Can dogs have allergies like humans do?
Dogs can absolutely get allergies, just like we do as humans. We see it at Haywood Animal Hospital and it's a fairly frequent problem that our pet parents have to deal with.
What kinds of allergies can dogs suffer from?
Dogs can have environmental allergies, they can have food allergies, they can have flea allergies, or they can have a combination of any of those things.
What are the differences between different allergies in dogs?
You know, sometimes there are obvious differences and sometimes they aren't. More often than not, the symptoms that our dogs experience from these different types of allergies overlap, and so sometimes diagnosing what their actual allergies are can be a little bit difficult.
How do I know if my dog has allergies?
The most common allergies that I think about are skin allergies or skin symptoms to allergies. So, your dog is itchy, and it's constantly licking its paws. Maybe your dog has chronic ear infections, which are also very common with allergies. Usually, there's an association there. Other symptoms of dog allergies can be just runny and red eyes, similar to what we can experience. Sometimes they're sneezing, although that's not something we see very frequently in dogs, it can happen. Another sign of dogs with allergies can be GI symptoms, so chronic vomiting or diarrhea. One that sometimes we don't think about or we tend to forget about is chronic anal gland problems. So, chronically they're having full anal glands. They're scooting their little bottom across the floor to try to express those glands. Those can all be symptoms of allergies.
What steps will a veterinarian take to diagnose a dog with allergies?
Often, allergies are chronic, and so it does require a lot of trips to the veterinarian. More often than not, when we first see a dog with allergies, we're going to take a complete history. We're going to find out about what food your dog eats. We're going to find out if you just recently moved here or if there have been any environmental changes with your dog. We're going to look at your dog's age, and do you have other pets in your household? Do you have cats? Sometimes we'll want to do a skin cytology. That's not diagnosing an allergy, but we often have secondary skin infections when dogs have allergy flare-ups. So, we really want to rule that out. We really want to know the whole picture of what we're treating. Sometimes, we recommend a food trial, where we put your dog on a prescription food for a period of time to see if his allergies improve. Sometimes we recommend going to see the doggy dermatologist. Yes, that exists. Sometimes they are the best people to diagnose your dog because they can do testing that we can't do here. Usually, we go through all of our testing and explore all the things we can do to improve your dog's condition. Some of these more difficult allergy cases will benefit from seeing the dermatologist and having skin testing done to really diagnose what they are allergic to.
What aspects of your dog's health can be affected by allergies?
Allergies can affect a lot. If your dog is scratching all night, that's going to keep you awake. It's going to keep your dog awake. If your dog is scratching to the point of bleeding and creating secondary skin infections, of course, that is going to be an aspect that really can make your dog uncomfortable.
Can my dog’s allergies lead to other health complications?
Absolutely. They can get secondary skin infections, which can become a bit of a nightmare. So sometimes we have to address that as well.
Can allergies in dogs cause behavioral changes?
Again, yes, because remember your dog is uncomfortable, your dog is itchy, and they don't know why. Sometimes they're not sleeping well because they're scratching so much at night. So yes, they can absolutely have behavioral changes because of allergies.
What are some common dog allergy triggers?
Environmental allergies are common. We see dogs that are allergic to molds, grasses, and different trees in the area. They can even be allergic to human dander and cat dander. They have a wide variety of things to which they can be allergic. Food allergies are another trigger. A common misconception is that dogs are often allergic to grain. That's actually very rare, and we actually want to keep grain in your dog's food. There are other reasons, such as heart reasons, that make it very important. Please talk to us before switching your dog's food, especially if you're considering a grain-free diet. The number one dog food allergy ingredient is chicken, but beef can be an allergen. Certain carbohydrates in the food can be allergens. There are many things within the food that can cause problems for a dog. Sometimes we forget about fleas. Dogs can actually be allergic to the saliva of a flea. So, one tiny little flea bite can be enough to set off this whole cascade of events that can really make your dog miserable.
How can you tell what the source of your dog's allergies are?
That can be difficult because some of these overlap. Sometimes the dog is allergic to mold, oak trees, and Bermuda grass, but also allergic to chicken. Sometimes we have to really tackle one thing at a time to determine the source of the allergies. To figure out these environmental allergies, it does require a test, either a blood test, which we don't always find as reliable, or an intradermal skin allergy test, which can be done at the dermatologist. Food allergies can really only be diagnosed through trial and error. We get rid of all of the possible allergens by using a prescription diet that is made for that. Once they get through the trial, which is 8 to 12 weeks long, then we can start to add back in single ingredients and see if we can backtrack our way in determining what your dog's food allergies are.
Do I need to see a veterinarian if my dog has allergies?
The answer to that is absolutely. These allergies make your dog uncomfortable. We have lots of things that we can do to help make them more comfortable and just help overall at home.
What treatment options are there for dog allergy relief?
We have quite a few. We now have a couple of really fantastic products. One is a chewable tablet that they take daily. Another one is an injection that we give every four to eight weeks that essentially eliminates the itch in your dog. These medications are fantastic for dogs with allergies. They can significantly improve both your quality of life and your dog's quality of life. We are really lucky that we have a lot of options that have very few side effects and that work really well.
Are there any home remedies for dog allergies that are safe to use?
There are. You can use over-the-counter antihistamines in dogs, things like Benadryl and Claritin. Of course, you want to talk specifically to your veterinarian and find out what's going to be the best option to try in your dog, and also what the dose would be for your particular dog. I will tell you that very few dogs respond favorably to over-the-counter antihistamines, meaning they don't typically hurt, but they rarely help. There is only a small percentage of dogs that truly respond to antihistamines. Most of them just do not get any relief from allergies.
Are seasonal allergies in dogs common?
Yes, we have quite a few dogs that will come in repeatedly, the same months out of every year, with the same problem. They start itching, and if it's left untreated, they can turn into secondary infection cases that we have to treat. So yes, seasonal allergies are pretty common.
How frequently do I need to do a dog allergy treatment for my pets?
It really depends on your dog. If your dog does have seasonal allergies, you may come see us once or twice a year, and that may be it. We do have some dogs that have seasonal allergies, but they're allergic to so many different things in so many different seasons that they constantly have something that sets them off or maybe they have a food allergy. We do have dogs that do need to be on medication year-round to help control their allergies.
What is immunotherapy and can it help with my dog's allergies?
I mentioned before that the dermatologist can do intradermal skin testing. They can pinpoint exactly what your dog is allergic to and how badly it's allergic to each of these allergens. Depending on their results, they make up this immunotherapy. It helps desensitize your dog to the things they are allergic to. It can essentially cure some dogs' allergies over time. It desensitizes them in very small amounts over time, until then they just don't react in the same way that they did before.
What should I do if my dog has an allergic reaction?
To me, an allergic reaction is different than what we've been talking about. An allergic reaction can be from anything, medication, a vaccine, even a heartworm prevention, something like a bee sting or a wasp sting can start an allergic reaction in your dog. If you are suspicious of an allergic reaction, call us immediately. If we're not here and it's after hours, you may need to take your dog to the emergency room for that. But that is something that you should never ignore. Typically, what we're talking about are hives, acute formation of hives, swelling of the face. Sometimes, some clients will even see the bee or the wasp sting their dog, and then they'll see swelling in that area. A lot of times it's in the face. Sometimes it can progress to trouble breathing. So, if you are ever suspicious of an allergic reaction, that warrants a phone call to us and potentially a visit to the ER.
If you have questions, we would love to answer them for you. Please give us a call at the office at (828) 697-0446, or you can email us at [email protected]. Our staff would love to talk with you!
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