Learn to spot and diagnose symptoms of your dog's allergic reactions
Like humans, dogs can suffer from irritating and potentially dangerous allergies. Learn about the most common allergy types to help ensure your pet's health and safety.
Humans aren't the only ones who suffer from bothersome or health-impacting allergies. Man's best friend is also susceptible to an array of allergic reactions. There are five common sources of allergies that most predominantly impact dogs:
Contact Allergies: If your dog has ever developed an itchy rash or redness in a localized area, he most likely was experiencing a contact allergy. These can be caused by a variety of triggers, including reactions to flea collars or bedding materials. Although it can be a challenge to determine the source of a contact allergy, treatment is usually as simple as removing the allergen from the dog's environment.
Flea Allergy: If a dog is allergic to fleas, the pest's bite can cause severe itching and irritation. Symptoms include vigorous scratching that may lead to bleeding or loss of hair. The biggest danger is the potential for infection at the site of the scratches. This reaction is most commonly seen in the dog's hindquarters, in front of the tail. The most effective methods of treating flea allergies are preventing contact with fleas, administering vet-prescribed medication to provide relief from the allergic reaction, and monitoring any open sores for infection.
Bacterial Allergy: The presence of some types of Staphylococcus (Staph) bacteria on a dog's skin is normal and usually harmless, unless the dog develops an allergy to the bacteria. In this case, the reaction usually manifests itself with patchy areas of hair loss in small, round areas. See your veterinarian to obtain an antibiotic to treat the lesions. Long-term treatment may involve the administration of a Staph antigen.
Inhalant Allergy: The most widespread dog allergy is of the inhalant variety. There are a variety of airborne substances, such as grass pollen, tree pollen, ragweed, mold, mildew, and dust mites, which can trigger allergic reactions in dogs. Instead of exhibiting the respiratory symptoms that humans experience, a dog's primary symptom is severe itching. Because of the large number of potential irritants, many of which are seasonal, it can be difficult to isolate the cause. Depending on the diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend anti-inflammatory therapy, shampoo therapy, or hyposensitization.
Food Allergy: Like humans, dogs can develop allergies to different types of foods at any point throughout their lives. A protein allergy is the most common type, manifesting itself as a reaction to beef, chicken, turkey, or pork. Common symptoms include itching, wheezing, and digestive problems. Your vet can help you test your dog for a certain type of food allergy by prescribing a special hypoallergenic diet.
Like humans, dogs can suffer from irritating and potentially dangerous allergies. Learn about the most common allergy types to help ensure your pet's health and safety.
Humans aren't the only ones who suffer from bothersome or health-impacting allergies. Man's best friend is also susceptible to an array of allergic reactions. There are five common sources of allergies that most predominantly impact dogs:
Contact Allergies: If your dog has ever developed an itchy rash or redness in a localized area, he most likely was experiencing a contact allergy. These can be caused by a variety of triggers, including reactions to flea collars or bedding materials. Although it can be a challenge to determine the source of a contact allergy, treatment is usually as simple as removing the allergen from the dog's environment.
Flea Allergy: If a dog is allergic to fleas, the pest's bite can cause severe itching and irritation. Symptoms include vigorous scratching that may lead to bleeding or loss of hair. The biggest danger is the potential for infection at the site of the scratches. This reaction is most commonly seen in the dog's hindquarters, in front of the tail. The most effective methods of treating flea allergies are preventing contact with fleas, administering vet-prescribed medication to provide relief from the allergic reaction, and monitoring any open sores for infection.
Bacterial Allergy: The presence of some types of Staphylococcus (Staph) bacteria on a dog's skin is normal and usually harmless, unless the dog develops an allergy to the bacteria. In this case, the reaction usually manifests itself with patchy areas of hair loss in small, round areas. See your veterinarian to obtain an antibiotic to treat the lesions. Long-term treatment may involve the administration of a Staph antigen.
Inhalant Allergy: The most widespread dog allergy is of the inhalant variety. There are a variety of airborne substances, such as grass pollen, tree pollen, ragweed, mold, mildew, and dust mites, which can trigger allergic reactions in dogs. Instead of exhibiting the respiratory symptoms that humans experience, a dog's primary symptom is severe itching. Because of the large number of potential irritants, many of which are seasonal, it can be difficult to isolate the cause. Depending on the diagnosis, your veterinarian may recommend anti-inflammatory therapy, shampoo therapy, or hyposensitization.
Food Allergy: Like humans, dogs can develop allergies to different types of foods at any point throughout their lives. A protein allergy is the most common type, manifesting itself as a reaction to beef, chicken, turkey, or pork. Common symptoms include itching, wheezing, and digestive problems. Your vet can help you test your dog for a certain type of food allergy by prescribing a special hypoallergenic diet.
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