They can exhibit many symptoms depending on the type of allergy. Many affected by allergies may suffer their entire lives with symptoms worsening as they age. It is our job as pet parents to understand the signs of allergies and find the right type of relief for their symptoms.<\/p>\n
There are many types of allergies that can affect our pets. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested, or come in contact with a dog\u2019s skin. When their bodies try to rid themselves of these substances a variety of skin, digestive, and respiratory symptoms may appear.<\/p>\n
Seasonal allergies are the most common form of allergy in pets. This includes ragweed, tree pollen, and dust mites. Less common allergies include contact dermatitis, which are allergies to carpets, cleaners, or plastic. Then there are food allergies which should not be confused with food intolerances.<\/p>\n
It typically takes some detective work finding out what exactly is causing food allergies. The only way to really diagnose what is causing your dog\u2019s food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. Pet parents absolutely cannot feed their dog anything else during this time including treats or table food. Once symptoms go away you can start to reintroduce old foods to see what may be causing the reactions.<\/p>\n
If you think your dog may have allergies you should visit your veterinarian. Physical examinations and possibly skin or blood tests can be done to help determine what exactly is causing the allergic reaction. Many dogs diagnosed with food allergies require home-cooked meals with strict veterinarian guidance for careful food balancing.<\/p>\n
Common treatments of allergies include:<\/p>\n
Allergies can show up in dogs at any age so it\u2019s important to always remain on the lookout for symptoms. The better we can understand our pet\u2019s allergies the more comfortable we can make their lives and they will thank you for it!<\/p>\n
The general symptoms of allergies seen in dogs according to the ASPCA include:<\/p>\n