Dog Allergies : How To Identify Them
There are a variety of conditions that can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including endocrine, autoimmune, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, some detective work is necessary to identify the right cause.
If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the dog is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and are the easiest to control. There are many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment.
Once flea allergies are ruled out, and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are the next thing to be checked. Food allergies are not seasonal, while many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.
Dogs which develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms when they are 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high on the list of suspected causes when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age of over 5 years, or less than 6 months.
To test for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for around 10 weeks. This means the dog is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as duck, venison, and potatoes.
These special foods, which come in packets or cans like normal dog food, may be found in pet stores. Or, the owner may choose to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods recommended by the veterinarian.
If the dog’s itching subsides, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms return.
To check a dog for atopic and contact allergies, veterinarians use an intradermal allergy test, or skin reaction test. The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin. If the dog is allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly inflamed, showing that the cause of the allergy has been found.
Learn More : Dog Skin Allergies
