“Bless you!” “Bless you!” “BLESS YOU ALREADY….” How many times have each of us actually said this to our dogs? Well, if you haven’t, you’re one lucky dog owner! Dogs can have the same symptoms as humans do to allergies! Did you know that? Yes, you’re not imagining things….your dog can sneeze his head off, too, as well as having other symptoms.
Pet Allergies
With dogs, typically there are five types of allergies: food allergies, flea allergies, bacterial allergies, contact allergies and atopy. Below is a brief description of each of these allergies, along with symptoms and remedies.
Because dog food is made from many different ingredients, every dog is susceptible to food allergies. Just some of the ingredients that are in dog food are beef, pork, chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, dairy products, wheat, whey, corn and many others. One of the main symptoms of food allergies, which many dog owners scold or correct their dog for, is scratching. If your dog is constantly scratching (or licking or chewing), don’t just assume that your dog has picked up a new habit.
Pet Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions can be very uncomfortable for your dog and your sweet pet has no way to tell you what is wrong. In addition to scratching, your dog may sneeze or cough, he may have a nasal discharge or a discharge from the eyes, or he may constantly paw at or shake his head. Some of the more unpleasant allergic reactions include diarrhea, vomiting or constantly licking at the anus. A severe reaction could even include breathing problems, just like humans sometimes do.
The problem in identifying the specific allergen is that it usually is an allergy to ONE ingredient, which is very hard to isolate, especially in multi-ingredient dog foods. There are a couple of methods to try to determine which ingredient your canine is allergic to. One method would be to do an elimination diet, eliminating one ingredient at a time and giving your dog specially-cooked meals, which are consisted of more “exotic “ meats like rabbit or venison – meats typically not found in dog food – combined with bland foods, like rice or potatoes.
This can be very tedious and hard to comply with, but some dog owners will do just that. Fantastic! If you don’t have that type of time (or energy), you can purchase dog foods that contain an ingredient called hydrolyzed proteins. (I’m not endorsing any brands here but I do know that Purina makes one of these formulas. I’m sure there are others.) At any rate, these proteins are broken down into teeny, tiny molecules that can NOT affect the immune system, which is what causes an allergic reaction in the first place.
After a couple of months on this food, if the symptoms and the allergy seem to go away, then you can safely determine that your dog is suffering from a food allergy. At that point, discuss with your vet how to gradually reintroduce foods back into your pet’s diet so that together, you can successfully determine which food it is that your dog is allergic to.
Dogs are not allergic to fleas, per se, but rather, to the flea saliva. Of course, the most common symptom of a flea allergy is scratching….incessant scratching! “Would you please stop it?” scratching. Your dog can lose his hair (sometimes permanently), scabs and sores, as well. Since fleas are visible to the naked eye, you shouldn’t have any trouble locating them. But, if you’re not sure, your vet will be able to make this determination for you. Treat, treat, and treat! Treat your lawns, your home and most of all, your pet. There are great products out there for prevention!
Dogs can harbor staph infection in and on their coats. Generally, this isn’t a problem; however, if they should have an injury or develop a sore spot, the staph can easily cause the spot to be infected. Should that happen and you notice a “crusty” spot, discharge, a spot that doesn’t hear or worsens, etc., PLEASE contact your vet immediately. You’ve got a penicillin needin’ pooch! (Or, another suitable antibiotic, of course.)
This is the least common of all pet allergies, but not impossible. If all other allergens have been ruled, out, then start looking at your dog’s collar, toys, food dish, pet bed, etc. And, as always, speak to your vet.
Conversely, atopy is the most common of all dog allergies. Atopy is simply an inhalant allergy – dust mites, human dander, household dust, feathers, pollen, mold, etc. The hardest of the allergies to identify, this can be quite complex because the symptoms can be the same as food allergies, flea allergies and contact allergies. The areas generally most affected with this allergy, with the scratching, licking, chewing and so forth, are your dog’s paws, genitals and armpits! Because of this complexity, your vet will probably need to be involved.
The moral of the allergy story? Please pay attention to your dog’s behaviors, be aware – take notes if you have to – and please, please, please utilize the knowledge and expertise of a trusted vet! Your puppy needs you!!