Does My Dog Have An Allergy?
Does your dog scratch or bite different parts of their body? Is this itching seasonal or lasts all year? Does it occur especially after being outside?
Dogs, like humans, can sometimes suffer from allergies, but animals show different symptoms. They do not usually sneeze, they mainly scratch. Allergies and constant scratching can make your dog very unhappy.
Generally, allergic reactions do not get better as your dog gets old, so consulting a veterinarian is required to comfort your pet. Here are some signs that will show when your pet suffers from an allergy.
His skin may be red, scaly-looking or it may present with scabs. It can smell bad even after bathing. The dog will scratch and will lick, especially in the groin zone, on his stomach and on his elbows. Your pets legs may appear red areas between finger and light colored fur can become discolored because of repeated licking. Dogs will lick and chew their legs and toes. Your pets fur can also appear bald in areas because of the repeated licking and scratching. Lighter coats will stain because of the saliva. The dog will usually scratch the sides of his body and he will lick his belly. He can also rub on the carpet or furniture. There may be red spots in their ears. Dogs will scratch their ears with their paws and will rub on the carpet or the furniture.
Food allergies represent about 10% of common allergies in dogs. It is the third case after fleas bite and respiratory allergies. These allergies affect both females and males.
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If your dog has suffered an allergy, after healing it is recommended to wash him with a special shampoo that hydrates his skin. It may take some time to heal but most allergies can be corrected over time.
Related Reading:
Dog Allergies and Food Intolerance
There has to be a distinction made between food allergies and intolerance. Allergies will have symptoms such as itching and skin problems associated with canine allergies. Food intolerance can cause diarrhea and vomiting, but not a typical allergic response. Fortunately, intolerance and food allergies can be avoided by following a diet that excludes harmful agents.
The best solution for a dog which is suffering from itching is brushing the coat and brushing it daily. Most dog skin factors that are irritating are composed of pollen, dust, knots in the fur or dead skin cells that are destroying your dog’s fur. Some studies have shown that certain ingredients in the food are likely to cause allergies. The most common food for puppies that can create allergies is: beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, corn, wheat and soy. As you can see, these foods are usually found in the food for puppies. This correlation is not coincidental. While some proteins may be slightly different, many proteins are similar and can lead to the appearance of an allergy.
Food allergy symptoms are similar to allergies that occur in dogs and cats. The primary symptom is itchy skin, especially in the zone of the face, legs and ears. Symptoms may include chronic and recurrent ear infections, hair loss, excessive scratching, and skin infections. These diseases respond to antibiotics, but recur after stopping treatment. It is difficult to distinguish a dog suffering from food allergy compared to one who suffers from skin allergies. However there are some clues that show that there is a skin allergy in play such as recurrent ear infections, severe skin problems (for young dogs), symptoms that occur in winter and lasts throughout the whole year, and acute itching that does not respond to treatment with steroids.
Diagnosing food allergies is direct however, because many other problems can cause similar symptoms and in many cases like that, the animals suffer from multiple other health problems not only of allergies. It is very important that all problems, for example the allergies to flea bites and the intestinal bacterial infections, to be identified and treated before a food allergy diagnosis. Once all other causes have been determined and treated, it is the time for testing for food allergies. Such a test is feeding the animal with a new source of protein and carbohydrates (which the animal has not eaten it before) for a period of at least 12 weeks. For example: rabbit and rice, venison and potatoes. In addition, there are special diets that have broken down proteins and carbohydrates at the molecular level so small so not to trigger allergic reactions. Dog food prepared at home is often used, too. Regardless of the diets used, it must be the only thing the animal eats for 12 weeks with no snacks, medicines and spices or flavored plastic toys. If you notice a reduction or disappearance of symptoms, then you may have found the problem food. The only way to identify a food allergy is to test this way.
You should take in consideration the fact that animals can become allergic to foods they have been fed for a long time. If symptoms return, is advisable to consult a veterinarian.
