Understanding the different dog skin allergies

Understanding the different dog skin allergies

Allergic dermatitis or skin allergies in your dog can be painful for your dog and frustrating for you if you can't figure out the cause. Unfortunately, the symptoms can be very similar, but the cause can be dramatically different. In order for a dog owner to identify the true culprit of their pet's allergies, it is helpful to recognize the variety of allergies and symptoms.

The symptoms:

Skin allergies can occur in a variety of ways, so dog owners may be surprised to learn that the cause is actually allergies. The most common symptom is the dog scratching or licking a specific part of its body. Now all dogs do this, but if there are allergies, your dog is more likely to chew, bite, and scratch until it forms red, inflamed areas.

The most common causes of skin allergies in dogs

1. Hypersensitivity to flea bites

This is a common reason for skin allergies in your pets. The dog develops hypersensitivity to flea bites. Obviously, you want to get rid of the fleas, and this may require herculean efforts if your dog and your home are heavily infested. However, once your pet and home are "flea-free," try a bandana with a few drops of the herbal Pennyroyal around your dog's neck to keep fleas away.

2. Atopy

Another common type of skin allergy in dogs is atopy. Also called an “inhalant” because it occurs when your dog inhales an allergen such as dust or pollen. This type of allergy usually occurs in younger dogs between 1 and 3 years of age.

3. Food allergies

Finally, the third most common allergy in your dog is food allergy. This is also the most difficult type of pinpoint allergy. It affects every breed of dog and can strike at any age. A food allergy is difficult to determine because the allergy develops over time. Therefore, your dog may “suddenly” become allergic to food that he has been eating well for years or months. The reality is that he has slowly built up an intolerance to the food.

Aside from developing a skin allergy, your dog may also start vomiting or suffer from diarrhea, which is another symptom of a dog food allergy.

Other causes:

Your dog may also encounter some other causes of allergies such as yeast infections, drug allergies, and even contact allergies. These are the least common causes of allergies, but can cause problems if your dog develops them. Aside from yeast allergies, drug and contact allergies can be easily resolved by either stopping the medication or removing the allergic material from contact with your pet.

As a final note: Dog skin allergies may be mild, but may increase in severity as it progresses, so the condition is addressed in the mild stage to prevent further damage to your pet.

Inspired by Jennifer P. April