Allergies in dogs: Causes, symptoms and treatment

The causes of allergies in dogs are varied. One of the most common allergens is protein contained in foodstuffs, such as chicken, corn or soya. Dogs may also suffer from inhalant allergies, known as atopy, which are triggered by environmental allergens such as pollen, mould, dust mites or even dander from other animals. There is also contact allergy, which occurs in response to direct contact of the skin with allergens, such as certain metals, chemicals used in the home, and even some types of fabric. Symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the type and severity of the allergy. The most commonly observed symptom is intense itching, which leads to scratching, licking and biting of the skin, which in turn can lead to infections and inflammatory conditions. Other symptoms include chronic ear problems, such as infections, hair loss, sneezing, watery eyes, chronic cough or digestive problems, such as vomiting or diarrhoea. In some cases, particularly with food allergies, symptoms may also include skin problems such as red patches, scabs or excessive flaking of the skin. Treatment of allergies in dogs depends on their cause and may include both dietary changes and pharmacological treatment. In the case of food allergies, specialist elimination diets are often used, which help to identify the ingredient triggering the allergic reaction. After identifying the allergen, the dog is given a diet excluding allergens, which may be continued for life. In the case of inhalant allergies, treatment may include steroids or other anti-allergic medications, which help to control inflammation and symptoms. There are also modern therapies, such as desensitisation, which involves regularly administering small doses of allergen in order to gradually desensitise the dog's immune system.

Managing allergies in dogs often requires continuous care and cooperation with a veterinary surgeon, as well as the owner's willingness to follow dietary and medical recommendations. Regular veterinary check-ups and adjusting the treatment plan to the animal's changing needs can help maintain the dog's health and comfort, despite its allergies.

Food allergy in a dog

Food allergy in dogs is one of the more complicated and difficult to diagnose health problems that these animals may face. It involves an abnormal reaction of the immune system to one or more proteins contained in food, which leads to the occurrence of various symptoms, often focused on the skin or digestive tract.

The proteins that most commonly trigger allergies in dogs are usually those derived from chicken, soya, dairy products and cereals. That is why, when selecting dry food, read their labels and avoid foods with cereals. Unlike humans, where allergic reactions can be immediate, symptoms of food allergies in dogs develop slowly, often over several months or even years. These symptoms may include chronic skin inflammation, itching and redness, hair loss and chronic ear infections. Additionally, dogs may suffer from diarrhoea, vomiting and excessive gas. Diagnosing food allergies is a process that requires time and cooperation between the owner and the veterinary surgeon. The standard method is to apply an elimination diet, which involves introducing a new protein source to your dog's diet that it has never consumed before, for a period of at least 8 to 12 weeks. If the allergy symptoms subside, the next step is to reintroduce the suspected allergen to confirm the diagnosis. If symptoms return after reintroducing the allergen, this confirms an allergy to that specific ingredient. Treatment of food allergies involves, above all, permanently eliminating the allergen from the dog's diet. This may require the use of special hypoallergenic foods or home-prepared meals that are free from suspected allergens. It is important that any treats, supplements or even medications are also free from the allergen, which requires close cooperation and understanding on the part of the dog owner. Although food allergies cannot be completely cured, appropriate dietary management can effectively control symptoms and provide your dog with a healthy and comfortable life. Regular consultations with your veterinary surgeon and monitoring of your dog's health are key to maintaining your animal's stable state of health.

Contact allergies in dogs

Contact allergies in dogs are one form of environmental allergy in which an allergic reaction is triggered by direct contact of the animal's skin with specific substances. These are amongst the rarer types of allergies in dogs, but can be very troublesome for animals that suffer from them. Allergens that trigger contact allergies can include a wide range of substances, such as chemicals used in the household, cleaning products, detergents, materials from which mats, beds or collars are made, as well as some metals, such as nickel, found for example in the metal parts of collars or leads. Plants, such as grasses and weeds, can also provoke allergic reactions if a dog sensitive to them is kept in places where these plants grow. Symptoms of contact allergies usually appear on areas of skin that are in direct contact with the allergen. Typical symptoms include redness, itching, rash and hair loss in the areas affected by the allergy. In more serious cases, blisters and ulcers may appear. These symptoms lead to discomfort, and the animal attempts to relieve itself by scratching, licking and biting the affected areas, which can lead to secondary bacterial or fungal infections.

