Dog Allergy FAQs

Dog allergies are much like human allergies in the fact that they are usually passed on genetically from the parents to the offspring.

A dog can suffer from a variety of dog allergies. The common ones include skin allergies, pollen allergies and food & protein allergies. All are actually treatable with a variety of means ranging from changing pet food to medication. If you do think your pet has a dog allergy then a visit to the vet can confirm it and recommend a course of action.

Your dog's allergies might manifest themselves in a number of ways. He or she might bite, pick at what you think are fleas, or have diarrhea.

There are a number of possible allergen types including skin and food allergies (which will be covered later in this report) but here is a sampling of the types of allergies your dog might suffer:

Mold: If you live in a moist climate (which can be hot and humid or rainy and wet), you likely have mold in your home. Dogs can be allergic to the mold, which might cause itching.

Seasonal Concerns: For many, Spring (months with high pollen counts) brings on a season of sniffling and sneezing; your dog's discomfort could be attributed to seasonal allergies. Allergies are actually the most common cause of a dog's itching and scratching, right behind fleas.

Insects: If your dog spends any amount of time outdoors in the warm months of the year, there's a good chance he or she could have allergies to insects (other than fleas), which can cause itching and biting.

Other Animals: As much as humans can have allergies to cats and dogs, canines too can have allergies to other animals. Your dog might have an allergy to your pet cat, or even another dog. Don't discount the possibility of this because it can be very real.

Foods: While dog food allergies are not as widespread as most people think, your dog could have an allergy to a certain brand or type of dog food, or a specific ingredient in the dog food.

Products: Dogs can be allergic to just about anything they come into contact with. For example, dog shampoo, certain fabrics or artificial surfaces. In the same way that humans can have sensitivities to certain products, wool or other materials, your dog can too.

Dogs often suffer from a variety of skin allergies. This ailment can make your dog uncomfortable, to say the least. Let's look more deeply at what can ail your dog's skin. . .

The rise skin conditions in dogs can be credited to unhealthy diets, various types of over processed foods, and the increase in toxins in and around our homes.

While most cases aren't that severe, it's important to note that serious discomfort, illness, and even death can result from skin problems.

Lack of energy, high stress, anxiety, scratching and biting to the point of breaking the skin, massive discomfort and pain, and further health issues can actually be symptoms of a deeper health issue.

But the good news is your dog doesn't have to suffer with these ailments or will you have to keep guessing any longer.

Linda Kajda, whose dog suffered and recovered, has created a program called the "Dog Skin Solutions" which outlines the exact steps she took to stop her dog's skin and health problems in their tracks.

Not sure if your dog has skin problems? Or what to do to help? Find out by taking the FREE Dog Skin Solutions Quiz right now. Get your results instantly.

Just like with humans, your dog's skin is the largest and by far the most important organ of his or her body. It protects your dog by helping to ward off the elements, infections and parasites. It helps to regulate the dog's temperature and helps prevent the loss of moisture. Best of all, it's on the outside of your dog so any skin problems that might exist can generally be found easily and in an uncomplicated manner through a simple skin exam.

The skin is made up of a variety of things, including cells, hair follicles, nerve endings, glands, blood vessels and lubricating - or sebaceous - glands. The skin has two layers, namely the tough outer layer, or the epidermis, and the "dermis", which is a deeper layer.

The epidermis is the outer layer that provides a tough, almost impervious barrier that is designed to protect the dog from a multitude of possible invaders. The cells erode and other cells in the skin move in to replace them. This creates a regular, new barrier that keeps the skin fresh and healthy.

The epidermis is generally fairly thick, but some areas are thicker than others. The belly and armpits, for example, have fairly thin epidermis, while the more exposed areas, like the back and neck, have thicker epidermis to help protect them.

The dermis layer - that layer that is deeper than the epidermis - contains nerves, blood vessels, hair follicles and oil glands.

Because your dog's skin is so important, it's vitally important that the skin is healthy and therefore able to do its job of protecting your dog from infections and disease.

Fleas & Insects
Perhaps the most common of all dog allergies, the sensitivity to fleas and other insects is, for your dog, the very definition of "driven to distraction".

This allergy is most likely to rear its ugly head in the warm spring and summer months when flea and mosquito eggs "pop." This is most likely to happen when the temperature outside gets to a warm 80-degrees or more and stays there.

When the insects bite your dog, the saliva gets injected under your dog's skin. This can cause a reaction in your dog with his or her skin becoming itchy and inflamed. Your dog is actually quite uncomfortable at this point in time.

Dog allergy symptoms caused by FLEAS & INSECTS: If your dog is suffering from flea and insect allergies, you will likely notice several behaviors such as itching, biting, scratching and perhaps chasing his or her tail (seemingly to get hold of it to scratch or bite).

The danger in letting a flea or insect allergy continue without treatment is your dog can do real damage to his or her skin, often removing large amounts of fur and biting into the skin in order to alleviate the discomfort.

If your dog has fleas, as well, it's not just a discomfort for him or her but those fleas can cause problems for you too.

