Do you have allergies? If so, you’re in good company. According to the CDC, about one third of American adults have some form of allergies. Quite a few of our canine companions also suffer from allergies. A local Napa County, CA vet offers some insight on allergies below.

How Common Are Allergies In Dogs?

More of our canine friends have allergies than you may think. While we don’t have as much clear data concerning dogs, researchers in Brazil conducted studies on this in 2021 and came up with a similar figure. They estimated that about one in four pups have allergies. Further research indicates that the numbers have gone up by a whopping 30% in the last decade.

What Are The Most Common Allergies In Dogs?

Fido can become allergic to many different things, and at any stage of his life. That said, doggy allergies fall into a few specific groups. 

Skin Allergies

Skin allergies, also known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common doggy allergy. These are usually caused by a few main culprits: fleas, food, and the environment. Skin allergies are often accompanied by a lot of itching. Fido may also have red, inflamed skin and/or hair loss. He may bite or lick himself obsessively.  

Environmental Allergies

Some common examples of environmental allergies, also known as atopy, include dust, pollen, and mold. Fido can also be allergic to specific plants, or also to substances in your home. In some cases, the trigger could be a household product, such as a cleaning solution. 

Environmental allergies are often seasonal. For instance, pollen isn’t going to be much of an issue in winter, but could make your furry pal quite miserable in spring or fall.  Ragweed, cedar, and grass pollen are a few more examples of seasonal allergies.

Contact Allergies

As the name suggests, contact allergies happen when Fido comes into direct contact with a substance. Some examples of this would include things like shampoos; specific materials, such as wool or latex in your carpets or upholstery; or perhaps your pet’s doggy bed. Another example would be the pyrethrins in a flea collar. Contact allergies are the least common type of allergy in our canine pals.

Food Allergies

Food allergies can be tricky, because it’s not always easy to pinpoint exactly what Fido is reacting to. It’s generally a type of protein that causes the reaction. Some of the common culprits include beef, chicken, lamb, corn, wheat, and dairy products. However, your pooch could also react to other things, such as soy, egg, pork, fish, or rice.

It’s worth noting that pups with food allergies can sometimes be prone to serious skin infections. In fact, some studies have shown that pups with food allergies are six times more likely to develop pyoderma, a bacterial skin infection, than pooches without allergies. The number is even higher for kitties: Fluffy is 15 times more likely to get pyoderma if she has food allergies. All in all, about a third of dogs and cats with food allergies have an allergy-related skin problem. 

What Are The Signs Of Allergies In Dogs?

The symptoms of allergies will vary, depending on what type of allergy Fido has. Keep in mind that pups can develop allergies at any point of their lives. Sometimes the reactions seem to come out of nowhere, while at other times,

Here are some of the things to look for.

Skin: Allergies can cause a lot of skin problems in our canine pals. Some of these include redness, bumps, and flaking. You may also notice thin or missing hair. Fido may also be quite itchy, and may try to rub up against things (including you) to soothe himself. He may lick or bite himself constantly, and may also scoot across the floor.

Eyes: As with people, allergies in dogs can cause itchy, runny eyes. Fido’s eyes may also look a bit swollen.

Nose: Your furry friend may also sneeze a lot, just as many people do with allergies. Fido’s cute nose may also be a bit runny or even stuffy.

Paws: You may see lesions, swelling, redness, or inflammation on your pet’s paws and toe beans.

Ears: Allergies are sometimes the culprit behind stubborn ear infections. If your pet has ear problems that go away when treated, only to immediately return once treatment ends, allergies could be to blame. You may notice a foul odor or red, brown, or green discharge. Your furry friend may also paw at his ears, shake his head, or rub his head on things.

Hives/Bumps: Hives are no more fun for our canine buddies than they are for us. Allergies can cause your pup to develop lumps, bumps, and lesions. 

Vomiting: While the occasional tummy trouble may not be unusual, frequent vomiting is a sign that something isn’t right. This of course can be indicative of many different things, including allergies. Be sure to contact your vet right away if Fido is throwing up.

Diarrhea: As with vomiting, this can be a red flag of many different medical issues. A once-in-a-while incident may not signify anything major, but it’s still best to err on the side of caution and talk to your vet, especially if you can’t pinpoint the cause.

Respiratory Issues: Allergies can also cause your furry pal to wheeze, snore, or gasp for air. In some cases, it can lead to anaphylaxis, which is an extremely dangerous tightening of the air passages. As with people, those severe reactions can be deadly. 

Allergies can also cause more severe reactions, such as seizure, fainting, and coma. Sudden death is also not unheard of. Fortunately, this is quite rare in dogs.

How Do You Treat Allergies In Dogs?

The exact treatment needed will of course depend on what your pet is reacting to. If you spot any of the issues we’ve mentioned above, you’ll want to take your canine pal to the vet right away. Fido will need to be tested to determine exactly what he is reacting to. Once the culprit has been found, your vet will be able to talk to you about treatment options.

Veterinary Care

Medication is one option. In some cases, Benadryl may be helpful. However, you should never give your canine pal anything unless your vet either prescribes or recommends it. Some human medications can be extremely dangerous to dogs. Of course, keeping up with Fido’s parasite control regimen is also key.

Care Regimen

There are also things you can do at home to help keep your canine pal comfortable. Even vacuuming and dusting regularly, and changing your air filters out, can help. You’ll also need to wash your pet’s bedding regularly. Use hot water and an unscented detergent. You may also need to switch to a hypoallergenic shampoo and detergent. 

Another thing that can help is wiping your pet’s paws down after walks.If your pooch has environmental and/or seasonal allergies, consider getting a pollen tracker app. Limit Fido’s outdoor time when levels are high.

Diet also comes into play. With food allergies, the solution can get a bit more complicated.  You may need to put your pet on a bland diet and wait for symptoms to stop, then reintroduce things one by one.

Make An Appointment At Our Napa County, CA Veterinary Clinic

Do you know or suspect that your dog has allergies? If Fido shows any of the symptoms we listed above? Please do not hesitate to contact us for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. As your Napa County, CA pet clinic, we’re here to help!