Canine allergies manifest as itching and inflammation of the skin. Environmental allergies are a chronic pathology that requires long-term individual treatment so that the dog feels as well as possible and alleviates the discomfort they generate as much as possible. The main objective of the treatments is to encourage the pet to have a quality of life despite its disease and to prevent it from developing chronic skin problems. In the case of food allergies, symptoms can be improved and even eliminated when the source of the hypersensitivity reaction is determined exactly. The pet owner, in collaboration with the veterinarian, can determine what foods the dog can eat and what foods are best to avoid.

The most common problem in allergic dogs is usually itching, mainly on the face, ears, armpits, groin, and around the anus.

Allergy Symptoms in Dogs

The most common problem in allergic dogs is usually itching, mainly on the face, ears, armpits, groin, and around the anus. Some dogs only suffer from recurrent otitis or chronic leg problems. Other possible dog allergy symptoms are scratches, bites, licks, and slides of the animal on its own rear, flanks, or abdomen, a product of the discomfort caused by irritation. The skin can become inflamed, red, thick, pigmented, peeled, and infected to varying degrees.

Canine Allergy Diagnosis

To diagnose the allergy, the veterinarian must weigh the different symptoms and skin lesions, excluding other possible sources such as parasites or dermal infections produced, for example, by bacteria and fungi. The first step is usually to find out if the dog has a food allergy. To do this, the pet must be put on an elimination diet, which consists of supplying a controlled diet for eight weeks (at least), composed of protein and carbohydrate sources that the animal has never ingested before. At present, the most common thing is to feed the dog with a “hydrolyzed hypoallergenic feed”, that is, a special feed that is purchased at the veterinarian and that has been previously modified to prevent the pet’s immune system from reacting to proteins.

If, on the other hand, a homemade diet is offered, the ingredients must be selected very carefully to ensure that they do not contain what the dog has eaten in the past. The elimination diet is provided exclusively, that is, the animal will not be able to ingest anything else, even avoiding chews and dog biscuits. This diet is intended to put an end to skin disorders and possible otitis.

Eliminating Hypersensitive Reaction

To confirm that the animal has not developed a food-type reaction and that the symptoms have not been cured by other treatments, a “challenge” is performed by giving the dog the food that it used to take before the elimination diet. With such provocation, if the dog is allergic to food, it will experience a hypersensitivity reaction again within the next 14 days, although a reaction is almost always seen a few days after feeding the food to which it is intolerant.

Performing a Skin Test

If a food allergy cannot be demonstrated, the next step in the examination will be to perform a skin test or blood test for hypersensitivity to environmental allergens. These tests allow detecting allergic reactions to different elements, such as mites, pollen, mold, or animal epithelium. This is intended to determine which environmental components the animal is allergic to in order to avoid or control them.

If your dog has a food allergy, skin allergy, or other, it is best to first take the animal to a vet for examination, observation, and treatment.

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Canine Allergy Treatment

The treatment of an allergic dog is always adjusted individually based on the symptoms of this allergy, the degree of itching, and the discomfort together with the possibilities of the owner of the animal. On the one hand, the treatment will try to avoid what the dog does not tolerate (food or something in its environment that can be modified); and, on the other hand, cortisone pills or capsules, cyclosporine, or other drugs will be administered to help control the sensation of irritation and itching.

Many dogs are also treated with allergy vaccines (immunotherapy), that is, a vaccine is produced with substances that the dog does not tolerate, which is administered in the form of an injection or oral spray. Many dogs respond well to this type of treatment, which has few side effects. The allergy vaccine is intended to reduce the administration of other drugs.

The supplements of omega 3/6 are also part of the treatment since the skin barrier of allergic animals is impaired and must try to reset. On the other hand, fatty acids have a certain antipruritic effect (reliever of itching). These fatty acids can also be found enriched in feed intended for allergic dogs.

Conclusion

If your dog has a food allergy, skin allergy, or other, it is best to first take the animal to a vet for examination, observation, and treatment. Your canine will love you more for it!