ULTIMATE GUIDE TO DOG SKIN ALLERGIES AND CONDITIONS
December 11, 2018 by Brandon Prows
Humans and dogs belong to different species, but that doesn't mean that we're entirely different. For example, both humans and dogs like to eat meats such as beef and fish. However, unlike for most humans, beef and fish have an extremely high chance of being an allergen to dogs that can cause their skin to be irritated. That’s right! You might not know it, but dogs are just as capable as humans of having various types of allergies, including food allergies. Dogs can be allergic to a variety of things including pollen, plants, certain foods and even different types of medications.
Dogs can have different types of allergic reactions, the most common being skin reactions. In fact, skin allergies are the number one reason why dogs go to the vet. Your dog's skin might get itchy, inflamed or even covered in a rash. There are many different types of allergic reactions that dogs can have, but one of the most common reactions to allergies is called atopic dermatitis.
What Is Atopic Dermatitis?
Atopic dermatitis is the second most common form of allergic skin disease that is found in dogs. It is an allergic reaction that causes the dog’s skin to become inflamed. Symptoms for atopic dermatitis can start to progressively show as early as three months of age for puppies, but most dogs experience it around their third year.
There are many different potential causes for what can give your dog atopic dermatitis, along with other allergy reactions. These factors can be anything from grass, dust mites, mold spores and other common natural occurrences such as pollen and foods.
What Are The Symptoms To An Allergy-Like Atopic Dermatitis?
It can be difficult trying to tell if your dog is having allergic reactions. They cannot verbally speak to us, so we have to always make sure that we are paying special attention to their body and their body language to see if there is anything out of the ordinary.
We can tell if a dog’s skin is healthy by looking to see if it is smooth and soft when touched. There are some things to be on the lookout to see if your dog is suffering from atopic dermatitis or other allergic reactions. Be sure to pay attention to your dog to see if their skin has any of the following symptoms:
- Dry
- Rough instead of smooth
- Rashes and sores
- Flaky and peeling
- Bumpy
- Scale-like appearance
- Inflamed (Hot to the touch)
- Bald spots are appearing
All of these symptoms can be cause for concern that your dog is facing an allergic reaction. It is important to also note that the most frequently affected area of the skin for dogs are located in the ears, groin, near the eyes, nose and at the wrists and ankle, so be sure to pay particular attention to those areas. Regular examinations of your dog’s body can inform you if there is an allergic problem that they are facing.
However, if your dog is not showing any physical evidence of an allergic reaction such as a rash, dry skin, and/or watery eyes, then pay attention to his behavior. If your dog is constantly itching, scratching themselves, sneezing, licking their body, and even rubbing themselves, then that may be strong evidence that your dog is suffering from allergies.
The tricky part is that even if your dog is showing all of these conditions, there is still no guarantee that they are having an actual allergic reaction. Things become difficult when dogs may just be facing a fungal infection that can be mistaken for an allergic reaction. How can we find out what our dog’s symptoms mean? The answer is found by taking our dog’s to a trained veterinarian.
Testing
Fungal infections known as Malassezia pachydermatis are caused by yeast infections on the skin and ears of canines. It is perfectly normal for dogs to have this type of yeast on these areas of their body’s. However, sometimes the yeast levels can grow out of control and become inflamed. The reasoning behind why this happens is not yet known by scientists, but it is speculated to be somewhat related to allergies and possibly the condition seborrhea.
The reason why this can be a problem is that Malassezia pachydermatis may look like allergic reactions such as atopic dermatitis, but the treatment for each condition is very different. This means that if you misdiagnose your dog’s condition, you might treat it for something that it does not even have and it won’t be able to get better! That’s not good news for anyone!
Thankfully, veterinarians have devised tests that can safely and relatively accurately determine the correct condition that your dog may be enduring.
Blood Allergy Testing: This test involves measuring the different levels of antibodies in a dog’s blood against specific allergens that your dog might be allergic to. This test is regarded as potentially less accurate due to the fact that the allergens are tested on parts of the body that are usually not afflicted.
Intradermal Allergy Testing: This is widely considered the superior option for testing. It involves putting the dog into sedation and then injecting the animal with various allergens to see which ones force a reaction. The dog is shaved on the side that tested on so that it can be properly examined. It is a very safe and relatively reliable option for testing. There has been speculation that the results are not always accurate, but overall this is a great way to have your dog’s allergies diagnosed.
So we have established what skin allergies are, what symptoms to look for if you suspect your dog has allergies, and how to properly diagnose your dog’s skin allergies. But what causes these allergies? We have mentioned a few possible factors on what can cause your dog to obtain conditions such as atopic dermatitis, but we should take a deeper look into the possibilities.
What Causes Dog Skin Allergies? What Are Other Conditions To Be On The Lookout For?
Most cases of skin allergies in dogs are from common occurrences. The most frequent sources of allergies are from:
- Airborne plant pollen. This can be from trees, grasses, and weeds.
- Animal dander. This can be any material that is shed from animals such as hair and skin.
