Oct 10, 2024
Skin allergies are a common issue many dogs face, but not every dog experiences the same types of allergies. Some dogs are more prone than others, depending on factors like genetics, environment, age, and overall health. Breeds like Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, and Boxers often have the most trouble in terms of getting allergies.
What are Skin Allergies in Dogs?
Skin allergies in dogs occur when their immune systems overreact to certain substances. When a dog comes into contact with something it’s allergic to, the immune system jumps into action, trying to counteract what it perceives as a threat.
This could be anything from specific foods to flea bites or even dust. The immune system mistakenly flags these harmless substances as dangerous, leading the body to release chemicals like histamines. These, in turn, cause common allergy symptoms like itching, redness, and inflammation.
Signs of Skin Allergies in Dogs
When dogs have skin allergies, you’ll often see them squirming and struggling to find a comfortable spot on the floor or their bed. While the obvious signs are itching, there are lots of other symptoms of skin allergies in dogs. Here are a few of the common ones:
Itching and Scratching
If your dog seems like they just can’t stop scratching, that could be a sign of a skin allergy. Dogs with allergies often scratch or bite at their skin, especially around their paws, belly, and ears.
Red and Swollen Skin
Allergies can cause your dog’s skin to get red, irritated, and puffy. You’ll often see this where your dog is scratching or licking the most. If the skin gets really inflamed, it might turn into sores or hot spots, which are painful and can easily get infected.
Hair Loss
Excessive scratching or licking can cause your dog’s fur to fall out, leaving bald spots. This often happens around the ears, face, belly, paws, and other areas where your dog tends to feel the itch and irritation.
Licking or Chewing Paws
One of the biggest signs of skin allergies is when your dog keeps licking or chewing their paws. This can make the skin between the toes red and swollen and lead to an infection if left unattended.
What Causes Skin Allergies in Dogs?
Lots of factors can lead to dog skin allergies, and identifying the exact trigger can sometimes be tricky. Understanding the most common culprits will help you narrow down what might be affecting your best friend. Here are some of the common causes of skin allergies in dogs:
Environmental Allergens
Environmental allergens are one of the most common causes of skin allergies. Dirt, dust, pollen, and mold are everywhere, especially around our outdoor environments. When dogs go out to play, they are vulnerable to a lot of allergens that could cause skin problems. In some cases, skin allergies can be seasonal, which worsens in the spring when pollen counts are high.
When your dogs start to scratch their bodies and lick their paws, this could be a sign of a skin allergy. You may notice red, inflamed patches on their skin, along with hair loss in the affected areas. Dogs may also suffer from recurring ear infections or watery eyes due to inflammation caused by airborne allergens.
Fleas
Fleas are tiny parasites that can cause extreme discomfort for dogs through skin allergies. Dogs that are allergic to a flea’s saliva can experience intense itching and irritation. Even a single bite will cause extreme discomfort for your dogs, which will make them want to bite and scratch their skin, leading to hot spots. This will only worsen your dog’s condition.
You’ll start to notice the signs when your dog starts to itch with signs of visible flea dirt around its body. Hair loss and skin infections can also manifest from the presence of fleas, as they are carriers of germs that could cause dangerous diseases. Scooting can also be a common sight, as fleas are common around the base of a dog’s tail.
Food
Food allergies are another cause of skin problems for dogs. What’s more is that it’s difficult to determine the exact foods that can cause skin allergies for your dog, as it varies. The most common foods that can cause skin allergies are dairy, grains, chicken, and beef. Dogs that are allergic to food can either instantly or gradually experience the symptoms of skin allergies. This usually starts with itching.
Gastrointestinal discomfort can also develop as a possible reactions to food allergies. These are accompanied by vomiting and diarrhea. Food allergies can also cause skin reactions like irritation and inflammation, as dogs paw, bite, or lick affected areas for relief. When this goes on for a long time, your dog’s skin condition will worsen.
How to Treat Skin Allergies in Dogs?
Once your dog has been diagnosed with skin allergies, there are several ways for our vets to help your best friend get back to their happy self. Here are some of the common treatment options we will do to help manage and treat the skin allergies of dogs:
Medications
Medicines, topical treatments, and oral medications are some of the easiest ways to help manage your dog’s skin allergies. We have a variety of different medications at our vet pharmacy to help provide the relief and comfort your dog needs. Antihistamines, oral and injectable medications, and medicines with good amounts of fatty acids can help bring back your dog’s healthy coat.
Flea Prevention
Flea and tick prevention treatments are super important to help keep your dog’s skin clean. A good routine helps prevent any infestation from happening, but if your dog is already suffering from a flea allergy, flea-specific topical treatments and chews are available for your best friend. These treatments are easy to apply, allowing you to treat your dog’s flea problem at home. Although, we always recommend having your dog checked with us first so we can help you.
Dietary Adjustments
A special diet is super helpful for dogs with food allergies. This might involve an elimination diet to figure out which ingredients are causing the issue. We might also recommend a hypoallergenic or limited-ingredient food that avoids common allergens like chicken, beef, or dairy. Once the offending ingredient is identified, it’s important to keep your dog on the new diet to prevent flare-ups.
Environmental Changes
If your dog’s skin is allergic to pollen, mold, and dirt, it’s crucial to keep it inside. Reducing your dog’s contact with the outdoor environment can help its body recover from skin allergies. In the meantime, make sure your home is clean and free from allergens that could cause problems in your dog’s skin.
Supplements
Grooming is essential to a dog’s health. Dog-friendly shampoos can help soothe your dog’s skin and relax it from the uncomfortable effects of allergies. You can also do home remedies such as using oatmeal shampoos and coconut oil treatments to moisturize the skin and help with the recovery process.
How to Prevent Skin Allergies in Dogs?
While skin allergies are not completely avoidable, there are some steps you can take to help your dog stay safe from allergens that could cause discomfort. Here are some tips on how to prevent allergies in dogs:
Regular Grooming
Aside from its role in helping your dogs recover from skin allergies, maintaining a clean and healthy coat starts with a good grooming routine. Simply bathing your dog with medicated shampoos and home treatments can help keep its skin healthy. Or, if you want to give your dog a complete spa day, we also offer professional grooming services to give your best friend extra protection.
Routine Flea Treatments
Regular flea prevention treatments help keep those pesky parasites away before they can deal any real damage to your dog’s skin. It only takes a simple bite from a flea to cause extreme discomfort for your dog. Having a consistent flea treatment routine helps your dog stay safe from fleas, even when it plays outside.
Nutritional Diet
For dogs with food allergies, avoid giving the specific food that causes the issues. You can instead replace this with specially formulated foods that also help with your dog’s health without causing any skin allergies. Brands like Royal Canin and Hill’s offer a lot of choices.
Regular Vet Visits
Regular visits to our clinic will help us maintain your dog’s healthy and glowing skin. We can also check for any potential issues that could threaten its health. Our team has all the tools to help your dog manage its skin allergies and prevent them from getting in the way of playtime.
Conclusion
A dog’s skin allergies can get in the way of its happiness, and knowing the steps to take is super important in helping it recover. Work closely with our vets, and we’ll help your dog recover from its skin allergies through a tailored treatment plan. Whether it’s through dietary changes, medications, or environmental adjustments, there are plenty of ways to help your dog live a more comfortable, itch-free life.