Content
- Allergy in Dogs - Most Common Causes
- the genetic factor
- Allergy Symptoms in Dogs
- Diagnosis of allergy in dogs
- Allergy in dogs: how to treat it?
Allergy is a inappropriate and exaggerated immune system reaction to a substance that would normally not be harmful. This substance is known as an allergen. Pollen, food ingredients, herbs, seeds, tick saliva, flea saliva, detergents, cleaning chemicals, textile fibers, mites and chicken are common allergens for dogs.
The effects of allergies can range from mild skin irritation to sudden death. The most frequent allergies in dogs are caused by food, insect saliva (by stings), inhalation and contact with different allergens.
At PeritoAnimal we'll detail everything you need to know about allergy in dogs, its symptoms and treatment. Keep reading!
Allergy in Dogs - Most Common Causes
There are many reasons why a dog can be allergic, usually expressed through the skin. This will depend on the route of contact, which can be considered atopic (if it comes into contact with the respiratory system), cutaneous (if the consequences appear after physical contact) or feeding causes:
- food: Occurs when one or more of the ingredients in the dog's food cause the immune system's hypersensitivity reaction. Common allergens are: corn, wheat, chicken, eggs, veal, soy and dairy products.
- Atopic: In this case, the dog is allergic to a substance that he breathes or smells. Two common allergens are cigarette smoke and pollen. This type of allergy is the second most common in dogs.
- Dermals: These allergies develop when the allergens come in direct contact with the dog's skin. Common allergens are: flea collars, collars with other antiparasitic substances, shampoos, fertilizers, medications, textile fibers for dog clothes, carpet fibers, insecticides and chemical compounds for cleaning products.
- Others: These are caused by insect bites and are the most common canine allergies. The most common are flea saliva allergy and tick saliva allergy.
the genetic factor
We must not forget the genetic factor, which causes many breeds to present certain predisposition to suffer allergies. Among them, we highlight the various skin problems of sharpei, but we also observe this in other breeds such as the Maltese, West Highland White Terrier, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Miniature Schnauzer, among others.
Allergy Symptoms in Dogs
Symptoms may present locally or systemic level. They usually become evident on the skin or through digestive disturbances, but they also affect other organs and systems, such as the respiratory system. External symptoms often seen in dog allergy include:
- skin irritation
- constant itching
- Redness
- Skin rashes
- granules
- Pustules on the skin
- frequent sneezing
- Lethargy
- general malaise
- frequent shakes of the head
- frequent itching in the ears
- Accumulation of wax in the ear canal
Dogs suffering from food allergy usually have the following symptoms:
- Nausea
- vomiting
- frequent burping
- Diarrhea
- Flatulence
- loss of appetite
- Weight loss
- lethargy and weakness
Image: dogsagholic.com
Diagnosis of allergy in dogs
Allergy diagnosis is based on on symptoms, dog history and physical examination. In most cases, this is enough to recognize the presence of this illness, but not to identify the causing allergen.
To identify the causative allergen, the veterinarian looks for the most frequent causes in relation to the habits of the dog he is diagnosing. In some cases it is easy to find the substance that causes allergies, especially if they are seasonal allergies. Thus, it is relatively easy to recognize pollen as an allergen in some seasonal allergies. It is also relatively easy to identify flea or tick saliva as the cause of the allergy if the dog is infested with external parasites.
However, in many other cases it is very difficult to find the causative agent of the allergy. For these cases, the allergy testing can be recommended.
Fortunately, there is a less invasive and expensive way to identify the allergens responsible for the reaction. It consists of removing all suspicious substances from the dog's environment and gradually reintroducing them, until the allergic reaction returns. This way you can know what the allergen is and recommend the appropriate treatment.
For food allergies, something similar is done. An elimination diet, which starts by giving the dog just a few ingredients (for example, just chicken and rice), is generally recommended. Gradually, other ingredients are added to the diet, until you find what causes the allergy.
Allergy in dogs: how to treat it?
Allergy treatment may vary. depending on the allergen causing it. It is customary to avoid foods that cause allergies, eliminate the presence of parasites or try to avoid the environmental factor that causes them.
The veterinarian can help with a guide, in which we will test the different effects of certain substances on the dog. However, this is an arduous task that falls on dog owners, who must actually get information from the specialist and learn to deal with this recurring problem in the dog.
To reduce the effects of seasonal allergies, oral antihistamines can be used. This does not lessen the allergy, but it helps to reduce symptoms and discomfort until the end of the season in which the allergen is common. Also, the veterinarian can recommend creams, lotions, shampoos and medications that help reduce inflammation and eliminate dog irritation and itchiness.
The prognosis is usually very good when the substance causing the allergy is discovered.
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This article is for information purposes only, at PeritoAnimal.com.br we are not able to prescribe veterinary treatments or perform any type of diagnosis. We suggest that you take your pet to the veterinarian in case it has any type of condition or discomfort.