Dog allergy symptoms & treatment

Is your dog itching like crazy or won’t stop rolling around on the rug? What does it mean? Well, if fleas are out of the picture you might want to speak to your vet as they might have an allergy.

That’s right, our dogs can suffer from allergies just like we do, and treatment is available to manage their sensitivities.

Types of allergies in dogs

Your dog’s immune system is there to protect your pet, but it can mistake non-harmful foreign substances as threats, which results in an allergic reaction. There are quite a few different types of allergies your dog could suffer from, including skin and food with environmental issues sometimes a factor.

Common dog allergens include:

• Certain food
• Pollen or dust
• Fleas or ticks
• Perfumes or deodorants
• Cleaning products
• Shampoos
• They can also be sensitive to things like cigarette smoke

Just like us, our dogs can be allergic to gluten, fall victim to hayfever or react badly to a new shampoo.

Symptoms of allergies in dogs

Symptoms of an allergy will vary depending on the cause and some of the signs could also be related to a different condition. While you might be able to relieve your dog of their symptoms this doesn’t help your pet and tackle what might be a lifelong health issue so it’s important to recognise the symptoms and speak to your vet.

• Itchiness, biting or licking (especially in places like the feet, ears, face, legs and armpits)
• Red and watery eyes
• Stuffy nose and sneezing
• Shortness of breath and coughing
• Hair loss and hot spots
• Vomiting and diarrhoea

Keeping notes of any changes in your dog’s behaviour is always a good idea as we think we’ll remember the details, but they’re often forgotten in certain situations.

Diagnosing and treating dog allergies

You will need to contact your vet if you suspect your dog is suffering from allergies so that your vet can diagnose them. After diagnosis, your vet will be able to provide some relief for your dog depending on the cause of the allergy.

So, for example, if your dog is suffering from a pollen allergy then your vet might suggest using some antihistamines to relieve their symptoms and counteract an allergic reaction.

Sometimes we forget our dogs can fall ill just like us so it’s important to keep a look out for any signs or symptoms that your dog might be suffering from an allergy or other conditions.