Diagnosing contact allergies is often difficult and requires excluding other types of allergies, such as food or inhalant allergies, which may present with similar symptoms. Your veterinary surgeon may recommend keeping a diary in which all new substances and materials that your dog has come into contact with, and their reactions to them, are recorded. In some cases, patch tests can also be used, similar to those used in humans, to identify the specific allergen. Treatment of contact allergies focuses primarily on avoiding further contact with the allergen. This may mean needing to change the products used in your home, replace materials in the dog bed, change the type of collar, or even modify the environment around your home. When symptoms occur, treatment often involves the use of topical or systemic anti-inflammatory agents, such as corticosteroids, as well as treatment of secondary infections. It is also important to use soothing shampoos and balms, which help to relieve skin irritation and restore its proper protective barrier.

Ultimately, managing contact allergies in a dog requires awareness and commitment on the part of the owner to identify and eliminate sources of allergens in the animal's life. Regular visits to your veterinary surgeon and adjusting the treatment strategy to suit the changing living conditions of your dog are key to effectively managing this health issue.

Environmental allergies in dogs

Environmental allergies in dogs, often referred to as atopic dermatitis, are a common health problem that affects many animals. They involve an overreaction of the immune system to common substances present in the environment, which are harmless to most dogs. These substances, known as environmental allergens, may include plant pollen, house dust mites, mould, and even dander from other animals. Symptoms of environmental allergies in dogs can be varied and are often seasonal, depending on the type of allergen and when it occurs. The most common symptoms are intense itching, which leads to scratching, licking, and even biting of affected areas of skin. This can result in redness of the skin, hair loss, and the development of rashes and infections. Other symptoms may include sneezing, discharge from the eyes and nose, and chronic ear inflammation, which is difficult to treat without proper allergy control.

Diagnosing environmental allergies in dogs usually begins with a detailed history from the owner and a clinical examination. Your veterinary surgeon may recommend skin tests or blood tests to identify the specific cause of the allergy. In skin tests, small amounts of various allergens are introduced under the dog's skin to check which ones trigger a reaction. Blood tests, also known as serological tests, can also help to determine what your dog is allergic to by analysing the antibodies in their blood. Treatment of environmental allergies is usually multifaceted and focuses on minimising exposure to allergens, treating symptoms, and modifying the dog's immune response. This includes frequent bathing using anti-allergenic shampoos, which help to remove allergens from the skin surface and reduce inflammation and itching. Your veterinary surgeon may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, such as corticosteroids or calcineurin inhibitors, which help to control symptoms. For long-term control, immunotherapy is increasingly being used, which involves regularly administering small but increasing doses of allergens to gradually accustom the dog's immune system and reduce its reactivity.

Managing environmental allergies in dogs requires patience and consistency from the owner, along with regular consultations with your veterinary surgeon. An appropriate treatment strategy can significantly improve your dog's quality of life, reducing allergy symptoms and increasing their daily comfort. Continuous observation and adjustment of the treatment plan to your animal's current needs are key to effectively managing this chronic health condition.

Diagnosing allergies in dogs

Diagnosing allergies in dogs is a key element in the process of treating and managing these conditions, which can significantly affect your dog's quality of life. This process requires close cooperation between the owner and the veterinary surgeon and may include various methods and techniques aimed at identifying the allergens responsible for triggering symptoms. At the beginning of allergy diagnosis, the veterinary surgeon conducts a detailed interview with the owner, asking about the dog's health history, the type and duration of symptoms, as well as the diet and environment in which the animal lives. It is important to gather as much information as possible about potential allergy-triggering factors, such as foods, materials in the home or seasons during which symptoms intensify. Physical examination is then carried out. The veterinary surgeon pays attention to the condition of the skin, coat and the animal's general well-being. Additional laboratory tests are often also recommended, which may include blood tests, skin tests, and in some cases skin biopsy. Blood tests can detect the presence of antibodies against specific allergens, which helps in determining what your dog may be allergic to. However, blood tests are not always accurate in the case of all types of allergies, such as food allergies.

