Dog Allergy – 5 Types Of Dog Allergies

By: Frederic Haislip



Dogs can suffer from allergies in the same way as people do. There are five known types of dog allergies: food allergy, flea allergy, bacteria allergy, contact allergy and atopy. Each one has particular characteristics.

Food Allergy

There are certain foods that can cause your dog allergies. This list contains: meats like beef, chicken, pork, lamb, fish or eggs, diary products, like milk and grains like wheat, whey or corn.

When you see your dog behaving in a strange way like doing too much of these things: scratching, chewing or licking, then it may be a case of allergy. The dog also may experience other symptoms like sneezing, coughing, eye and nose discharge, itching around the anus, hair loss, loss of appetite, pawing at their ears or head shaking, vomiting, diarrhea or breathing problems.

If the factor responsible for your dog’s allergy is a certain food, it may be a very difficult task to find out which ingredient you must eliminate. In order to isolate the harmful ingredient, you must cook special meals for your dog, which require much time and effort on your part.

Another way to do it is by using modern means like dog food with hydrolyzed proteins, like Purinas HA or Hills z/d. Feed your dog like this for 8 weeks and if the allergy goes away, then it is certain that it suffers from a food allergy. Then, start reintroducing ingredients in his diet, each for a period of two weeks, and you will soon find what causes the allergy. Then, all you have to do is to eliminate the harmful food form your dog’s diet.

Atopy or inhalant allergy

Environmental factors, such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander, feathers or pollen, may be the cause for atopy allergy in your dog. Your dog tends to chew, lick and scratch in certain areas like the face, paws, abdomen, armpits or the genital area, which get reddish-brown stains due to its actions.

Whether your dog has an atopy allergy or not, it can only be determined by your vet, by using Intradermal Skin Testing, that is considered to be the most accurate test. The best way to get rid of the allergy is to eliminate the allergen, but if it is not possible, you can give your dog some baths with medicated shampoo, antihistamines, allergy shots, corticosteriods or a diet rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Flea Allergy

It is pretty easy to find out if your dog suffers from flea allergy. Take it to the vet and the vet will search your dog’s coat for fleas. The flea’s saliva causes your dog the allergy and it ends up scratching its tail, which cause hair loss, scabs and sores. There are several products that can be used for eliminating this allergy: Advantage - Flea control for your Dog and CatFrontLine - Flea & Tick, Medication for your Dog and Cat, Capstar - Flea infestation on Dog and Cat and K9 Advantix Flea and Tick Medication.

Bacterial Allergy

There are some bacteria that exist normally in your dog’s skin, called Staph bacteria. Most dogs do not get allergy from this bacteria, but it may happen, so if your dog develops crusts on the skin and loses hair due to scratching, think about a bacterial allergy. If this is the case, the treatment for your dog consists of administrating antibiotics.

Contact Allergy

Even they are the rarest of all the dogs’ allergies, contact allergies may happen. They can be developed due to flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants, grass or wool bedding and they manifest through swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. First, establish if your dog has such an allergy, by eliminating the others, and then remove the allergen so your dog can heal.



Frederic Haislip is the Editor and Publisher of Article Click. For more FREE articles for your ezine and websites visit - www.articleclick.com