incurable, but with the right treatment and diet (in the case of food allergies), you can successfully regulate the body’s reaction to allergens and eliminate the symptoms and discomfort caused by allergies in dogs.
Only after a thorough diagnosis can a veterinary allergist select the most appropriate treatment method for dog allergies.
When should you contact a veterinary clinic for your dog’s allergies?
If you notice that your dog is constantly scratching, becoming restless, having diarrhea or vomiting, the Begemotas Veterinary Medical Center will provide you with all the necessary therapeutic and specialist services.
Milda Vasaitytė, a dermatologist and allergist working at Begemotas Veterinary Clinic in Vilnius, will not only examine your pet responsibly and perform all necessary diagnostic tests, but will also prescribe treatment, provide advice and answer any questions you may have about raising, feeding and caring for an allergic dog.
Begemotas Veterinary Clinic in Vilnius uses the most modern diagnostic and innovative methods of treating canine allergies. If your dog suffers from allergies, contact our team and register your pet for a health check.
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