Canine allergy: causes and symptoms of allergy in dogs
As happens to humans, dogs can also suffer from allergy. An allergy arises when the immune system overreacts to a substance, called (in case of reaction) allergen. Today we talk about the symptoms and the most common causes of canine allergy.
Canine allergy symptoms
As in people, allergy symptoms can be mild or severe. Most normal is skin irritation, but it can also severely affect some organs.
The most common signs that there is an allergy in dogs are:
Continuous sneezing
Scratching of the ears and shakes of the head
Skin irritation
Continuous itching
Redness and rashes
Pustules or grains
Hair loss
Excess wax in the ears
Dry Truffle
Red eyes
Discomfort and lethargy
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Loss of appetite and weight
Nausea
Belching and flatulence
Symptoms will depend on what caused the allergy.
Allergy in dogs: what can cause it?
There may be several reasons for allergy to your dog: from a food to flea saliva or something you've breathed. So ultimately, the cause of a canine allergy will be determined by the path of contact.
Atopic allergies: When a dog is determined to have an atopic allergy it means that his body reacts to a substance he has sniffed or breathed. Are you a smoker? You may know that smoke from your cigar is a very common allergen in dogs. Along with pollen, it is the biggest cause of atopic allergies in the canes.
Feeding allergy: Occurs when any of the ingredients in your dog's food cause an inappropriate reaction to your immune system. Some of the most common allergens that produce canine allergy are wheat, milk derivatives, or corn.
Dermal allergies: they are caused by direct contact with the skin of our pet. The castanets can be many: a shampoo, a type of fabric, the metal of the veneer of your necklace, the necklace itself or some compound of the cleaning products.
Other causes of canine allergy: among these other causes are the most common causes that cause allergy in dogs. These are flea and tick bites, the saliva of which causes an allergic reaction to the skin of our furry.
What can be done about canine allergy?
If you've noticed any of these symptoms and think your dog may have an allergy, you need to take him to the vet for a physical exam.
When given with the possible cause, treatment consists of antihistamines, special creams, hypoallergenic feed, etc.
If the causing allergen is not known, a study of the dog's environment can be carried out to draw conclusions.
For example, if it is an allergy caused by a food, an elimination diet is often recommended. This involves giving a few foods to the dog (but that meet scants) and see how it reacts. Foods from your normal diet gradually get introduced, until we find out which one's causing the allergy.
The same goes for other allergy-causing ones. If you know you've introduced a new element into your home (a plant, a carpet, an air freshener, etc.) that your dog has had contact with, try removing it and watch their symptoms evolve.
If this does not reveal what has caused the canine allergy, your veterinarian will recommend allergy-specific testing in dogs.