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Seasonal Changes
If you think about the time of year when you might have seasonal allergy problems, you're likely thinking about the time of year when your dog can have the most problems as well.

Seasonal allergies are (perhaps surprisingly) the most common type of allergies in dogs. Interestingly, there may be a genetic component - if your dog's mother had seasonal allergy problems, your dog likely will too. In addition, allergies in dogs develop in a similar way they develop in humans - after a couple years of exposure to a certain environment.

There is no way to tell if your dog will suffer seasonal allergies. Just like with humans, doctors have no definitive way to determine who will and who will not suffer allergies.

Dog allergy symptoms caused by SEASONAL CHANGES: If you notice these signs in your dog, he or she might suffer from seasonal allergies: itching and scratching. Since these symptoms are generally the same as those relating to fleas and other insects, a generalized exam by a Vet can narrow down the exact cause.

You can, however, narrow down the possible reasons for the itching and scratching on your own. If your dog has never previously had a problem with fleas, for example, you might consider that it's something like seasonal allergies.

If you want to do a little of this sleuthing yourself, look for several clues like:

. . . Are you having allergy problems? (Often, if you have seasonal allergies, your dog will too.)

. . If you do have seasonal allergies, consider what you are allergic to. Chances are your dog suffers from a similar allergen.

. . . Even if you don't have seasonal allergies, pay attention to the weather reports either in the newspaper, on the television or radio. These offer pollen counts, reports of what is "high" on any given day (for example, on a day trees are "high", people who have that allergy will be more uncomfortable with their allergies).

. . . Pay attention to which days your dog seems to be scratching the most. Then match that to the allergy reports and see if there's any connection.

Finally, keep in mind that tree pollens create the most allergy problems for dogs and people, and grass pollen (which lasts through the summer) can also be a problem for dogs. Flower pollens don't usually create too much discomfort.

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If your dog has a good flea treatment and you don't see good evidence of seasonal allergies, it's time to look at other possible scenarios.

As previously stated, dogs can be allergic to just about anything they come into contact with, for example: cats and other pets, the dog shampoo you're using on her, certain fabrics or other artificial surfaces.

. . . If you suspect your dog is allergic to a product (like shampoo), simply remove what you think is the offending item for a few days or a few treatments and see if the irritation continues or abates.

. . . In the case of a possible allergy to fabric or some other source, remove the dog from the probable problem. For example, if your dog's bed is filled with cedar chips and you wonder if he or she is allergic to them, just remove your dog's bed for a time and see what happens. If that's not the cause, remove something else until you find the root cause of the problem.

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After seasonal allergies and allergies caused by insects or fleas, dog food allergies are the next most common. . . accounting for about 15% to 30% of all dog allergies.

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An intolerance to certain foods is not the same as an allergic reaction to foods. A dog that has an intolerance to certain foods will show many of the same symptoms people might have (i.e., diarrhea or vomiting).

If a dog has a food allergy, he or she will most likely exhibit those symptoms we've already discussed, namely, biting, scratching and licking.

Experts don't yet know WHY some dogs experience an allergic reaction to certain foods and others don't. For example, dog food allergies do not favor females or males - there seems to be an equal incidence in both male and female dogs. There is no difference in the incidence of food allergies in neutered and non-neutered animals, either, as many previously believed.

It is said that food allergies can appear in dogs as young as 5 months and as old as 12 years old, though allergies most often appear when the dog is between 2 and 6 years of age.

Proteins
Various proteins found in dog food are generally "allergy culprits" and it is thought that allergies develop over time and exposure. Allergy triggers can be chicken eggs, chicken, beef, wheat, soy, corn, and dairy products. The most common allergy triggers are beef and dairy products.

Preservatives???
It is not believed that preservatives are the cause of food allergies in dogs. Although they might not be desirable, and there are certainly arguments for restricting your dog's intake of preservatives, there's been no conclusive evidence they are the root cause of food allergies in dogs.

Dog Food allergy symptoms: If your dog has food allergies, you will likely notice a variety of symptoms. These include, but aren't necessarily limited to: hot spots, recurrent ear infections, skin infections that recur (even after use of an antibiotic), itchy skin, hair loss.

Because some symptoms mimic those of other types of allergies, it might be hard to be sure that your dog is suffering from food allergies. But here are a few things you can explore:

. . . Observe bowel movements. In some veterinary circles, there's a belief that dogs with food allergies might have more bowel movements in a day than dogs without food allergies. Although not conclusively proven, there is some evidence that dogs with food allergies might have 3 or more bowel movements a day, compared to 1 ½ on average for dogs with no food allergies.

. . . Some experts say if your dog has recurrent ear infections, that might be a good first clue.

. . . If your dog is relatively young and has moderate or severe skin problems, that may be another clue.

. . . If your dog seems to suffer allergies, but it is wintertime or the allergies seem to be year-round, you could be dealing with food allergies.

Since food allergies can mimic the symptoms of other types of allergies or illnesses (like bacterial or yeast infections), it's important to get an accurate diagnosis. Talk to your veterinarian and let him or her use a specific technique to diagnose what ails your dog.