Can dogs have allergies like humans?
Dogs have allergies, a very common problem that we'll see dogs for. Seasonal allergies, food sensitivities, hypersensitivity reactions to things in the environment, fleas, etc. Very, very common.
Do different types of allergies in dogs present differently?
Most of the time, dogs that are reacting to something they're allergic to will itch. Skin problems are the main thing that we'll see. Sometimes intestinal digestive problems occur if it's a food sensitivity, but the majority of dogs that we see for allergies are coming in because they itch, they're licking, they're scratching, their skin's a problem.
How do vets diagnose dog allergies?
Taking history is really important. What time of year does your dog react? How severe and intense is the reaction might change how we go about treating the itch. At some point, trying to figure out what it is the dog is reacting to, especially if it's a recurrent problem. Are the ears involved? Is it just the skin? Is it the feet? What's the location? There are a lot of questions that have to be answered. Sometimes testing, skin testing, and blood testing is appropriate. It really depends on the case, but your veterinarian will guide you in terms of what's the most appropriate steps to take.
Can dog allergies lead to other health complications?
Ear infections are more or less an extension of the skin. So if there's a problem with the skin, there can be the same reaction within the ear canal. A lot of dogs that have food sensitivities or are really stressed by their allergies can have digestive signs, diarrhea, and not eating. Those are common things that we'll see in dogs that are having allergy reactions.
Can allergy stress cause behavioral changes in dogs?
Not very often, but I have seen some dogs that come in, they're not eating, they're depressed, they're withdrawn. They obviously don't feel good because they're just so upset by the level of itch or the ear infection that they've got as part of their allergy.
How can you determine the source of a dog's allergies?
Allergy testing is done, skin testing is done, looking for signs of parasites, looking under the microscope at skin scrapes and impression smears. If there's parasites, if there's secondary infections, those need to be treated. Evaluating the ear, doing testing on the ear material that's coming out. Sometimes we'll start with a food trial if we're suspicious of a food sensitivity. Making sure your pet is on good flea control, not just your pet, but every pet in the household is important to treat for parasites to make sure that we're eliminating and controlling the things we can control.
What are the treatment options for dog allergies?
These days, more than ever, there's a lot of different treatments that can be prescribed. Some carry with them more side effects than others, some don't have a lot of side effects. Not always 100% effective, some of those therapies, but part of our goal is to match the intensity of treatment with the intensity of the reaction. Making sure we've got topical treatments covered, the skin's being taken care of, the ear is being cleaned and treated properly, and making sure we're not missing anything as far as complicating factors. Definitely treating underlying infections is important, definitely addressing any complicating factors like that. Making the dog comfortable is number one, and there are many different treatments now available for treating the itch associated with an allergy. We want to make sure that we're using therapies that are effective and making sure first and foremost the pet is comfortable.
Are there any home remedies for dog allergies?
Typically, bathing is helpful, washing the skin, and washing away potential allergens, lowering the temperature of the skin, and reducing inflammation. The temperature of the water and the type of shampoo that you use can make a big difference. Many people will try antihistamines. They're not always very successful, especially with significant flare-ups, but over-the-counter antihistamines are often part of what we try in many cases to help the dogs feel better until they can get more formal treatments from the veterinarian.
What is immunotherapy, and can it help with dog allergies?
Immunotherapy is probably the safest option, and it's also the most specific option. A dog comes in, is obviously an allergic dog. They've got parasites and fleas controlled, there's no skin infections or ear infections. We've done food trials and made sure that food is not the main trigger. What we're left with after eliminating everything else is a dog who's hypersensitive to something in the environment. By doing either blood testing or skin testing and measuring that individual dog's reactivity level to different environmental allergens, we can customize an immunotherapy or a desensitization protocol that includes injections or oral medications to try and reduce the dog's reactivity to those allergens before it even happens. Allergy shots, allergy treatments very specific for that dog based on their allergy profile, have really helped a lot of dogs. Not 100%, but it has really helped a lot of dogs reduce the amount of medications they need long-term and ultimately just help them be healthier and not have such severe intense seasonal environmental reactions to allergens. It's a really helpful part of the therapy, but again, there are lots of different therapies that we will prescribe.
What is the most important thing to remember about dog allergies?
For me, it's first and foremost making the pet comfortable. If a dog has an ear infection that's painful or if the dog is really uncomfortable with itch, getting them the relief they need is usually my approach. Right on the heels of that approach is, if we need to, spending time trying to figure out what it is that's driving that itch and causing it to be a recurrent problem. If we can identify the things, whether it's a food ingredient or something environmental that we can desensitize and create an environment in the dog where they're not as reactive, we're way ahead. It's a very common, certainly very frustrating disease, but there are lots of therapy options, lots of testing, and treatments that can be done to help. That's what we're here for, to help you and help your pet.
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