A more detailed method of diagnosing allergies is skin testing. The veterinary surgeon administers small amounts of various allergens directly under your dog's skin to see which ones trigger an inflammatory reaction. These tests are considered the gold standard in diagnosing inhalant and contact allergies, but they require specialist equipment and often general anaesthesia for the dog. In cases of suspected food allergies, an elimination diet is often used. This process involves gradually removing individual ingredients from your dog's diet that may be potential allergens. After a period of several weeks during which only one type of meat and one carbohydrate are given, which usually do not trigger allergic reactions, other ingredients are gradually reintroduced. In this way, specific products that cause allergic symptoms can be identified. Managing allergies in dogs can be a complex process, but accurate diagnosis is essential to be able to effectively control symptoms and improve your dog's quality of life. Regular check-up visits and close monitoring of the animal's response to treatment and changes in the environment are key to successfully managing allergies.

Treatment of allergies in dogs

Treatment of allergies in dogs is a complex process that requires an individual approach, taking into account the specific needs of each animal. The aim of therapy is not only to alleviate symptoms, but also to reduce contact with allergens as much as possible, which can help with long-term control of your dog's health status. The first step in treating allergies is, where possible, to eliminate or significantly limit exposure to identified allergens. In cases of food allergies, it is crucial to follow an elimination diet, which allows you to identify and remove allergy-triggering ingredients from the diet. Once the allergen has been established, your dog should be fed only products to which they show no sensitivity, which may include specialist hypoallergenic feeds or home-prepared meals.

In the case of environmental allergies, it is important to regularly bathe and clean your dog and its environment to minimise contact with substances that may trigger allergic reactions, such as pollen, mould or mites. Frequent baths using special anti-allergenic shampoos can help remove allergens from the skin and coat, which significantly reduces itching and discomfort. Various types of medications are used in symptomatic treatment. Corticosteroids are commonly utilised, as they are effective in combating inflammatory conditions and other allergy symptoms; however, their prolonged use may lead to side effects. Alternatives may include newer medications such as oclacitinib (Apoquel) or ciclosporin, which regulate the immune response without the strong side effects of steroids. Another option is biological anti-inflammatory medications, such as interleukin-blocking drugs (for example, lokivetmab), which target specific cytokines involved in allergic reactions.

Immunotherapy is another strategy that may be applied in the case of environmental allergies. It involves gradually accustoming your dog's immune system to allergens through regular administration of increasingly larger doses of allergen. This method aims to reduce sensitivity to allergens and may effectively reduce the need for medication. During allergy treatment, supportive care is also important, such as supplementation with fatty acids, which can support skin health and reduce inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, owners of dogs with allergies should be prepared for the need for regular veterinary visits to monitor their dog's health and adjust the treatment plan as necessary.

Managing allergies in dogs is a long-term process and often requires changes to the lifestyle of both the dog and its owner. Effective treatment requires patience, commitment and often significant modifications to daily life, but the improvement in the dog's quality of life is a reward worth the effort.

Summary

In summary, allergies in dogs are a complex and common health problem that requires careful diagnosis and an individualised approach to treatment. There are many different types of allergies in dogs, including food allergies, contact allergies and environmental allergies, each requiring different management and treatment strategies. The diagnosis of allergies is based on a detailed history, clinical examinations and specialist tests, such as skin tests or blood tests. Treatment of allergies in dogs often involves eliminating allergens from your dog's surroundings, dietary changes, the use of anti-inflammatory medications and immunotherapy. Proper management of allergies can significantly improve your dog's quality of life, reducing symptoms and ensuring better overall wellbeing. Regular consultations with a veterinary surgeon are key to maintaining the effectiveness of treatment and adapting it to the animal's changing needs.