Have you noticed your dog licking and biting its paws, or rolling on the ground and in the grass, or shaking and scratching its ears persistently, or scratching its body or belly rigorously? One or more of these symptoms could suggest that your canine companion is suffering from some kind of allergy, though not always. Allergies in dogs could be quite complicated at times and it might not be easy to find the exact cause that triggers it. Unless you succeed in finding out and removing the allergens, the discomfort and struggles that your dog continues no matter how you treat it.
The allergic symptoms start to manifest in the dogs once their immune system starts to recognize certain substances that they are in contact with on a daily basis, as a threat or as dangerous. These substances could be quite common and totally harmless to most animals. However, the reaction could be extreme if your dog has an allergy.
A wide variety of symptoms affecting the respiratory system, the digestive system, and the skin could be the result. Seasonal allergies are quite common in dogs. The presence of pollen in the air could cause an allergic reaction. Environmental allergies and allergies caused by food are also seen commonly in dogs. VetIQ has a wide range of supplements and quality medication that would work perfectly for your dog.
Different kinds of allergies in dogs
- Ear infections that are chronic
If your dog suffers from ear infections on a regular basis it could be a symptom that suggests your dog is allergic to certain kinds of food. However, you should rule out that it not caused by water, yeast infection and mites in the ear. You can try removing certain foods from your dog’s diet to understand what causes the allergy or with the help of your vet, you can do a food allergy test to find out the exact cause.
2. Different types of skin allergies in dogs
A) Allergic contact dermatitis
Certain substances or chemicals that your pet has had no issue in the past could result in an allergy after regular physical contact. Certain shampoos, soaps, topical antibiotics, powder for fleas, insecticides, leather, plastic, wool and certain kinds of metals could cause contact dermatitis in dogs.
B) Skin allergy caused by allergens in the environment
The skin allergies caused by environmental allergens are seasonal most of the time. Pollen, mold, and dust found in the environment could cause an allergic reaction in your dog. These reactions occur commonly in the ear or paws but the allergy can also occur in areas like ankles, around the eyes, groins, and wrists.
C) Skin allergy caused by allergens in the food
Severe itching in the paws and ears are noticed in dogs that suffer from food allergies. Allergens in food can cause rigorous itching of the skin and inflammation.
D) Allergies caused by fleas or flea allergy dermatitis
Certain dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas and this causes an allergic reaction on the skin when bitten by a flea. Severe itching, especially on the base of the dog’s tail, is seen commonly. The skin of your dog becomes scabbed, red and inflamed in such cases.
3. Food allergies in dogs
A wide variety of symptoms like gastrointestinal problems, skin irritations and even anaphylaxis (in rare cases) occur when your dog is allergic to certain types of food. Diarrhea and vomiting are some of the common gastrointestinal symptoms and skin irritations can range from severe itching and redness to inflammation. In extremely rare cases some dogs suffer from anaphylaxis which could be life-threatening unless they get prompt treatment. However, some of the dogs tend to have symptoms of diarrhea, vomiting and skin disorders in spite of being on a hypoallergenic diet. This is not an allergic reaction but food sensitivity or food intolerance.
4. Allergic reactions that are acute
Certain kinds of food, bee sting, and some vaccines could cause an acute allergic reaction in dogs in very rare cases and they could even go into shock based on the severity of the reaction. Unless they are given prompt treatment this condition could be fatal. Reactions like swelling of ears, lips, face, and eyelids could look very serious but they are rarely fatal. Take your dog immediately to a veterinarian to get the right treatment.
Make sure you take your dog to a vet on a regular basis to understand the different issues that he/she faces. Giving the right medication and taking remedial measures would help your dog remain healthy and fit.