Identifying The Cause Of Your Dog’s Allergies

16 Feb 2010

16 Feb, 2010 Dog Health

There are a variety of conditions that can make a dog itch or sneeze, including endocrine, autoimmune, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the cause.

A veterinarian might be able to come up with the right diagnosis. Alternatively, they may refer your dog to a veterinary dermatologist, a specialist in treating animal skin conditions.

If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and the easiest to control. There are many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment.

If flea allergies are ruled out, and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are the next thing to be checked. Food allergies are not seasonal, while many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.

Dogs which develop atopic allergies usually show symptoms when they are 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months, or over 5 years.

To test for food allergies, the dog is put on what is referred to as an “elimination diet” for around 10 weeks. This means it is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as duck, venison, and potatoes.

Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in retail stores. Or, the owner may choose to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods based on recommendations from the veterinarian.

Should the dog’s itching subside, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the old diet to see if the symptoms worsen again.

To find the specific ingredients that trigger the allergy, the dog owner should add one ingredient at a time from the regular diet into the special diet. This should be done for at least a week until the itching increases, indicating that the last added ingredient is an allergen.

Alternatively, the owner may choose to stay with the special food to avoid causing the dog any further discomfort. Either way, while the dog is being tested for food allergies, it should not be given treats, table scraps, or rawhide toys that may contain an allergen.

To check a dog for atopic and contact allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test (also known as a skin reaction test). The dog is mildly sedated, a postcard-sized area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin. Should the dog be allergic to one of the injected substances, the skin will become inflamed at the area of the injection.
—
Learn More: Dog Allergies Treatment