Just like people, dogs can show allergic symptoms when their immune systems begin to recognize certain everyday substances-or allergens- as dangerous. Even though these allergens are common in most environments and harmless to most animals, a dog with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested or contact a dog’s skin. As his body tries to rid itself of these substances, a variety of skin, digestive and respiratory symptoms may appear.
What Are the General Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs ?
– Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin
– Increased scratching
– Itchy, runny eyes
– Itchy back or base of tail (most commonly flea allergy)
– Itchy ears and ear infections
– Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
– Paw chewing/swollen paws
– Constant licking
Allergic dogs may also suffer from secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections, which may cause hair loss, scabs or crusts on the skin.
Which Dogs Are At Risk for Getting Allergies ?
Any dog can develop allergies at any time during his life, but allergic reactions seem to be especially common in Terriers, Setters, Retrievers, and flat-faced breeds such as Pugs, Bulldogs and Boston terriers.
What are the different types of allergy ?
There are several ways of classifying allergies. Some examples of classifications include:
– Precipitating allergen – Flea Allergy
– Route the allergen takes into the body – Inhalant Allergy, Skin Contact Allergy or Food Allergy
– Time it takes for the immune reaction – Immediate-type Hypersensitivity, also called Anaphylaxis or Shock, and Delayed-type Hypersensitivity
– Type of immune reaction – Types I through IV Hypersensitivity
– Clinical Signs – Allergic Dermatitis or Allergic Bronchitis
– Inherited forms – Atopy or Seasonal Allergies
What is Inhalant Allergy (Atopy) and how is it treated ?
The term “Inhalant Allergy” in the dog is often used as a synonym for Atopy. The main inhalant allergens are tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens, weed pollens (ragweed), molds, mildew, and house dust mites. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites occur year-round. When humans inhale these allergens, the resulting allergy primarily manifests with upper respiratory signs: runny eyes, runny nose, and sneezing (“hay fever”). Although sometimes the symptoms of allergies include allergic rhinitis or bronchitis, in most dogs inhalant allergy manifests with itchy skin (pruritus). Due to these clinical signs, the condition is also called “Inhalant Allergic Dermatitis”. The dog may rub its face, lick its feet and scratch the axillae (underarms).
Most dogs that have inhalant allergy start showing signs between one and three years of age. Affected dogs will often react to several allergens and often experience concurrent flea or food allergies. If the offending allergens can be identified by intradermal skin tests (skin testing) or IgE allergy tests (blood tests), the dog should be protected from exposure to them as much as possible. Because most of these allergens are environmental, this is difficult and recurrent bouts are likely. Symptoms of atopy can be controlled but a permanent cure is not usually possible.
Treatment depends largely on the length of the specific allergy season. It may involve one or more of the following three therapies:
Treatment with anti-inflammatory drugs such as corticosteroids, or with antihistamines, will quickly block the allergic reaction in most cases. Fatty acid supplementation of the diet can improve the response to steroids and antihistamines in some cases. Recently-approved drugs such as oral cyclosporine are also very beneficial in treated atopy and have fewer long-term side effects than corticosteroids.
Frequent bathing with a hypoallergenic shampoo can be soothing to itchy, inflamed skin. Bathing also rinses out allergens in and on the coat that can be absorbed through the skin. Some therapeutic shampoos also contain anti-inflammatory ingredients that may further benefit your pet.
Hyposensitization or Desensitization therapy.
If the specific offending antigens are identified by allergy testing, an allergy injection serum or “allergy shots” can be given to the patient. With this treatment, very small amounts of the antigen are injected weekly. This repeated dosing has the objective of reprogramming or desensitizing the immune system. Success rates vary with this treatment. Approximately fifty-percent of treated dogs will see significant improvement in their clinical signs while approximately twenty-five percent more will see a decrease in the amount or frequency or corticosteroid usage.