If your dog is acting strangely, scratching their body, and their skin is showing signs of redness and inflammation, they are most likely suffering from an allergic reaction. Yes, even your four-legged companions can have them.
In fact, allergies in dogs are common. However, unlike people, dogs will be unable to tell you what symptoms they are experiencing and when they occur. As a result, you and your veterinarian must work closely to determine what is causing the problem and what treatment to provide. We'll show you how in this article.
Skin Allergies
The most frequent allergic reaction in dogs is allergic dermatitis, caused mainly by fleas and environmental allergens. Grass, dust, pollen, and mold are examples of the latter, which they generally inhale.
Affected dogs are frequently itching, licking, chewing, and scratching themselves all over. The paws and ears, as well as the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, crotch, around the eyes, and in between the toes, are the most often afflicted locations.
Seasonal allergies are another possibility. This form of allergy occurs at specific times of the year, generally when outdoor molds release their spores, and trees, grasses, and weeds release microscopic pollen particles into the air to fertilize other plants.
Flea Allergies
Flea allergies can also be classified as an allergic reaction to the environment. Its clinical symptoms and therapy, however, are frequently distinct. Flea management is critical in a pet with allergies of any type because anything that causes itching can aggravate already irritated skin.
Food Allergies
Food allergies are a less frequent form of allergy in dogs, but they nevertheless affect 10 to 15 percent of vet patients. In dogs, food allergies are more about sensitivity or intolerance. It does not entail an immunological response and instead requires a progressive sensitivity to an allergen in your dog's food, such as beef, poultry, eggs, corn, wheat, soy, or milk.
Food sensitivities in dogs can cause gastrointestinal symptoms like vomiting and diarrhea, as well as dermatologic indications like itching, poor skin and coat, and recurrent ear or foot infections. To prevent this, try to switch to healthy pet food that is readily available to you.
How Can You Tell If Your Dog Has Allergies?
Allergy symptoms in dogs might vary depending on the reason. Itching, hives, swelling, diarrhea, vomiting, sneezing, chronic ear infections, and continuous licking are frequent signs of an allergic reaction in dogs.
How Can You Treat Them?
The best approach to treat an allergy is to stay away from the allergen causing the reaction. This may or may not be possible at all times, and therapy is dependent on the sort of allergy your dog has.
Anti-itch therapy, medicated shampoos from your local pet store, antihistamines, specific diets, and hyposensitization, which is comparable to human "allergy injections," are all typical allergy therapies. If your dog is experiencing a serious allergic reaction, the best thing you can do is get him to an emergency veterinary hospital.
Conclusion
If your dog has allergies, you'll need to figure out what's causing them, whether it's seasonal, food-related, flea-related, or something else entirely. You may then assist your dog in avoiding such allergens. Allergies, unfortunately, have no treatment. It can also be difficult to completely prevent it from happening to your dog. Nevertheless, there are things you can do to help keep their symptoms and pain under control.
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