Some dogs may only have mild discomfort and may not show the dramatic sign of reddened, smelly ears. Instead they may exhibit milder head shaking initially. Dogs may shake their head because of the irritation in their ears and may not want you to pet them on their head.
Head shaking can be a sign of itchiness in the ears, or a sign of discomfort due to swollen ears, an ear infection, etc. The skin around the mouth, chin, paws, neck, and belly typically becomes red, inflamed, and itchy in dogs affected by pollen allergies, or due to other allergens in the environment. Also called moist eczema, hot spots occur generally due to excessive moisture in a local part of the skin.
Commonly seen in areas with moist hair from biting at themselves in areas such as the sides of the body or tail base, some breeds such as Labradors are more prone to hot spots. Hot spots can be quite discomforting for the pet, and are often infected too. If you see your dog sneezing more than normal, this can be a sign of pollen allergies. Reverse sneezing is another sign of pollen allergies, and may be seen during their outdoor activity, or during indoor time. Dogs can often develop sensitive skin that twitches or crawls upon touching it.
As allergies cause discomfort and inflammation of the skin as the primary sign, some hardy dogs may not show many other signs but will exhibit crawling of the skin when petted on their back. Some dogs may love back scratches almost too much! If you notice your dog any of these symptoms or a combination of the above symptoms, be sure to visit your vet and have them checked out. If signs only occur during the spring and summer, pollen allergies are likely the problem.
If your dog shows these symptoms year-round, or at other times of the year, this does not rule out pollen allergy. Rather, a combination of multiple allergies may be affecting your pet with non-seasonal skin or ear problems.
These signs are the general signs of allergies in dogs, thus most environmental allergies can lead to these symptoms.
Shop All Supplements. Blog dog health pet parenting featured. By Caroline Fontein, Pet Lifestyle Contributor Gnawing on their paws like you swear they were covered in peanut butter?
Sounds like it might be allergy season for your pup. So, how can you tell if your precious pup might be suffering from allergies? First a little about allergies.
What are allergies? Some common environmental allergens are: Pollen Grass Weeds Mold Fungi Flea saliva Also, just like humans, dogs can have food allergies too. How common are allergies in dogs? What are allergy symptoms? Environmental allergens are one of the main causes. One concern with skin allergies is that they can lead to secondary infections. How to tell if your dog has seasonal allergies versus food allergies?
How are seasonal allergies diagnosed? How to help your dog feel better? Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian to get an accurate diagnosis and to help your dog start feeling better. If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated.
If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, he or she may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing. Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog a novel i.
Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen. This may or may not always be possible. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet. In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.
If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get him to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible. AKC is a participant in affiliate advertising programs designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to akc. If you purchase a product through this article, we may receive a portion of the sale.
Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side. The treatment for food allergies in dogs is to feed a hypoallergenic diet for weeks. This is the only way to determine if your dog has a food allergy. Hypoallergenic diets either have limited ingredients with an uncommon protein source or are processed in a special way hydrolyzed to be less likely to cause allergic reactions.
The concept is that a dog cannot be allergic to a food that it has not been exposed to before. Consult your veterinarian to choose the proper diet. Over-the-counter foods are not recommended for a proper food trial. Treats, flavored medications, and human foods may also have to be eliminated during this trial period. Other allergy treatment for dogs are aimed at reducing the symptoms while waiting to see if the diet change is helpful. Treatments can include:. Steroids should not be used long-term in the management of allergies due to the risk of significant side effects.
If an allergy test has been performed, then the ideal allergy treatment for dogs is avoidance of the allergen. This is possible in a few, select circumstances, but most dogs are allergic to a variety of substances that can be difficult to avoid completely.
Other treatment can include an allergy vaccine, also known as immunotherapy, which is given either by injection under the skin allergy shots or by mouth. The goal of immunotherapy is to make the immune system less reactive to the allergy-causing substances.
This is the best long-term approach to allergy control, especially in younger pets that experience symptoms most of the year. Symptomatic treatment can and should be given while starting immunotherapy.
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