What Causes Skin Allergies in Dogs?
An allergic reaction can occur when an animal's immune system excessively reacts to given substances. The body will then manufacture antibodies as a type of protection when the cause of the canine's allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will next stick to immune cells in skin and various body tissues. So, when the allergens slowly enter tissue surfaces, the antibodies prompt the immune cells to exude virulent substances (called histamines) into the nearby tissue. This then leads to irritation and itching in the dog.
There are a number of things to think about when trying to figure out how to treat skin allergies in dogs and finding the cause of the condition. An allergy that affects a dog's skin is generally caused by at least one of these: food, fleas, and airborne particles.
- Flea Dermatitis or Flea Allergy is typically brought on by saliva from a flea. That's why it is so imperative to rid your canine of fleas frequently.
- Atopic allergy is brought on by the inhalation of airborne particles in the natural environment, like pollen, dust, cigarette smoke and mold spores, activate atopic allergies. If a pet has pollen allergies, the dog will exhibit signs, even if kept in the house as the allergens will come into the home. Sneezing, coughing and wheezing generally are signs of this type of allergy.
- Food allergies are the third most common variety of allergy in dogs. The most probable causes for food allergies in dogs include: soy, milk, chicken, corn, wheat, eggs and beef. Queasiness and diarrhea usually are warning signs of this type of allergy in canines.
- Contact allergy is the least frequently seen sort of allergy in dogs and is triggered by contacting something. Triggers could include wool, plastic and grass. Some dogs can have allergic reactions to particular chemicals in the household, but it isn’t very common.
Identifying Dog Allergies
A veterinarian may be able to identify the problem, though it might call for a process of elimination to identify the cause of the dog’s allergy and could even refer the animal to a veterinarian that’s a skin specialist. If fleas are ruled out, your pet could be put on an elimination food regimen for 10 weeks. Your pet is given food it has not eaten in the past, such as turkey, venison, and potatoes, with the old food being brought back progressively until the allergy reappears.
The allergen is thought to be one or more ingredients if the animals scratching is reduced by about one half of what it was beforehand. When testing for atopic and contact dog allergies, veterinarians utilize an intradermal allergy test that operates by gently anesthetizing the animal with small amounts of probable allergens that are injected into the skin on the shaved region. If your dog is allergic to a specific substance, the skin close to the area of the injection will become inflamed.
Treatments for Dog Allergies
Keeping the dog away from allergens and treating the symptoms of allergies in dogs are the most beneficial approaches toward treatment. Medications like steroids and antihistamines may be advocated to ease symptoms of itching and swelling in pets, but like all drugs they could come with harmful side effects and the lasting effects are still undetermined.
Long term usage steroids is discouraged since these medicines operate by restraining the immune system. Continued steroid use may eventually leave your pet vulnerable to diabetes, infections and further ailments.
Natural Remedies
Luckily for dog enthusiasts, there are a lot of nontoxic and natural remedies for skin allergies in dogs. Melaleuca alternifolia commonly applied as a topical to advocate skin health and keeping the animal’s skin clear while Althaea officinalis root is an exceptional and popular remedy for restoring the skin. Homeopathic treatments like Ledum and Apis have wonderful soothing attributes and are remarkably effective in soothing inflamed and irritated skin, or minute irritations and lesions.
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