- Mold spores from both indoors and outdoors
- Dust mites from inside your house can irritate the skin
- The food that your dog eats can have an enormous impact on what your dog is allergic to. We’ll talk about this more below.
Those are the most common reasons that dogs can have allergic skin reactions. But allergies are not the only condition that can cause your dog’s skin to become irritated. Here is a list that details what are some other possible ways that your dog’s skin might become less than stellar:
- Fleas: The saliva in fleas can be an irritant for dogs and are a very common cause for allergies. On top of causing skin allergies, fleas can carry highly dangerous diseases such as Bartonella. Treatment for fleas should be given as soon as possible!
- Mites: Canine scabies is commonly spread through mite bites. Their faces, ears, and legs are targets for mites. Demodectic mange is another possible cause from being bitten by mites. Demodectic mange can cause scabbing, sores and even bald spots. It’s something to be on the lookout for!
- Ticks: Ticks are disease carriers that burrow deeply inside of the skin and suck blood for nourishment before laying eggs. Ticks are dangerous and can be seen from a distance. They should be removed as soon as possible following steps laid out by the CDC.
- Lice: Lice can be found on the tips of hair and can cause pain, itchiness and even potentially hair loss. There are a variety of ways to remove lice ranging from combs to cleaner bedding to special shampoo baths designed to kill the lice. They should be dealt with sooner, rather than later.
- Ringworm: Scaly patches of inflamed skin with potential hair loss that have a circular pattern can be ringworm. This fungus is not only dangerous, but it is also contagious between dogs and humans and should be examined by a veterinarian as soon as possible so that treatment can be started.
- Over Bathing: It is possible that by bathing your dog too much that their skin can become dry. There is also the possibility that certain types of shampoos and soaps can lead to the irritation of the skin. Be sure to use moisturizing products on your dog and if you live in a dry climate, a humidifier can help them have healthy skin.
Those are some of the most common irritants that can lead to the quality of your dog’s skin falling. However, there are still more factors that can lead deterioration of your four-legged companion’s skin. Let’s take a look at how the food that your dog eats can have an impact on your canine.
How Food Impacts Your Dog’s Skin
Just like with humans, dogs can have multiple food allergies. This means that the food that we feed our dog can have a large impact on their body. If they are allergic to a specific ingredient such as wheat or even beef, they could have a reaction on their skin when they consume it. Food allergies are genetic for dogs and thus caution is especially required for owners who own multiple generations of canines.
The best way to deal with an allergic reaction with your dog would be to completely remove the food from their diet. But it can be difficult to know what foods dogs are allergic to. After all, most dogs are allergic to more than one food.
Some of the most common food allergies for dogs are:
- Beef
- Lamb
- Pork
- Fish
- Rabbit
- Egg
- Dairy
- Wheat
The list of allergen foods may seem intimidating and like it covers too many of the base foods that we like to feed our dogs, but keep in mind that most dogs are not allergic to these things and it would be exceptionally rare for a dog to allergic to more than just a few of the foods listed. In fact, only ten percent of all allergies in dogs are related to food. Meaning that if your dog does have allergies, it most likely won’t be related to their diet.
But if your dog does have food allergies, you might be wondering which foods are safe for your puppy to eat.
As a general rule, it is best to avoid major brands of commercialized dog food. There are many reasons for this, but it mostly comes down to the fact that companies will take shortcuts to make a product in bulk and cheaper. This usually results in foods that are affordable, but far less healthy. The foods provided by large commercialized brands are almost always heavily processed. Think of it like feeding your dog fast food every single day. That can’t be healthy for anyone, especially a dog!
Common ingredients inside of commercial dog food can include allergens such as wheat, milk, soy, and potatoes. Many of these are used as a filler to produce the food on a larger scale, and there is usually little care put into whether or not the food will actually benefit the dog.
In addition to the many allergens and fillers that can be found in standard dog food, it is common practice for the food company’s to mix in additives such as artificial dyes, flavors, preservatives, and even hormones. This can lead to worsened allergic reactions as artificial ingredients can lower a dog’s tolerance. All of these negative factors that are found in heavily processed foods can lead to your dog having overly sensitive skin that can become irritated at the slightest allergen.
How To Eliminate Allergies In Your Dog
Now you are probably wondering what can be done to help eliminate allergies in your dog’s life. There are multiple steps to help prevent your dog from suffering due to their condition, but unfortunately, like with humans, there is no permanent cure for an allergy. But that is no reason to get down in the dumps! Let’s look at some possible options for helping your canine companion live a more comfortable life with skin allergies!
Flea Prevention: If your dog is having a problem with fleas, there are a variety of helpful products that are designed to help solve the issue. Some of these products need to be applied orally, while others can be put on your dog’s fur. A great example of this are shampoos that help combat fleas from infesting your dog’s body. It’s always best to prevent a flea infestation before your dog catches one because those pesky fleas can spread to you and your loved ones!
