Dog skin allergies usually can fall into two
different categories. These are hereditary and
acquired skin disorders. There are so many
irritants that can cause dog skin allergies. You
have food, pollen, chemical substances and
parasites. There are many common signs of dog
skin allergies such as itching, inflammation of
the skin, yeast infections, and discharges. It
should be known that all dog skin disorders can
easily be prevented or treated.
Dog skin allergies usually occur when your pet’s
immune system responds inappropriately to a
certain substance. It is not uncommon for there
to be no signs when the dog is first exposed to
the allergy. After the first introduction to the
allergen, your dog’s immune system has built up
a reserve of antibodies to react to that
specific allergen. When the next attack occurs,
the immune system reacts on a much stronger
level.
Dog skin allergies are usually inherited,
especially in breeds such as Dalmatians, Golden
Retrievers, poodles, schnauzers, and terriers.
There are also many irritants in the environment
that causes dog skin allergies. Food allergies,
dust mites, and ragweed allergy causes much
worse symptoms than a dog that is allergic to
one substance at a particular point in time.
Another contributor to dog skin allergies are
pests of internal and external natures. These
are fleas, mites, heartworms, and intestinal
worms. However, these pests can definitely be
prevented, especially when owners take certain
precautions when their pets are puppies.
Dog skin allergies are often caused by certain
types of dog foods. Try eliminating a certain
brand of food, this may not wipe out the
problem, but can quite possibly lead you in the
correct path of actively diagnosing the problem.
There may be times when one certain ingredient
is the culprit in the old and new dog food.
Symptoms of dog skin allergies include but are
not limited to biting, scratching, and itching.
Veterinarians will perform blood tests on dogs
that have acquired dog skin allergies. You will
come to find that high amounts of an antibody;
IgE is an indicator of an overreaction to a
certain allergen. Veterinarians can successfully
perform tests, similar to those performed upon
humans. This occurs by slowly introducing small
areas of the skin to various forms of allergens
while carefully observing how the dog’s skin
reacts to each and every allergen.
Dog skin allergies can be treated by keeping
your dog away from down pillows, especially if
they tend to be allergic to feathers. It is of
the utmost importance to bathe your dog once or
twice per week. This washes away allergens
before they penetrate the skin. Also, try adding
fatty acid supplements to your dog’s diet. There
are also many treatments for dog skin allergies
such as anti-inflammatory corticosteroids,
antihistamines, and immunosuppressive drugs.
Dogs can also receive immunotherapy, by becoming
desensitized to the certain allergen when they
receive a number of allergy shots.