Can Dogs Have Allergies?
As temperatures rise and snow gives way to the beginning of green grass again, we love to take in that deep breath of warmer air; but sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed with a sneeze, itchy eyes or a runny nose. Ah, the joys of allergies! Yes, spring brings freshly mowed grass, longer walks and more outside activities, however, a good portion of the population suffers from seasonal allergies.
While us humans battle allergens, some of our furry friends are doing the same. You heard correctly: allergies can affect pets as well. While our four-legged friends can’t tell us what is bothering them, we can learn about what allergens are out there and how to help our pets cope while getting that well deserved fresh air and warmer weather walk.
Because the team at Going Mutts Pet Services is by no means able to give medical advice, we teamed up with local veterinarian Diane Hodges, DVM, from Happy Tails Animal Hospital, located at 823 Rohrerstown Road, to help give a medical perspective on dog allergies!
Dr. Hodges says allergies in dogs and humans are similar only in the sense that both can have allergies to the same things; however the similarities stop there.
“Humans breathe in the allergens and our allergic response is mediated by cells in our body in those areas that release something called histamine to create the allergic reaction- ie. the typical sniffling nose, sneezing, and runny/watery/itchy eyes. Dogs with allergies, however, typically present with signs of itchy skin- particularly the face and rear end, itchy ears, foot licking. This is because, after many years of research, it has been discovered that allergens penetrate the dog's skin and cause the allergic reaction that way.”
Therefore, dogs with allergies need a different medication than humans take to control, manage and relieve the itchiness they feel when they have allergies. If that primary itchiness is not properly managed, it can lead to pets developing secondary infections such as ear infections and skin infections, like hair loss or scabs on the skin. It’s important to treat your pet’s allergies with the right treatments to help prevent the secondary infections that can make your pet more uncomfortable with an increase in being itchy that leads to more scratching and licking.
The Veterinary Partner, the latest manifestation from the Veterinary Information Network, lists out the major types of allergies that are seen in dogs:
Flea allergy: The most common skin disease in dogs is flea allergic dermatitis where the dog needs a complete flea control to remain symptom free.
Food allergy: This is when a dog develops a hypersensitivity to foods such as various proteins, carbohydrates or even preservatives or dyes can be potential food allergens. There are currently no accurate blood or skin tests to determine if your dog has a food allergy; the only way to help with this would be to put your dog on a diet and monitor what they are eating consistently.
Atopic dermatitis: This is a type of allergy where skin or ear inflammation occurs in response to a variety of normally harmless substances such as plant pollens, house dust mites and other environmental allergens.
Secondary infections: As Dr. Hodges has mentioned, these are often the underlying cause of recurring skin or ear infections if the primary allergen is not well managed. Bacterial and yeast infections can also increase your dog’s level of itching.
So as a pet owner, what signs do I need to look out for with my pet and allergies?
Dr. Hodges says that typically the pet will be itchy on their face, feet or limbs and around their anal area. As a pet owner, some big indications of your pet having allergies is noticing a lot of head shaking, scooting their butt across surfaces, licking their feet, flakiness or crusting of their skin and rubbing their face and belly on surfaces.
So we know what to look for, but how early can allergies start?
“Dogs can develop allergies at ANY age,” says Dr. Hodges. “I have seen dogs as young as 4-6 months old develop allergies and those that are over 10 years of age start to develop them as well. However, most times dogs are between the ages of 1-4 years of age when they will start to present with signs and symptoms that correlate with allergic skin disease.”
There are certain breeds that represent a larger population that consistently develop allergies according to Dr. Hodges, despite them seeing breeds and dogs of all sizes with allergies come in. Dogs with the word “bull” in their name appear to be that larger population with allergies such as English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pitbulls and Bull Mastiffs. Shepherds and terrier type breeds come in second with frequent allergic skin disease.
So how can we help our canine companions battle these allergens?
The best way to help your canine with their allergies is to avoid the allergen altogether; which may or may not be possible all the time. You may need to make some lifestyle changes to help your pup avoid allergens and their causes, which can be as simple as killing the fleas that may be the cause or as complicated as figuring out a diet if your pup has a food allergy. Bathing your pup weekly can help reduce allergic reactions by rinsing the dander away, but any type of rinsing or wiping down of the feet, skin, coat and ears can help physically remove allergens from your pup.
“There are many options to manage allergies in dogs,” says Dr. Hodges. “Options need to be tailored to the pet, and pet owners should discuss what options work best for the pet with their veterinarian. There is no cure for allergies, but we have lots of tools to help manage them well. If the pet's allergies are well managed, then this should and will prevent secondary infections from arising often.”
It’s not easy knowing that your favorite canine companion can suffer from seasonal allergies like you, but understanding causes and knowing prevention techniques can help everyone battle the allergens together. Be observant with your pup to help them as soon as something looks off and always discuss with your veterinarian which methods and medications would be the best for your furry companion.
About Happy Tails Animal Hospital
Happy Tails Animal Hospital’s mission is to provide exceptional patient care through client education and complete health maintenance throughout the life of each pet. Their goal at Happy Tails Animal Hospital is to provide the very best preventative care not only to keep your pet healthy, but also to provide the highest quality medicine in times when your pets health is ailing. You can check out their website for more information and be sure to like them on Facebook!
And don’t forget about us!
As the warm weather starts to slowly inch closer, it’s time to start thinking about getting your pup outside on a daily basis to help counteract those winter wiggles they’ve been feeling! Let Going Mutts Pet Services help you with daily dog walks and playtime with your favorite companion. Our dog walkers are just as excited about the warmer weather as your pup, so contact us today to arrange a free Meet ‘n Greet to get Fido back on track for those outdoor walks!
Sources:
https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&id=4952662