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Canine Skin Allergy"Canine Skin Allergy is a common problem and has multiple causes including seasonal allergies and household allergens such as mold. Symptoms include redness from scratching and itching or paw licking." About 1 in 10 dogs get some type of canine skin allergy (also called Atopy) from substances in the air. Allergies tend to appear during certain times of the year when specific types of allergens are present. Weed Pollen – Late summer and fall Tree Pollen – March and April Grass Pollen – May, June, July Other common causes of canine skin allergy include mold, dust, feathers and plants. Allergies are usually seen in dogs between 6 months and 3 years of age. Where your dog has an allergic reaction can be a clue as to the cause. If the allergy is at the mouth and you had just purchased a new plastic dog dish for example, this could be the cause. Redness around a flea collar could be caused by the collar itself. Many chemicals can cause your dog to have an allergic reaction. This usually occurs in areas that are not covered by hair. Common causes include soap, shampoo, wool, leather, plastic/rubber dog dishes, insecticide, paint, carpet, wood preservative, neomycin (many skin medicines). Immediately bring your dog to a Veterinarian or Emergency Center if your dog's face is swollen or looks puffy. This could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction that needs immediate treatment Breeds Susceptible to Canine Skin AllergyCertain breeds tend to be susceptible to skin allergies from airborne causes:Beaceron Dalmatian Golden Retriever Lab Retriever Lhasa Apsos Wire Fox, West Highland, Sealyham, White, Boston, Yorkshire and Fox Terriers Sharpei English Setters Irish Setters Boxers English Bulldogs Dog Breeds Where Canine Skin Allergy is UncommonCocker Spaniel Dachshund Doberman Pinscher German Shepard German Short-Haired Pointer Poodles Symptoms of Canine Skin AllergyDogs with allergies are likely to have itchy skin as a symptom and less likely to have a runny nose and watery eyes. Your dog will try and itch itself by licking its paws (which causes brown spots) or rub its' face against the floor or carpet. Scratching and itching makes the skin raw and can cause lesions and infections such as ear infections.Allergy Dog Testing and DiagnosisIt is sometimes difficult to tell the difference between skin allergies caused by fleas and allergy caused by something in your dog’s environment. Similar to people, your Veterinarian may give your dog a skin test (IST) where different causes of allergy are placed on the skin. If your dog reacts to a small amount, it means they are allergic. Some Veterinarians may opt to do a blood test called ELISA.Treatment of Dog with Canine Skin AllergyTreatment of allergies can be difficult if a common substance causes them. If this is the case, the first step is to make your dog more comfortable by treating any skin irritation (called Seborrhea and Pyoderma).Many Vets will prescribe an antihistamine (hydrocortisone or Pramoxine) to help with the itching. Popular types of antihistamine include Dipehnhydramine (Benadryl) , hydroxyzine (Atarax), clemastine (Tavist) and cetirizine (Zyrtec). 40% of dogs respond to this type of treatment. Diet might help as well by introducing Derm Caps or fish oils/fatty acids into the diet. Shampoos can also be tried such as colloidal oatmeal. If your dog does not do well on the above, then a series of allergy shots can be used to reduce sensitivity to the allergens. This course of treatment takes as few as 9 and as many as 12 months.
Click For More on Canine Allergies and Canine Skin Allergy
Brevitz, Betsy DVM, Hound Health Handbook; "Allergies, Itching and Other Skin Allergies" Greek, Jean, DVM, ACIDM; New Hope Animal Hospital “Atopic Disease and Allergy” Beale, Karin M. DVM, Gulf Coast Veterinary Specialists – “Atopic Dermatitis: Clinical Signs and Diagnosis” Giffin, James M. MD & Carlson, Liisa D., DVM “Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook”. Lloyd, Professor David, Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Campus: “Diagnosis & Management of Adverse Food Reactions in Dogs” Osborn, Sarah Colombini DVM, Southwest Veterinary College, Houston: “Optimal use of Hypoallergenic Diets” Ihrke, VMD, Professor of Dermatology, School of Veterinary Meicine, University of California: “Flea Allergy Dermatitis”
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