Have you began to find your dog scratching and itching excessively? Is the scratching causing open wounds and loss of fur on your canine pal? If so, this is a pretty good indication that your dog might be distressed by dog allergies. Dogs don't get the normal red eyes and a watery nose similar to what people do when we are suffering with an allergy. Additional signs can include excessive itching of a given area, or gnawing of the paws causing them to bleed.

What Are The Causes of Allergies in Dogs?

An allergy occurs when a dog's immune system overreacts to certain allergens. The body will then produce antibodies as a means of protection after the trigger of the animal's allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will then bind to immune cells in the skin and different body tissues. So, when the allergens slowly breach the tissue, the antibodies incite the immune cells to emit virulent chemicals (named histamines) into the nearby tissue. This will then lead to inflammation and itching in the dog.

There are several factors to take into account when locating the cause of dog allergies. An allergy that affects a dog's skin is normally triggered by at least one of the following: food, fleas, and airborne particles.

Flea Dermatitis or Flea Allergy is usually triggered by flea saliva. That is why it's so important to liberate your canine of fleas on a regular basis.

An atopic allergy is incited by the breathing in of airborne particles in the natural environment, such as tobacco smoke, pollen, dust and mold spores, instigate atopic allergies. If a pet has pollen allergies, the pet will manifest signs, even if you keep it indoors as the allergens will come inside. Coughing, sneezing and wheezing frequently are symptoms of this variety of allergy.

Food allergies are the next most frequent kind of allergy in dogs. The most likely reasons for food allergies in dogs include: chicken, soy, corn, milk, eggs, wheat and beef. Nausea and diarrhea usually go along with this type of allergy in dogs.

Contact allergy is the least seen variety of allergy in dogs and is set off by contacting something. Triggers could include plastic, wool and grass. A few dogs can have allergic reactions to specific chemicals in the household, however, this isn’t very common.

How to Diagnose Skin Allergies in Dogs

A vet might be able to detect the problem, however,although it could entail a process of elimination to uncover the root of the skin allergy and could possibly refer your dog to a veterinarian that’s a dermatology specialist. In the case where fleas are ruled out, the animal might be put on an elimination food regimen for a couple of months. The dog is given food it hasn’t eaten before, such as chicken, lamb, and potatoes, with the old food being introduced in stages until the allergy reemerges.

The allergen is thought to be at least one ingredient if the dogs scratching decreases by about 50% of what it was before. To check for contact and atopic allergies, veterinary dermatologists utilize an intradermal allergy test that functions by mildly anesthetizing the animal with minute amounts of possible allergens which are injected into the shaved area of the skin. If your dog is allergic to a specific substance, the skin will become inflamed near the area of injection.

Treatments for Skin Allergies in Dogs

Keeping the pet away from allergens and curing the symptoms of dog allergies are the most beneficial approaches to treatment. Drugs like steroids and antihistamines are frequently suggested to alleviate consequences of itching and inflammation in dogs, although like all medicines they could be accompanied by unwanted side effects and the long-term effects are still undetermined.

Long-term treatment using steroids is not advocated because these drugs work by repressing the immune system. Continued steroid use over time could leave your pet vulnerable to infections, diabetes and further conditions.

All Natural Remedies

Luckily for dog owners, there are plenty of non-toxic and natural herbal and homeopathic remedies for animals living with skin allergies.

Melaleuca alternifolia is frequently used externally to advocate skin health and keeping your pet’s skin clean while Althaea officinalis root is an excellent and popular remedy for soothing the skin. Homeopathic remedies such as Apis and Ledum have impressive healing attributes and are remarkably beneficial in healing reddened and chafed skin, or minor stings and cuts.