Does your dog have allergies? -The brutal truth.
If your dog is constantly scratching, licking their paws, or even throwing up, they might have allergies. And no, it’s not just a phase—without proper care, it’s only going to get worse.
What Exactly is an Allergy?
An allergy is a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance called an allergen.
An allergy happens when your dog’s body reacts to something harmless, like pollen, food, or flea bites. Their immune system, which usually fights off bad stuff like germs, treats these things as threats. This overreaction leads to itching, swelling, redness, or even stomach issues like vomiting or diarrhea.
Signs Your Dog Has Allergies:
Itchy skin: Your dog might scratch, lick, or bite themselves constantly, even to the point of losing fur or causing sores.
Digestive problems: Some dogs with allergies may throw up or have diarrhea.
Inflamed skin: Redness, bumps, or swelling, especially on their face, paws, or belly, can be a sign of a reaction.
How Common Are Allergies in Dogs?
A lot of dogs have allergies. It doesn’t matter what breed they are or where they come from. These allergies usually start when they’re around six months to a year old, and can get worse as they age.
Can Dogs Be Born with Allergies?
Yes. Some allergies are passed down from their parents. This is called atopic dermatitis (atopy), and it usually involves things like pollen or dust. If your dog has atopy, they’ll get really itchy during certain seasons or when exposed to things like mold or dust mites.
Common Allergy Triggers:
Fleas: Flea bites are a huge cause of allergies. Even one bite can make your dog scratch like crazy.
Food: Dogs can be allergic to proteins in food like chicken, beef, lamb, eggs, or dairy. This might show up as itching or digestive issues.
Environmental allergens: Pollen from trees, grass, and weeds, as well as mold and dust mites, are common triggers.
Medications: Some dogs react badly to certain meds or chemicals.
Types of Allergies and How to Handle Them:
Flea Allergy: Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is one of the most common skin problems in dogs. If your dog has FAD, even one flea bite can make them itch like crazy. You’ll need to keep them on strict flea control, including monthly treatments and keeping your home flea-free.
Atopy (Environmental Allergies): If your dog is allergic to pollen, mold, or dust mites, they’ll show signs like itchy skin, especially on their face, paws, belly, or armpits. This type of allergy usually gets worse during certain seasons. Treatments include medications like antihistamines or steroids, special hypoallergenic shampoos, or even allergy shots to help reduce the reaction over time.
Food Allergy: Dogs can become allergic to foods they’ve been eating for a long time. Common triggers include chicken, beef, lamb, or even grains. The only way to figure out what’s causing the allergy is to try an elimination diet, where you feed your dog special food for 8-12 weeks and monitor for any improvements. If the symptoms improve, then you’ve found the culprit and can avoid it.
Contact Allergy: Some dogs react to things that touch their skin, like flea collars, certain plants, or even materials like wool or synthetics. If you notice your dog’s skin getting red or swollen after contact with something, you might be dealing with a contact allergy. The solution is to remove whatever’s causing the problem.
How Do You Treat Dog Allergies?
Flea control: If fleas are the issue, keep your dog on flea medication and make sure your home is clean.
Medications: Your vet might prescribe antihistamines, steroids, or other medications to help stop the itching and inflammation.
Diet changes: For food allergies, an elimination diet is the best way to identify the problem.
Bathing: Regular baths with hypoallergenic shampoo can help soothe irritated skin and wash away allergens like pollen.
Allergy shots: In severe cases, allergy shots (immunotherapy) can help retrain your dog’s immune system to stop overreacting.
Does your dog start scratching like crazy when the weather changes?
It could be seasonal allergies. Just like humans, dogs can be allergic to pollen from trees, grasses, and weeds, as well as mold and dust mites. These allergens are more common in the spring, summer, and fall, causing symptoms like itchy skin, red eyes, sneezing, and paw licking.
If your dog is showing signs of seasonal allergies, treatments like antihistamines, special shampoos, or allergy shots can help manage the symptoms and give them relief.
I would always keep an eye out that we dont use ingredients like tea tree, citrus or apple cider vinegar if your dog has damaged their skin at all.
Keeping your home free of allergens by vacuuming regularly and wiping your dog’s paws and coat after outdoor time can also reduce flare-ups. This will make periods where the dog is unattended less likely to end up in them damaging their skin further.
