Dog allergy to the environment or food is an increasingly common diagnosis in modern veterinary medicine. A dog’s allergy causes great discomfort to both the animal itself and its owner, so diagnosis of allergy and proper treatment are very important.
What is dog allergy?
An allergy is an overactive immune response or hypersensitivity of the body to a certain substance. Allergies can concern not only food products or meat/fish proteins, but also the environment (for example: dust mites, shampoo, detergents, detergents and other household chemicals used in the house, pollen).
Most allergens are found in plants, insects, other animals, and proteins found in foods. In case of allergies, the dog’s immune response can be harmful to the animal’s body itself. When this happens, the dog’s immune system stimulates the body to release histamines, which can cause inflammation, swelling, or itching. Therefore, it is always very important to find out the cause of your dog’s allergy first.
What are the symptoms and signs of allergies in dogs?
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The symptoms visible to the dog owner depend greatly on the cause of the allergy. The most common signs of allergy in dogs are: red, itchy skin in the areas between the toes, groin, armpits, head, muzzle, ears, as well as rashes or swelling of the skin in the same areas of the dog’s body.
Therefore, due to changes in the skin, hair loss increases, sometimes baldness is also observed in various areas of the body. Dog allergies to food or its products often manifest themselves with diarrhea, vomiting and other symptoms related to the digestive tract. Signs of environmental allergies in dogs are common manifested by sneezing, watery eyes, itching, red eyes, runny nose, cough, wheezing.
Anaphylactic shock is a very strong symptom of dog allergies
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 help is not provided in time.
Such a reaction of the dog’s body to the allergen usually occurs after a bee or hornet sting, after eating a food to which the dog is highly allergic (e.g. peanut butter, etc.), after the use of a vaccine or new medications.
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If you notice at least one sign of extremely strong and severe dog allergy: contact a veterinarian immediately for appropriate treatment.
Dermatitis is a consequence of dog allergies
Dermatitis in dogs is a secondary inflammation of the skin, which is usually the result of an allergy that is not treated in time. In this case, dogs need not only an allergist, but also the consultation of a dermatologist.
Another common case of dog allergy in veterinary medicine is allergy to flea saliva. It is a dog allergy that causes dermatitis. Dogs suffering from dermatitis often rub, lick, chew, scratch their paws, sides, ears, armpits, groin, which can cause hair loss, redness or peeling of the skin, increased dryness or greasiness of the skin.
Food allergies in dogs
As we wrote above, allergies in dogs usually manifest themselves with signs of the skin or digestive tract. Food allergies in dogs usually manifest themselves with redness of the skin, swelling, itching, hair loss, increased feeding, diarrhea, vomiting, meteorism.
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Food allergies in dogs can occur at any age of the animal and it does not matter whether the food or environment has been suitable for several years. An intensified reaction of the body to an allergen can be caused simply by sensitivity that arises with age or weakening of immunity during the change of seasons.
Often dog allergies to food or its products are caused by meat proteins present in the food. However, with the development of veterinary diagnostic methods, allergies are increasingly detected not only to meat proteins, but also to food additives (e.g. gluten, stabilizers, rice, corn, dairy products, etc.).
If you suspect that your dog has a food allergy, consult a veterinarian – dermatologist – allergist. The first step in controlling a dog’s allergy to food or its products is a strict veterinary elimination diet, which must 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 homeowner is to choose a good professional. Only a veterinary allergist can choose the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic methods.
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If during the initial examination an allergy is suspected in a pet, it is very important to exclude all other related diseases that can cause the same symptoms as the allergy. It is important to carry out a wide range of blood tests to exclude the possibility of diseases of the digestive tract, kidneys, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, as well as examine preparations used against parasites that can reproduce and live in the skin.
After ruling out any disease or parasites for therapeutic purposes, the allergist will often prescribe a veterinary elimination diet to remove allergens from the dog’s food. If you follow this type of diet and do not get the desired results, further studies are conducted. A blood sample is tested for environmental allergens.
Are there anti-allergy medications for dogs?
Medicines in tablets, injections and ointments are used to treat allergies in dogs.
Topical dog allergy medications are usually used to locally reduce the dog’s discomfort, itching, and desire to scratch. Injections and tablets are used to reduce the body’s reaction to the allergen. Often these two treatment methods are used together.
Allergies in dogs are incurable, but with the use of properly selected treatments and diets (if it is a food allergy), it is possible to successfully regulate the body’s reaction to allergens and eliminate symptoms and discomfort in dogs with allergies.
A veterinary allergist will be able to choose the most appropriate method to treat dog allergies only after carrying out a detailed diagnosis.
When to contact the veterinary clinic for canine allergies?
If you have noticed that your dog is constantly scratching, becoming restless, having diarrhea or vomiting, you will be provided with all the necessary therapeutic and specialist services at the Begemoto Veterinary Medical Center.
Dermatologist-allergist Milda Vasaitytė, working at the Begemoto veterinary clinic in Vilnius, will not only responsibly examine you, carry out all the necessary diagnostic tests, but also prescribe treatments and advice, answer all questions that arise regarding raising an allergic dog, feeding and care.
In the Begemoto veterinary clinic in Vilnius, the most modern and innovative diagnostic and therapeutic methods are used in the case of canine allergies. If your dog suffers from allergies, we encourage you to contact our team and register for a pet health check.
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