Dog Skin Allergies

Signs and Symptoms

Skin allergies in dogs can be very difficult to diagnose and treat. Itchy, dry skin, rashes, hair loss all can stem from dog skin allergies. It is however, important to attempt a diagnosis in order to relieve the discomfort of your dog. Attempting to identify the irritant should be your first goal. Removing it is should be the second goal. These may sound simple but in fact can be very complex.

There are also several illnesses such as fungal infections and thyroid disease which can be easily confused with some allergies due to the skin irritation and hair loss.

First we will discuss contact dermatitis. This is a reaction caused by something that comes in contact with your dog’s skin. It’s possible that it is a spray used on them, laundry detergent, household cleaning supplies and powders to name just a few. Just as humans are allergic to some insects, so too are dogs. Fleas are the biggest culprit in this category. Some dogs are highly allergic to fleas and a brief visit by this little insect can cause a rash, itching and, in some cases, even hair loss, all of which results in Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis.

Less rapid reactions can be caused by certain Dog Food Allergies and ingredients or medications. There is a growing number of pet dogs that are allergic to wheat these days. There are also those that cannot tolerate any grains in their diet at all. In order to prevent these Dog Skin Allergies, labels must be read on any food you are planning to feed to your dog. Just as we should read nutritional labels on our own food, so should we always read contents on our dog’s food and treat labels as well. Prevention is always better than trying to find a cure at the last minute.

Airborne allergens can also cause dog skin allergies. Many dogs have seasonal allergies due to pollens and mold. They are far more susceptible than many of us realize.

Diagnosis

It is recommended that dogs that appear to have skin allergies should be tested for any allergies. Allergy testing is guaranteed to provide a positive diagnosis for contact allergies as well as for atopy (inhalant dermatitis). Signs of atopy in a dog are chewing, irritated skin, scratching and licking their feet. Allergies that are caused by a dog breathing in mold, dust and pollen is called atopy. Atopy is the most common cause of allergies in dogs.

Once an allergy to a specific substance is positively identified, the vet will then recommend that that the dog receive immunotherapy (hyposensitization injections).

There are two different options when it comes to allergy testing in dogs. The first, and most commonly used testing, is a blood test that looks for antigen-induced antibodies in your dog’s blood stream. Within this model of testing, there are two standard tests used, namely the RAST test (radioallergosorbent) and the ELISA test (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay).

The second type of allergies testing in dogs is an intradermal skin test. For this test, a tiny amount of the antigen is injected into your dog’s skin. After a while, the surrounding area of skin is carefully observed in order to determine whether or not your dog is allergic to the agent.

Benadryl is not particularly potent in dogs but may be suggested after a talk with your vet for less extreme dog skin allergies.

Treatment Suggestions

• Topical relief with an antihistamine or cortisone containing ointment found in pet stores or in the pet aisle of your grocer. These will work for small areas but for larger, systemic coverage medications from the vet may be in order.

• Bathe your dog with a small amount of Neem soap. This will remove remnants of oils from household chemicals, grass, etc. from the coat. This is more effective in removing the oils than shampoo which tries to preserve some of the oils to keep coats shiny. While many oatmeal shampoos are soothing to their skin, they will not remove the antagonistic oils causing the problem.

• As with determining causes in humans, reducing exposure to certain substances to determine the possibility of reaction is a good way for contact irritants to be determined in dogs.

• Supplementing their diet will also help in easing skin dryness and itching. Commercial supplements or home remedies may both work. Oily foods in small amounts or a few tablespoons of olive oil in their food on a daily basis can also ease the dryness and itching.

If your dog experiences swelling of the paws, face or other body parts, has difficulty breathing or begins vomiting or demonstrates excessive salivating, immediately get your pet to the vet.