The most important things dog owners need to know about allergies

What is an allergy and why does it occur?

An allergy is an unwanted reaction of the body to certain substances in the environment or in food. Allergic reactions occur when the immune system, which is supposed to protect the body against harmful substances, mistakenly identifies a harmless substance as a threat. The substances that cause allergies are called allergens .

The most common allergy symptoms

Allergies can manifest themselves differently in each dog, but among the most common allergies are:
symptoms include signs such as:

• Severe itching, which may cause the dog to scratch intensely or lick and bite its paws, tail, legs and other body parts,
• Skin redness and inflammation,
• Hair loss in certain areas of the skin,
• Ear infections, which will manifest as increased ear scratching and/or head shaking; discharge from the ears is also possible,
• Sneezing and nasal discharge,
• Swelling, especially around the head and muzzle,
• Digestive system disorders, including vomiting, diarrhea.

Please note that similar symptoms may also be characteristic of other, non-allergic conditions.
health problems, so always consult a veterinarian if you experience any
Suspected health problems in your four-legged friend!

The most common types of allergies

Food allergy

Food allergies occur when a dog develops an intolerance to a specific food ingredient or several ingredients. Most often, allergies develop in the first years of a dog's life, but cases are increasingly observed when allergies develop in older dogs. Allergies can also develop if a dog is fed a uniform food for a long time, without changing the types of protein.

The most common allergens are: chicken, beef, cereals, soy, dairy products and eggs. However, it should be remembered that there are no specific products that cause allergies! A dog can be allergic to any food ingredient. This should be taken into account when choosing food for a dog with a food allergy - it is important to monitor the composition of the food even if the packaging indicates that this food is suitable for allergic dogs. Hypoallergenic food, or food adapted to the needs of allergic dogs, is created by avoiding the most common allergens in its composition, but a situation may arise when a particular dog is allergic to one of the seemingly non-allergenic ingredients.

When it comes to food allergies, it should also be mentioned that there is also a variant where a dog can consume a food ingredient in small quantities, but including it in larger quantities in the diet can cause an allergic reaction.

Environmental allergy or atopic dermatitis

Although food allergies are usually the first thing we think of when we think of dogs,
allergies, in fact, environmental allergies are much more common in dogs than food allergies. Environmental allergies are allergies to specific environmental factors, such as pollen, mold, dust mites, or grass. Various household chemicals, care products, synthetic fabrics, etc. can also cause an allergic reaction.

Allergy to medications, food additives

Dogs can also be allergic to substances found in medications or food additives. This allergy also manifests itself in a similar way to environmental and food allergies.

Allergy treatment

Treating allergies can be a long and complicated process, as the wide variety of allergies and their different manifestations make it challenging and time-consuming to find the cause. In addition, the doctor must rule out other possible causes of the clinical signs, as other health problems can also have symptoms similar to allergies.

The first step in treating any type of allergy is to consult a veterinarian, who, after examining the animal and talking to the owner, will recommend the most appropriate course of treatment. The course of treatment is influenced by the type of allergy and other factors, such as whether the allergen can be avoided (as is the case with a food allergy) or not (as may be the case if the dog is allergic to, for example, pollen). If a food allergy is suspected, the veterinarian may recommend an elimination method with a new food to test the reaction to specific allergens. Therefore, do not actively change the type of food before consulting a veterinarian. If an environmental allergy is suspected, the veterinarian may recommend an allergy test for diagnosis. In addition, medications may be prescribed to reduce allergy symptoms.

If you suspect your dog has an allergy, it can be helpful to keep a record of symptoms – when, how often, and how they occur. This information will help your doctor more effectively identify the cause and choose the most appropriate treatment.

The article was written with the advice of veterinarian Anna Dace Blumberga.