Dog Allergies Quick Guide
Allergy, also known as hypersensitivity, is an exaggerated immune response toward a substance known as allergens
. Allergies happen after initial contact with the allergen and symptoms only appear during second exposure making it difficult to pinpoint the identity of the allergy. Like humans, dogs can suffer from dog allergies, characterized by skin problems and exacerbated by itching and scratching. Thus, dog owners should give immediate attention to facilitate early diagnosis, prompt treatment, alleviate symptoms, and prevent future complications and occurrence.Allergens and Types
Dog allergies result from bacterial infection, fleabites, food, inhaled allergens and contact with materials usually containing soiled or contaminated with allergens. The following are characteristics of the different types of dog allergies:
-Flea allergy is the most common and results when saliva from fleas are deposited on the skin of dogs causing severe, itch-producing reaction. The rump, located just in front of the dog's tail, is the most commonly involved area.
-Dog allergies also result from bacterial infection and the bacterium commonly causing such allergic condition is Staphylococcus aureus. This bacterium, normally found on dog skin, only causes dog allergies when dogs develop areas of hair loss.
-Inhalant allergy is also a very common type of allergy and affects other animals including humans. Some of the allergens causing dog allergies of this nature include tree pollens, molds, house dust mites, and grass pollens.
-Contact allergy is the least common type among the different dog allergies and includes local skin reactions to allergens found on dog collars and beddings.
-Food also causes dog allergies and account for at least 10 percent of all allergies in dogs. Food allergies also account for 20 percent of the itching and scratching in dogs. Most common cause of this allergy in dogs includes protein-rich food such as beef, lamb, fish, chicken, eggs, soy as well as wheat. The intensity of reaction is directly proportional to the amount of food eaten or amount of exposure.
What Can Be Done?
The rule of thumb to prevent dog allergies or preventing manifestations of symptoms is to prevent contact between the dog and the substances containing the allergens. For food allergies, avoidance of the food is the most common solution while for contact allergy replacing the collar as well as the beddings may help prevent future reactions.
For flea allergy, treatment includes the use of corticosteroids to block the reaction accompanied by flea control strategies. On the other hand, antibiotics seem to be the best remedy for bacterial allergy. Since inhalant allergy tends to be seasonal, keeping dogs away from potential allergens during this period is the most likely strategy. For severe cases, consulting your neighborhood veterinarian will definitely help.
Dog allergies cause problems not only to pets but also to their owners. Prompt detection and identification of allergens help reduce problems but keeping the environment clean and proper hygiene help prevent it from every occurring.
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