Allergies in Dogs

Is your dog constantly itching and scratching? Licking at their paws? Or even scooting their bum on the floor? If so, chances are your dog is suffering from allergies. There are 3 main causes of skin allergies in dogs.

First is Flea Allergy Dermatitis. This is an allergy to flea saliva, so when a flea bites a dog or a cat, it causes the skin to become very itchy. The skin becomes red, inflamed, and forms scabs and thinning of the hair. Often this is due to your pet excessively scratching and chewing at their skin. Fleas can be tough to see as they hide between the fur of your pet. One way to test if your pet has fleas is to check for black specs of dirt on their skin. Put some of this dirt onto a paper towel and spray water on it; if this dirt turns red, there is a high chance it is “flea dirt”. This is the digested blood the flea ingested after biting your pet. It is always best to check with a veterinarian or technician to see if your pet truly has fleas, then start using a flea prevention product from your vet hospital.

The second is Food Allergies. Food allergies in dogs can cause a variety of symptoms. They include the typical dog allergic reactions like itchy skin and hives, but they can also have gastrointestinal signs like vomiting or diarrhea. Often you hear that dogs have an allergy to grain, a common one being wheat; however, this has been found to be very rare, and most often dogs are allergic or sensitive to a protein source, like chicken or beef. If your veterinarian suspects a food allergy, a food trial in most cases is recommended. This would entail feeding your dog a new food, like a Hypoallergenic diet. Feeding a different protein, like lamb, is another possibility. These new diets must be fed for 4-6 weeks exclusively, which means no extra treats!

Finally, the third is Environmental Allergies. Just like people, dogs can be affected by common allergens like dust, mold, aerosols, and especially this time of year, pollen like ragweed; however, unlike people, dogs generally don’t become congested or constantly sneeze from environmental allergens. Dogs become extremely itchy, often around their paws, ears and bums. This makes them lick their paws, which can cause saliva staining where the fur turns a reddish-brown colour. Ears are more prone to ear infections with allergies involved, and the scratching of the ears can cause further irritation. Itchy bums in dogs is actually the most common reason for scooting; generally, dogs’ anal glands will empty naturally as they defecate and don’t need to be expressed. Itchy skin itself can also cause a whole other set of problems. When a dog is constantly scratching, licking, and biting at their self, it can open the skin to yeast and bacteria, creating a secondary infection. If this occurs, medicated shampoos and treatments, including antibiotics, may be needed in order to treat your dog’s skin.

Skin allergies and infections make your pet very uncomfortable. If you notice any of these signs on your dog or cat, please contact our veterinary hospital. There are many treatment options for allergies of the skin. We will help your pet find the relief they are looking for!

Mallory, VT