Here, in the following piece of article, I am going to share the most common types of allergies found in canines. But before that, you must know to be aware of “why your pet scratching his body continuously?” or has developed the symptoms i.e. itching, swelling on the face, paws, or skin, coughing, runny nose, etc.

A dog may be allergic to anything, yes I mean anything may cause allergies in dogs. The allergens (things that cause allergies) could be his toys, fleas (saliva), molds, dust, grass/pollen, food, etc. Allergy could also be an inherited gift for your pet as Eczema (atopic dermatitis).

What Causes Allergies in Canines?

Allergy is a counter-response of a body’s defense system (the immune system) against a foreign substance.

Sometimes, a dog’s immune system misjudges the foreign substance as an invader and assumes that it could cause harm to the body. Hence, releases cytokines and histamines that alert the body causing itching, swelling (inflammation) on the skin by increasing the blood flow, discomfort, irritations, coughing, diarrhea, watery eyes, redness on the skin, and in eyes, sore throat, etc.

List of Common Dog Allergies

Food Allergy

It is the most common type of allergy found in dogs. Mainly dogs become allergic to certain types of protein found in dairy products, beef, chicken, mutton, pork, turkey, and grains.

Commonly, pets below one-year-old don’t show this type of allergy symptoms. However, food allergies may start showing signs and symptoms in young and old dogs.

You may like to read:   What to feed a dog with a food allergy?

Symptoms of Food Allergy in Dogs

The most common food allergy symptoms are;

Digestive system disorders

• Gas
• GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux disease)
• Bloating
• Flatulence
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting & Nausea
• Heartburn
• Dry mouth
• Ulcers in the esophagus, stomach, small or large intestines
• Loss of appetite (short-term anorexia)
• Abdominal cramps and pain

Skin Disorders

Below is the list of common skin allergy symptoms in dogs;

• Rashes
• Inflammation or swelling on the face, paws, skin, or the other parts of the body
• Hives
• Redness in eyes, skin, and on other body organs
• Itching and irritation

Others

Food allergy may also cause the following symptoms (in rare cases);

• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Persistent coughing
• Sore throat

Only a veterinarian may (better) diagnose this type of allergy in pets. For diagnosing purposes, the vet may prescribe a hypoallergenic diet to your dog for 04 to 08 weeks. This is known as an Elimination diet technique to find the main culprit behind protein (food) allergy.

In the elimination diet method, your pet is not allowed to eat food other than a hypoallergenic diet (for at least one month). If the allergy symptoms go away in that period, then you could add regular food to your pet’s diet (step by step). You can add a specific (single type of) food (for a week or two) to your pet’s diet and see whether it aids in returning the symptoms or not. If not try another and see if the symptoms reoccur.

That’s the elimination diet technique to figure out the food allergy root cause. Simply remove that certain type of food and all other dog foods that contain ingredients from that source.

Environmental Allergy

It’s another most common type of allergy in canines. Honestly, the environment is a broad term and it includes each and everything your pet interacts with all day long.

It could be smoke, toys, water, soil, dust, grass, clothes, & other living or non-living materials.

How to identify Environmental allergy in pets?

It’s always hard to figure out what is causing allergies in dogs? However, there are some ways to diagnose this kinda allergy by placing an eye on its signs or symptoms.

Below are the most common signs and symptoms of environmental allergy in dogs;

• Swelling or inflammation on the skin, paws, and face of the dogs
• Redness & rashes on the skin
• Severe itching, irritations, and discomfort
• Coughing
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Certain abdominal or digestive system disorders
• Lethargy
• Breathing difficulty
• Hives

Most of the symptoms of environmental allergy in dogs are the same as food allergies. Only a veterinarian may diagnose this type of allergic reaction in pets.

Medicines like Benadryl, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, Hydrocortisone, are used for the treatment of environmental allergy in dogs. A vet may decide whether to prescribe corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, antihistamines, or biological medicines (Cytopoint: generic ‘Lokivetmab’).

Atopic Dermatitis

The is the most chronic and life-threatening type of allergy in dogs. Usually, doesn’t show symptoms in young puppies or below 12 months of age. However, it causes severe allergic reactions in the body that are sometimes untreatable and pets don’t get relief by using antihistamines (like Benadryl, Zyrtec, etc).

For this type of inherited allergy Vets usually prescribe immunosuppressant drugs like Apoquel (Oclacitinib maleate) that are available in tablet form and three different strengths, i.e. 3.6mg, 5.4mg, and 16mg. Steroids like prednisolone can also work for this but are not recommended for long-term use. Nowadays, biological medicines like Cytopoint (Lokivetmab) also give good results for atopic dermatitis (eczema) treatment.

Common signs of atopic dermatitis in dogs

This type of allergy commonly affects the skin and may cause the following reactions;