Does your dog have itchy skin and swollen paws? Has he taken to rubbing his face and ears all over your lovely carpet? If so, he might be suffering from dog allergies. “Unlike humans, who often experience a runny, stuffy nose when their allergies act up, dogs suffer from itchy skin when they have an allergic reaction,” explains Dr. Denise Petryk, the director of veterinary services at Trupanion.
Here’s everything you need to know about dog allergies:
What Can Dogs Be Allergic To?
Admit it: Deep down you sometimes think your dog is a person. Well, your dog’s allergies might make him seem even more human to you. “Dogs are allergic to the same things people are allergic to,” says Dr. Leon Freeland, the regional medical director of Best Friends Veterinary Group. According to Dr. Freeland, dogs are mainly allergic to pollen, but they can also be allergic to mold, insects, house dust and food ingredients.
“Common food allergens include beef and chicken/poultry,” says Dr. Amanda Landis-Hanna, the director of veterinary medicine at i4C Innovations. Dogs can also be allergic to fleas, she adds. And they can be allergic to other animals, as well. “Your dog can even be allergic to your cat! It’s actually quite common,” says Dr. Petryk.
How Can You Determine What Your Dog Is Allergic To?
If your dog has itchy skin and swollen paws, you can take various steps to figure out what allergens may be causing these symptoms. You should start by “eliminating certain foods, snacks or environmental substances like pollen or fabric softeners to see if things improve,” says Dr. Petryk. It’s also important to figure out whether your dog experiencing allergies year-round or only during allergy season. “A dog with year-round allergies may be more likely to be allergic to a food and may need to be put on a hypoallergenic diet,” says Dr. Landis-Hanna.
But the only way to know for sure is to have your pet tested for dog allergies. “Your veterinarian can perform lab tests to determine what your dog is allergic to,” says Dr. Freeland. These tests, acccording to Dr. Petryk, “may include skin tests and food allergy elimination trials.”
When Should You Visit Your Veterinarian?
Dogs typically start showing signs of allergies between the ages of 1 and 3 years. According to Dr. Freeland, if your dog is shaking her head, licking her paws or scratching excessively at her sides, she might have allergies. Dr. Petryk says that frequent ear infections are also common. If the allergies are left untreated, the symptoms can worsen over time. As soon as you notice that your dog is uncomfortable, you should take her to see the veterinarian.
How Can You Help Your Dog?
“If your pup does have allergies, you can’t cure him,” says Dr. Freeland. However, there are several ways to manage his symptoms. You can give your dog medications, add nutritional supplements to his diet or have your veterinarian administer allergy shots. In addition, you can also ease your dog’s dry, itchy skin by washing him with a moisturizing shampoo, such as colloidal oatmeal.
“It often takes more than one type of treatment to be effective,” says Dr. Freeland. But, as Dr. Landis-Hanna points out, “the best way to help your dog is to minimize her exposure to known allergens.” For instance, if your dog has a chicken allergy, make sure that you don’t feed her any type of food that contains a trace of chicken, including treats.
Let Your Dog Sitter and Dog Walker Know
If anyone else cares for your dog, you should let that person know about your pet’s allergy, particularly if it’s a food allergy, so that he or she can be prepared to handle the situation properly. Make sure to specify which symptoms your dog sitter or dog walker should look out for and what he or she should do if theses symptoms flare up. “Good communication will help you avoid trouble,” says Dr. Petryk.
Do you want to learn more about pet allergies? Check out this article on dog wheezing.
Laura Agadoni is a pet writer and pet owner whose articles appear in various publications, such as The Daily Puppy, Pets on Mom.me, The Nest, Tom’s of Maine, The Penny Hoarder and Trulia.
