Are Dog Allergies Serious? The 5 most common types

Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from certain allergies. Discover the most common allergies in dogs and how allergic dogs are diagnosed with Monspet.

Allergies in dogs are the immune system’s response to foreign substances in the body – this is also the cause of allergic reactions in humans! While diagnosing allergies in humans is relatively simple, it can be quite difficult in dogs because there are many different types of allergies and the symptoms often overlap. This makes it difficult to understand what allergies your dog is actually suffering from.

If you suspect that your dog is allergic to something. Read the article below to find out everything you need to know. Or in an emergency, contact a veterinarian immediately for timely treatment.

Common symptoms when dogs have allergies
What causes allergies in dogs?
Types of allergies that dogs often encounter
Dogs have atopic dermatitis
Flea allergy
Environmental allergies (Dogs have weather allergies)
Dogs have food allergies
Acute allergic reaction
Food allergies versus seasonal and environmental allergies in dogs
Diagnosis of allergies in dogs
What to do if a dog is allergic? Revealing the treatment
Common symptoms when dogs have allergies

Common symptoms when dogs have allergies
There are many different ways dogs can develop allergies. Depending on the cause, you may notice some of the following clinical signs:

Itchy skin – this is one of the most common signs of allergies in dogs. Your dog will scratch, lick, or bite excessively, often leading to hair loss, redness, and skin irritation.
Chewing or licking paws – inflammation is especially common between the pads, causing dogs to lick or chew their paws excessively. This can lead to secondary infections in some cases.
Sneezing, coughing or runny nose – just like humans, dogs can get runny noses, especially if they are allergic to things like pollen or dust mites.
Gastrointestinal problems – diarrhea, frequent bowel movements or sometimes vomiting.
Skin rashes – you may notice rashes on your dog’s skin, specifically dogs with allergies that have red rashes all over their body. They will look like red patches or bumps, and may be itchy or painful.
During an acute anaphylactic reaction, you may notice symptoms including wheezing, difficulty breathing, facial swelling, hives, and vomiting. This is a separate condition from chronic dietary or environmental allergies and requires urgent treatment. Most dogs with chronic allergies are not at high risk for anaphylaxis.

>>> Owners should clearly understand some diseases that dogs often encounter. Click here <<<

What causes allergies in dogs?
Allergies in dogs occur due to an overactive immune response to normally harmless substances. Known as allergens, these substances can cause certain reactions in sensitive dogs. Here are the most common causes of allergies in dogs:

Flea bites.
Pollen from trees, weeds and grass.
Dust mites, mold spores or psoriasis.
Foods such as beef, chicken or milk.

Weeds can also be allergic to dogs
Other causes of dog allergies include:

Some fabrics and cleaning products.
Dogs are allergic to shower gel, soap or hair care products.
Medicine.
Cigarette smoke, perfume or aerosols.

Dogs are allergic to shower gel and soap
Dogs have atopic dermatitis
Skin allergies, also known as atopic dermatitis, are one of the most common types of allergies in dogs. These marks are often caused by a reaction to flea bites or their surroundings such as pollen, dust or mold.

Flea allergy
Allergy to fleas or flea bites is the most common skin disease in dogs. Signs of allergies in dogs come from a reaction to the saliva of flea bacteria on the dog’s skin, and their manifestations can vary from a mild itchy sensation to a severe reaction to a bite.

Usually these allergies will appear when the dog is young (from 1 – 5 years old), but this can also develop in dogs of any age.

Dogs allergic to fleas will often have intensely itchy skin. Dogs can scratch, rub, chew, or lick their fur or skin and this can sometimes lead to skin injuries or cause secondary infections. Additionally, other allergy symptoms in dogs may appear such as hair loss and scaling, and flea dirt may be visible on the skin or fur.

However, flea dirt is often difficult to detect, so the “wet paper” test can be helpful: gently rub your dog’s coat while he stands on a damp piece of paper. Any black specks (flea dirt) that fall off the skin will turn the paper red (because fleas are dried blood). This can be a useful indicator of whether or not fleas are present.

Remember that even if your dog receives monthly flea treatments, he or she may still be allergic to fleas! Many flea treatments will only kill the flea after it has bitten your dog and unfortunately, this single bite is often enough to cause an allergic reaction and itching in a sensitive dog.

>>> See more about tick-borne diseases in dogs Here <<<

Environmental allergies (Dogs have weather allergies)

Dogs can also suffer from weather and environmental allergies
Dogs with environmental allergies, also known as dogs with seasonal allergies, are often caused by dust, pollen or mold. This type is often seasonal so may only appear at certain times of the year – dogs can suffer from allergic rhinitis so you may notice sneezing or irritation when pollen levels are too high.

The areas around the feet, ears, legs, muzzle and groin are often the most affected and your dog may go bald or experience pain from excessive itching.

Sometimes, environmental allergens can be simply addressed by “avoidance” – for example, if you know your dog’s allergy symptoms are worse when walking through specific fields that have tall grass, you may need to avoid this and use the sidewalk at certain times of the year.

Dogs have food allergies
Contrary to popular belief, food allergies in dogs are not very common and actually only account for about 10% or less of dog allergies. While it may be surprising to hear this, since you may think of your dog as a primarily carnivore, the most common allergy culprit is protein, usually chicken or beef. But some dogs can also be allergic to carbohydrates, preservatives or food dyes.

Most of what owners believe to be food allergies are actually “intolerances.”