Anti-Inflammatory Medicine: If your dog is already having frequent allergy attacks, make sure that you visit your local veterinarian to find out which medications can be used to safely and effectively remove the inflammatory conditions that may arise as a result of your dog’s allergies. This will usually be a steroid of some sorts, but there are plenty of nonsteroid options that can help your dog as well!
Antibacterial and Antifungal Medicine: Dogs who suffer from atopic dermatitis are more prone to yeast infections on their body, specifically in their ears and on their skin. Speak with your veterinarian to get the best possible results for your puppy. To help combat conditions your vet might recommend that you apply topical medication toward your dog.
Topical Medicine: Topical medicine is a medication that needs to be applied to a specific body part. This can be the skin, nose, ears or anywhere else that needs help. Medicated shampoos that help combat fleas or dry skin are excellent examples of topical medicines that are common and effective on dog’s who are having skin allergies.
Lastly, one of the most effective ways that cannot be understated on helping combat skin allergies is through the diet that we put our dog’s on. As stated above, heavily processed foods for dogs are in general are not a good diet to put your canine friend on, especially if they have allergies. When you are shopping for food for your dog, these things are what you want to be on the lookout for. If the food that your looking has the following things, then it is probably safe for your dog to eat.
No Common Food Allergens: Always read the list of ingredients on the back of the packaging to your dog’s food! And be especially aware of foods that contain kinds of wheat and dairy.
No Chemicals or Artificial Preservatives: Artificial preservatives are a nasty business. Some of them can even be highly carcinogenic ingredients that cause cancer in your dog! That’s right, the food that we feed our dogs might actually be giving them cancer! Always make sure that you are carefully reading the ingredients. The more natural the ingredients, the better they are!
A Single Source of Meat: Dogs can be allergic to most types of meat. If the food that they are eating contains both beef and lamb, and your dog has an allergic reaction to the food, you have no way of knowing whether they are allergic to the beef or the lamb. A single source of meat is great and easy to find out which ingredients your dog might be allergic to.
What Foods Are Safe For My Dog To Eat?
If you are concerned about what brands are safe to purchase for your dog’s health, then look no further than here at TruDog! We pride ourselves in selling only the highest quality of dog foods that follow the raw food diet. This means that all of our foods are completely organic and do not have any artificial preservatives, flavorings, colorings or chemicals!
The food that we provide will help increase your dog’s immune system and thus help combat conditions such as skin allergies like atopic dermatitis. You can view our full store by clicking here, but in case you want to know which foods might fit your dog’s best needs here are our two best selling options!
The Crunchy Beef Real Meat SuperFood is a delicious and healthy meal that is stuffed with organic and raw ingredients that have never been processed such as beef liver, heart, blood, and natural fats. It also includes hemming oil and natural antioxidants and sources of Vitamin D and E. This food is designed to improve your dog’s fur and skin quality, which can massively help with dry, irritated skin.
Not only does the Crunch Munchy Gourmet Gobbler Turkey Real Meat Super Food have an amazing name, but it is an amazing alternative for dogs that are allergic to beef! Filled with the same amazing ingredients as the Crunchy Beef Real Meat Super Food, this is a great way to get your dog onto a more healthy diet if they cannot eat beef due to food allergies.
Those are just two of the options we provide at TruDog to help ensure that your dog lives a healthy, allergy-free life. We also have other delicious options that can help combat allergies such as our Rawgo! Lamb and Cranberry Dehydrated Raw Dog Food. Be sure to take a look at our store and see what best suits your dog’s needs. You can view the rest of the options by clicking here. It’s time to stop feeding our dog’s table scraps and processed foods and start putting them on a diet that will help them be healthier!
In the end, we all want what is best for our dogs. Skin allergies are a frustrating but extremely common part of our dog’s lives. By taking the proper precautions, we can ensure that our dog’s allergies do not dictate how they live and we can provide them with a more comfortable world to live in. They deserve the best so let’s make sure that they get the best!
Sources:
- https://www.darwinspet.com/health-issues/dog-skin-allergy-conditions/
- https://phz8.petinsurance.com/pet-health/health-conditions/top-10-reasons-pets-visit-vets
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_dg_atopic_dermatitis
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/skin/c_dg_malassezia_dermatitis
- https://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/infectious-parasitic/c_dg_bartonellosis
- https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html
- https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/caring-for-a-dog-that-has-food-allergies#1
- https://trudog.com/feed-senior-dog/
- http://scorecard.goodguide.com/chemical-groups/one-list.tcl?short_list_name=p65
- https://www.petsafe.net/learn/pet-food-the-good-the-bad-and-the-healthy
- https://shop.trudog.com/
- https://shop.trudog.com/products/feed-me-beef-crunchy-munchy-beef-bonanza-real-meat-super-food?variant=36056120452
- https://shop.trudog.com/products/feed-me-turkey-crunchy-munchy-gourmet-gobbler-real-meat-super-food?variant=36433035844
- https://shop.trudog.com/products/preorder-lamb-and-cranberry-rawgo-dehydrated-raw-dog-food?variant=39769224260
- https://shop.trudog.com/collections/food
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