Veterinarians are observing that more and more dogs, just like us humans, are developing allergies – around a fifth of all dogs in this country are already affected. The triggers for an allergy in dogs can be diverse, the exact diagnosis and determination of the allergens is often difficult and time-consuming. Everything you need to know about dog allergies can be found here.
What is an allergy?
In medicine, an allergy is an excessive defense reaction of the body to certain stimuli or substances that are normally tolerated by a healthy organism. The immune system reacts to these stimuli as if they were pathogens and tries to fight them by means of the body’s own defenses. The triggering allergens can be just as varied as the symptoms that occur in the dog.
Before an allergy occurs, there must always be an initial contact with the respective allergen, which, however, does not yet trigger a recognizable reaction in the body. The immune system is sensitized to the trigger by this first contact so that it can then set its defense mechanisms in motion if it is confronted again. This sensitization phase can last from a few days to several years.
Why some dogs are allergic to certain substances and others are not, has not yet been finally clarified. However, some breeds seem to have a genetic predisposition to the development of allergies (= atopy), as they are affected much more often than others. In addition to hereditary disposition, non-genetic factors are also known that promote the development of an allergy, such as skin or mucous membrane changes caused by infections or chemical reactions.
What to do if a dog has an allergy?
If the dog shows signs of an allergy, such as severe itching, reddening of the skin, inflammation, or gastrointestinal problems, the veterinarian should carry out appropriate diagnostics to find the triggering factors. Only then can targeted treatment be initiated.
What types of dog allergies are there?
Since an allergy always develops to a specific trigger, there are many different forms of this disease in dogs. However, the allergy triggers most frequently found in dogs can be assigned to specific supergroups:
- Food allergies
- contact allergies
- environmental allergies
- parasite allergies
- Insect Bite Allergies
Food allergy
The excessive defense reaction against certain components in the food is one of the most common forms of allergies in our dogs. Here, too, the triggers can be very different. Some dogs react to certain proteins from meat, eggs, or milk, others do not tolerate the types of grain used or have problems with additives in their food.
Contact allergy
Direct contact with various materials, solutions, plants or medicines can also cause allergic reactions in some dogs. For example, collars or harnesses worn by the dog can trigger allergic skin reactions. Rubber or latex toys, shampoos, certain plants, spot-on preparations to treat parasites, or even touching some insects. After a first contact with such substances, a dog can develop an allergy, which leads to a violent physical defense reaction when touched again.
Environmental allergy
Many substances in the environment can cause allergies in dogs. As with us humans, overreactions to certain pollen, grasses, mold or house dust mites can occur. In dogs for which a genetic predisposition to the development of such an allergy is suspected, one also speaks of atopy or atopic dermatitis. The following breeds are particularly affected:
- Boxer
- Golden retriever
- Labrador Retrievers
- Shar Pei
The first symptoms usually appear within the first one to three years of life. Older dogs are much less likely to get sick.
Parasite allergy
The main cause of this form of allergy are fleas. Dogs of any breed and gender can be affected. The body’s defense reaction is directed against certain proteins contained in flea saliva. This means that if a dog has developed such an allergy (usually after a flea infestation in the past), the bite of a single flea is enough to trigger the sometimes severe symptoms. In addition to fleas, certain types of mites or ticks can also cause allergies in dogs.
Insect Bite Allergy
A dog’s allergic reaction to bee or wasp venom is a little less common, but still possible. If the sting of such an insect usually causes a local reaction with slight swelling and pain, an allergy can cause a generalized skin reaction all over the body, in the worst case the sting even leads to a state of shock that can be life-threatening.
What allergies do dogs have?
Allergic reactions to ingredients in food occur most frequently in dogs. Flea bite allergies and atopic dermatitis are also common allergic diseases in dogs.
Allergy in dogs: the typical symptoms
Most allergy symptoms are relatively unspecific, making accurate diagnosis difficult. Severe itching, which can occur anywhere on the body, is particularly common. The dogs are constantly scratching, rolling and pushing themselves or licking and biting their fur and paws. This often results in weeping, sore spots, so-called hot spots, which in turn can become infected by bacteria or skin fungi, which further intensifies the itching. Hairlessness, extensive skin inflammation and eczema are not uncommon signs of a pronounced allergic disease in dogs.
Since the inflammatory processes in the skin can also spread to the head area and ears, the dog then shakes its head very often and scratches its ears, which in turn leads to further inflammation. Ultimately, a veritable vicious circle is created in which the original allergy sets the first stone in motion, but the subsequent reactions set a whole series of other processes in motion. The longer the symptoms persist, the more difficult it becomes to determine the exact cause.
Especially in the case of food allergies, in addition to or instead of the externally visible skin reactions, sometimes severe gastrointestinal symptoms can also occur. Recurring diarrhea, vomiting and stomach pains cause the dog trouble, and as long as the actual cause is not identified and the food is changed, there can be no improvement. Since these symptoms can also occur with numerous organic diseases, a very precise diagnosis is particularly important here.
However, all signs of an allergic reaction that appear very suddenly and within a short period of time, such as acute swelling of the face, especially around the eyes, redness and pustules all over the body, tremors, staggering or abrupt changes in behavior are critical – in these cases a veterinarian should be consulted as soon as possible should be consulted as a life-threatening allergic shock could occur.
What food does my dog need if it has a food allergy?
First of all, a special diet must be used to determine which food components the dog is allergic to. Once the allergens have been found, a feed must be found that does not contain them.
How can a dog allergy be diagnosed?
In most cases, the suspicion of an allergy only arises when other possible diseases in the dog have been ruled out. Since the symptoms are so diverse and often non-specific, the veterinarian will first examine the organ systems that are primarily affected. This so-called exclusion diagnosis finally leads to the suspicion of an allergic event, which can now be narrowed down by means of further procedures.
If atopy is suspected due to the dog breed, age or perhaps even a family history of symptoms in siblings, an intradermal test can provide information about the exact trigger. Here, the dog is injected with certain allergens under the skin on the side of the chest wall according to a predetermined scheme in order to observe the reaction at the injection site. A blood test for certain antibodies can also be helpful, but is often not very accurate.
If a food allergy is suspected, a so-called elimination diet is usually carried out. The dog is fed alternately over a limited period of several weeks exclusively with very special food components in order to determine which trigger the allergic reactions in him.
Can I do an allergy test on my dog?
A so-called intracutaneous allergy test, in which certain allergens are injected under the dog’s skin to read the reaction, can be particularly helpful in clarifying atopic dermatitis.
Allergy in dogs: effective treatment methods
A food allergy is best treated by adjusting the type of food: If the allergen is found through the elimination diet, a lifelong diet with a food that does not contain this component can free the dog from the annoying symptoms. However, it is important to ensure that the dog does not get the food components that cause illness anywhere, and treats or the food of other animals in the household must also be considered.
Regular prophylaxis against the annoying pests helps against a flea bite allergy. Here, too, all animals living in a household should always be treated as well, since a single flea is enough to trigger the symptoms.
Once discovered, many contact allergens can be categorically removed from the dog’s environment in order to avoid allergic reactions. However, many allergies cannot be treated simply by avoiding the allergen. House dust mites or pollen, for example, can hardly be avoided entirely. In addition to symptomatic treatment, such as with antipruritic and/or anti-inflammatory drugs, the veterinarian can initiate hyposensitization. For this purpose, the dog is specifically exposed to the allergens in increasing concentrations under veterinary supervision in order to enable the immune system to develop a habituation and tolerance towards these substances.
