Kristopher’s Pet Blog

There are many conditions which can make a dog itch or sneeze, including endocrine, autoimmune, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the cause.

A veterinarian may be able to come up with the right diagnosis. However, they may refer your dog to a veterinary dermatologist, who is a specialist in treating animal skin conditions.

If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are the most common type of allergies and are the easiest to control. There are many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment.

Once flea allergies are ruled out, and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are checked next. Food allergies are not seasonal, whereas most atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.

Dogs that develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can be a problem at any time. They are high on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months, or over 5 years.

When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means it is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as venison, duck, and potatoes.

Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in retail stores. Or, the owner may choose to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods based on recommendations from the veterinarian.

Should the dog’s itching subside, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the dog owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms worsen again.

To pinpoint the specific ingredients that trigger the allergy, the dog owner should feed the special diet again and add one ingredient at a time from the old diet. This should be done for at least a week until the itching increases, indicating that the last added ingredient is an allergen.

Alternatively, the owner may decide to stay with the special diet to avoid causing the dog any further discomfort. Either way, whilst being tested for allergies, it should not be given treats, table scraps, or rawhide toys.

To check a dog for atopic and contact allergies, veterinarians use an intradermal allergy test (also known as a skin reaction test). The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin. If the dog is allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly inflamed, showing that the cause of the allergy has been found.
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Learn More: Dog Allergies Treatment