An allergic reaction is when a substance (allergen) causes an abnormally strong immune response that causes damage to the body. Like us humans, dogs can suffer from allergies, and like us humans, these allergies can range from everything from food to dust to pollen. The problem is symptoms of dog allergies can often be confused for other conditions – itching could be a sign of fleas.

If you think your dog might have allergies, a vet visit is on the cards., just bear in mind they'll need to run tests to find the cause of the symptoms. Unfortunately, dog allergies can’t be cured but there’ll be lifelong care options to help prevent or reduce the symptoms. Learn all you need to know about dog allergies, from the type of allergy to symptoms and treatment, here's all you need to know.

Common Allergy Problems in Dogs

The most common allergens for dogs are pollen, flea saliva, food proteins, and house dust mites. Less common allergens include fabrics, mould spores, and the dander from other pets (wool, feathers and cats).

Dog food allergies usually appear after prolonged exposure to a certain type of food, so you may not be aware of it straight away. The immune system of an allergic dog creates antibodies against some parts of the food, usually a protein but any ingredient can be the cause. The most common food allergens are from dairy, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, beef, or wheat gluten.

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is caused by flea saliva. Adult fleas bite the dog to feed on their blood, and when they bite, they inject a small amount of saliva into the skin. It’s the antigens in the saliva that cause an itchy response. One bite can cause itching for several days.

Dog Allergy Symptoms

The most common symptoms of allergies in dogs are runny a nose and itchy skin. Dog food allergies can also cause vomiting and diarrhoea. Other subtle changes can occur like loss of appetite, weight loss, lack of energy, hyperactivity or aggression. FAD causes hair loss in the “flea triangle” - from the middle of the back to the tail base and down the rear legs.

Canine atopic dermatitis (also called atopy) is an allergic skin condition, similar to eczema in people. Dogs with a genetic predisposition to the condition develop an allergy to environmental allergens – mites, pollens, moulds, dander, and dietary proteins. This results in inflammation and itchiness, so the dog will bite, lick, rub, chew and scratch themselves to relieve the skin irritation, which often causes hair loss.

Hair loss or skin damage can cause secondary skin infections to set in. Affected dogs may also suffer from reoccurring ear infections.

Dog Allergy Testing

Allergy testing for dogs will require a visit to your vet, so if you your dog displaying symptoms of an allergic reaction, book an appointment. Dog allergy testing entails your vet taking a detailed history to try to determine the cause and may carry out some allergy testing to find out which allergens affect your dog. There are two main techniques of dog allergy testing: intradermal skin testing (IDAT) or serum allergy testing (RAST). If you think your dog might have a food allergy, your vet would recommend testing using an elimination diet.

Dog Allergy Test:  Intradermal Skin Testing (IDAT)

Intradermal skin tests involve injecting small amounts of allergens into the dog’s skin and monitoring for a reaction. A reaction will occur within 20 minutes in the form of a raised and discoloured blotch (known as welts, wheals or hives). The procedure is performed by a veterinary dermatologist and requires the dog to be anaesthetised. This makes it the most expensive method of the two, but it’s also the most accurate at finding the exact allergen.

Dog Allergy Test: Serum Allergy Testing (RAST)

Serum allergy testing is a blood test that measures the levels of IgE antibodies. IgE antibodies are produced by the immune system when it’s faced with an allergen. This test can be done by your vet and doesn’t need an anaesthetic.

The downside to serum allergy testing is that it can take up to six weeks to get the results and there’s varying accuracy between labs. It’s best used to help narrow down potential allergens, rather than finding the exact cause.

Dog Allergy Test: Food Elimination Diet

The best diagnostic test for dog food allergies is the elimination diet – feeding your dog one type of protein and one type of carbohydrate, like chicken and rice, for several weeks to see if the symptoms improve. Similar to the elimination diet, there's the food trial, where you only feed yoru dog one specific type of dog food.

With the elimination diet, and the food trial plan, it’s important to stick to the diet as even one treat can cause a setback. After determining what foods your dog can eat, your vet can help you to find a commercially produced hypoallergenic diet for your dog. These are high in fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory properties.

Treatment for Dog Allergies

Once your vet has found the cause, they can create an allergy treatment plan to help prevent future allergic reactions in your dogs. There’s no cure for allergies but there are measures you can take to reduce symptoms.

Desensitisation (also known as immunotherapy or allergy shots) involves injecting doses of diluted allergens. The doses are gradually increased to help the immune system get used to the allergens and build up a tolerance. It’s the best treatment for atopic dermatitis (environmental allergens like pollen, mould, and dust mites). It’s not an effective method for flea allergies.

Allergen avoidance is the most effective treatment and prevention for flea allergies, dog food allergies, and contact allergies. As the name suggests, this method means avoiding exposure to the allergen. For a flea saliva allergy, this includes avoiding areas where fleas are most present and treating your dog regularly with flea treatment. Food allergies in dogs can be treated by feeding your dog a strict hypoallergenic diet that you’ve chosen following the elimination of certain food allergens.

Allergy tablets for dogs can be used to treat seasonal environmental allergies. Environmental allergens can also be reduced by regularly cleaning – hoovering and steaming carpets, dusting, cleaning soft furnishings and washing bedding.

Air conditioning and air filtration systems have been found to be effective at removing the allergens from within the home. In damp areas, dehumidifiers can help to reduce mould growth and mite reproduction. Exposure to mould can also be reduced by restricting access to high humidity areas like bathrooms and conservatories, and areas where there is leaf litter, compost bins, rotting logs and hay.

Dog skin allergies can be helped by frequently washing, wiping down and brushing your dog, particularly after they have been outside. This will help to remove allergens like pollen. Also restricting access outside during high pollen concentrations and avoiding long grass areas will help to reduce exposure.

Some dogs suffer with allergies, much like humans do. They can even have a pet allergy! So, they may not be able to live with other pets (usually cats). Although there’s no way to cure an allergy, there are treatment options that can help to relieve and prevent your dog’s symptoms.

Speak to your vet if you suspect your dog is suffering from allergies. 

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Content provided from Vetstream's Vetlexicon Canis - www.vetlexicon.com/canis

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