 

Dogs have food allergies
Intolerance is different from an allergy: an allergy involves the immune system, so the body must have previously been exposed to an “allergen” (usually a harmless molecule). In contrast, intolerance does not involve the immune system and can occur when the dog is first exposed to the substance.

An example is lactose intolerance: in this case, the dog will lack the necessary enzymes to digest lactose, so if given a little milk, the dog may have diarrhea because it cannot digest lactose. this part.

Although not always the case, allergies tend to cause skin reactions, such as swelling or itching, more commonly gastrointestinal problems such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. While intolerance is more likely to lead to gastrointestinal signs.

>>> See more about good foods for your dog <<<

Acute allergic reaction
Sometimes allergies in dogs can become severe and can lead to anaphylactic shock. Most commonly, these reactions are caused by things like honeybee stings or wasp (wasp) stings.

Signs of anaphylaxis can appear within minutes of exposure and can include difficulty breathing, drooling, vomiting, seizures, and sometimes even loss of consciousness. If this happens, you should contact your veterinarian immediately.

Food allergies versus seasonal and environmental allergies in dogs
Dogs with environmental allergies and dogs with food allergies often have similar symptoms including:

Itchy and peeling skin
Ear infections
Ears have a foul smell
Hair loss or bald patches
Shake your head and scratch your ears
Excessive licking and biting of feet
Rash
Rub your face
Dermatitis, skin ulcers
Sneezing
Scratching
Eye discharge
Respiratory problems
The main differences between dogs with food allergies and environmental allergies are:

Dogs with environmental allergies may come and go with the seasons.
Dogs with food allergies can cause gastrointestinal problems including chronic bloating, diarrhea or vomiting.
Since there is a lot of overlap in symptoms between each type of dog allergy, it’s best to check with your veterinarian rather than assume the allergy may be one type or another.

Diagnosis of allergies in dogs
If you suspect your dog has allergies, you should take them to the vet as soon as possible. Your vet will be able to rule out any other possible causes and will carry out tests that can help determine whether allergies are the cause of your pet’s symptoms. or not.

Often food allergies are diagnosed through an elimination diet, which involves feeding a hypoallergenic, hydrolyzed diet and absolutely no other foods, at least for three months. week and monitor for signs of improvement or not…

Your veterinarian may then choose to re-challenge your dog by adding additional ingredients to observe possible allergy symptoms in your dog and try to determine the cause(s) of the allergy. response, although this is not always the case.

In addition to an elimination diet, your veterinarian may perform blood tests to help determine whether your dog is allergic to specific foods. These are called serum IgE tests.

Serum IgE test for dogs
Serum IgE test for dogs
Diagnosing environmental allergies in dogs can be done using two techniques: RAST testing or intradermal skin testing.

Endodermal testing: is a highly specialized and complex procedure, so dogs requiring this testing will almost always be referred to a properly board-certified veterinary dermatologist. Because intradermal testing can be uncomfortable, dogs are often sedated for this procedure and a portion of their fur will be shaved so that reactions at the injection sites can be monitored. It involves injecting a small amount of pure allergen under the skin and measuring the allergic reaction. Endodermal testing is the gold standard when diagnosing environmental allergies.
RAST or serology test: requires a single blood sample drawn by a veterinarian to test the dog’s response to allergens in the environment, so this method is less invasive and No need for sedatives. The blood sample is then sent to the laboratory for analysis. However, the disadvantage is that the results are not always as accurate as the intradermal test.
Flea bite allergy can be relatively easy to diagnose if there are fleas or flea dirt on the dog’s fur, but remember that in some cases, the fleas may have been killed and shed. So determining the cause of your dog’s allergies is not always as easy as it seems.

Your veterinarian can provide you with a treatment that will kill the fleas very quickly if they are still present. After that, you need to make sure to clean and sanitize your house as well as your pets. Because 95% of fleas are present in the environment and otherwise they can quickly return to cause problems again!

What to do if a dog is allergic? Revealing how to

Dog allergy shots
For dogs with environmental allergies: Unfortunately, environmental allergens are more difficult to control because you can’t change the pollen count. Pets with allergies or seasonal allergies may need long-term treatment and medication – given regularly or only during flare-ups, depending on the severity of their symptoms.

You may also consider immunotherapy (or desensitization) for environmental allergies. This means weekly shots are customized for your Pet after allergy testing.

Allergy shots contain small amounts of the things your pet is allergic to, so your dog will gradually build up a tolerance. The downside is that it can take many months to take effect and up to 50% of puppies will not notice a significant change in their symptoms. But for dogs with severe symptoms, this method may be worth a try.

Secondary infections, wounds and skin ulcers: No matter what allergies your dog has, all resulting skin conditions must be treated promptly. Otherwise, they tend to get worse.

And if your dog has a severe allergic reaction, you should take them to the vet immediately, as anaphylaxis if left untreated can be fatal.

Other things you can do for your dog with allergies, including home remedies, include:

Monitor pollen/allergen counts and avoid leaving your dog outside for too long when pollen counts are high.
Keep your home clean and change your air filter regularly.
Bathe your dog with an anti-allergy pet shampoo, such as skin-soothing aloe vera and oatmeal, or use medication with allergy-reducing ingredients.
Ointments or skin creams to treat minor flare-ups. Check with your veterinarian for safe options.
Skin and allergy supplements, such as omega fatty acids or probiotics.
Wipe your dog’s paws and belly with a clean cloth or pet wipe after a walk to remove pollen and other allergens.
Use antihistamines like Benadryl. Check with your veterinarian for a safe formulation and dosage for your pet. Never buy products that contain decongestants or other ingredients.