You may have had plenty of fun with your little pooch, but who is going to talk about the struggle of being a responsible pet parent? Since they would not be able to verbally explain to you why they are scratching behind their ears… again, you have to look into it. “What could be the reason that is bothering your dog?" It could be allergies. Though some pet parents assume canine allergies are harmless and temporary, it can also indicate other health issues that need to be checked out as soon as possible. For that, you need to understand the type of allergies before taking a step towards effective management. In this blog, we will discuss common allergies in dogs and practical ways to manage them.
What are Allergies in Dogs?
Allergies are hypersensitive reactions of the immune system that get triggered by certain harmless substances called allergens. This overreaction causes inflammation and various symptoms that affect your dog’s skin, ears, paws, the digestive system, eyes, and other body parts. Allergies are the most common health conditions seen in dogs.
Genetic predisposition, breed-related susceptibility, environmental factors, and repeated exposure to allergens over time can make some dogs more prone to allergies than others.
Depending on the allergen, there are four main types of canine allergies, including
1. Environmental/Atopic Allergies
Environmental allergies are also known as atopic allergies in dogs. These allergies are triggered by certain elements found in your dog’s surroundings, both indoor and outdoor. Year-round environmental allergens include dust mites, mold spores, storage mites, and household dust. It could also include seasonal allergies that are caused by pollen from grasses, trees, or weeds.
Common signs of environmental allergies include:
• Continuous itching and scratching
• Licking and chewing their paw
• Face rubbing
• Redness
• Rashes
• Coughing, sneezing, or watery eyes
• Recurrent ear infections
• Seasonal flare-ups
2. Flea-Allergy Dermatitis
Fleas on dogs are very common. But some dogs are highly sensitive to flea saliva rather than the flea itself. This reaction is not necessarily related to the number of fleas present on your dog; even a single bite of a flea can trigger a severe allergic response in dogs. This condition is known as
flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), or flea bite hypersensitivity.
The most common signs of flea allergy dermatitis in dogs are as follows:
• Severe itching
• Restlessness
• Hair loss
• Red skin
• Scabs and crusting
• Intense scratching around the tailhead, lower back, and hindquarters
These symptoms often continue for a long time, even after the fleas are gone, and cause significant discomfort in your dog. Effective control is a must when it comes to managing flea allergy; otherwise, these symptoms can cause secondary skin infections.
3. Food Allergies
Food allergies occur when the dog’s immune system reacts to a food, usually a protein or complex carbohydrate. The most common food allergens in dogs are animal proteins (chicken, chicken eggs, beef, and dairy) and plant-based ingredients (soy and wheat). Food allergies can still develop even after your dog eats the same food for years.
In the dogs, the signs of food allergy are:
• Itchy skin, paws, or ears
• Digestive disturbance, such as vomiting or diarrhea
• Other subtle changes can also happen, such as weight loss, reduced energy, hyperactivity, and even aggression
4. Contact Allergies
Contact allergies, also known as allergic contact dermatitis, occur when a dog’s skin reacts after touching or contacting a specific substance (an allergen). Some of the most common substances that can trigger contact dermatitis in dogs are detergents, fabrics, cleaning products, chemicals, plastics, fertilizers, plants, etc.
In dogs, signs of contact allergies include the following:
• Red, inflamed bumps
• Pimples and pustules
• Hair loss
• Hardened scales, flakes, and scabs
• Darkened skin
• Itchiness and scratching
How to Manage Allergies in Dogs?
Pet parents usually think allergies are temporary, but sometimes they can be a lifelong condition without any permanent cure. So, it requires effective management to control symptoms, which helps reduce the risk of further complications. You just have to be consistent with allergy management, which will help improve your dog’s quality of life.
Find out the allergy trigger.
An allergen could be anything, as we discussed earlier. The symptoms of allergies sometimes overlap with other infections as well, such as parasitic infestations, hormonal disorders, and bacterial or fungal infections. In some cases, dogs react to multiple allergens that are difficult to avoid.
Your veterinarian may perform certain assessments to determine the exact cause. They may review your dog’s medical history, the period of symptoms, diet history, and physical examination, and will do allergy testing. This assessment identifies the specific trigger, and helps with more targeted allergy management for long-term outcomes.
After diagnosis, allergy treatment largely depends on the specific allergen and severity of the condition.
1. Effective flea control
If your dog has a flea allergy, you should start with effective flea control. Flea infestations can occur year-round. Your veterinarian may suggest an effective flea prevention plan based on your dog’s situation. Popular flea products such as Simparica chewables and
Revolution for dogs can help treat and control flea infestations.
Here are some effective flea management strategies:
• Treat every pet in the household simultaneously.
• Wash your dog’s bedding and blankets in hot water regularly.
• Vacuum the furniture, carpet, upholstery, and entire house frequently.
• Treat your dog’s surroundings with pet-safe parasiticides.
• Be consistent with the flea preventive treatments.
2. Reduce exposure to environmental allergens
If your dog has an environmental or contact allergy, your veterinarian may recommend managing allergen exposure in your dog’s surroundings. Here are some ways to take care of your dog:
• Wipe your dog’s paws after outdoor activities.
• Rinse your dog’s paws and belly, if necessary.
• Avoid outdoor activities during high-pollen time.
• Regularly clean your home to prevent dust from gathering.
• Move your houseplants to a distance from the areas your pet frequently visits.
• Keep your dog indoors while trimming the lawn.
• Use pet-safe products.
3. Manage food allergies through dietary changes
If your dog has food allergies, your veterinarian will run a food trial, called an elimination trial, to identify the problematic ingredients. After that, your dog needs to follow a diet plan that includes veterinary hydrolyzed protein diets or veterinary novel protein diets as per your veterinarian’s advice. During this duration, do not feed any treats, table scraps, flavored medications, or supplements unless approved by your veterinarian. Furthermore, don’t change your dog’s food too frequently.
4. Support skin and coat health
If your dog is scratching persistently, damaged skin barriers allow secondary infections, such as skin infections, bacterial infections, yeast overgrowth, ear infections, and severe dog skin problems to develop more easily.
Your veterinarian may recommend medicated baths and topical products such as sprays, wipes, or mousse, and omega-3 fatty acid supplements that may help soothe irritated skin and support skin health.
Final Thoughts
Allergies can be managed with an effective plan. With the help of your veterinarian, you can identify the cause and manage your dog’s allergy effectively. You can buy high-quality dog care products from reputable online retail stores, such as PetCareClub, at reasonable rates. Just be consistent and follow your veterinarian's advice to provide your dog with a comfortable and healthy life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can dogs have allergies year-round?
Yes, dogs can have allergies year-round. For instance, indoor environmental allergens, such as dust mites or mold, and even food ingredients in your dog’s regular diet can cause year-round symptoms.
Are there any at-home remedies for managing dog allergies?
There are several at-home remedies for dog allergies. If your dog has environmental allergies, you can help reduce exposure to allergens and ease discomfort through vet-approved supportive treatments such as medicated baths, soothing gels, and topical products.
Do dogs grow out of their allergies?
Unfortunately, unlike humans, dogs cannot grow out of their allergies. In fact, not treating allergies on time and repeated allergies can cause severe problems over time.
Can I give my dog human allergy medicine?
No. There’s a risk of wrong dosage administration, and some ingredients can be toxic for dogs. For your dog’s safety, always administer products approved by your veterinarian only.
Can food allergies cause stomach issues?
Yes, food allergies can cause digestive issues such as abdominal pain, bloating, cramping, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
