Dog Allergy Basics: 3 Common Triggers
June 2nd, 2010
In the coming weeks, the Dog Food Dish Blog will cover dog allergies, bit by bit. Today? Three Common Allergy Triggers …
Dogs develop allergies when their immune systems become hypersensitive and generate an excessive reaction to normally harmless substances. Essentially, the dog’s body overreacts. The immune system does too much.
“These [triggers] are almost always proteins,” says Rod Rosychuk, a board certified veterinary dermatologist and associate professor at the veterinary teaching hospital at Colorado State University, “because, in part, proteins are larger molecules, and it takes a larger molecule to illicit such an immune response.”
1. Flea Bite Allergy
We’re talking salivary proteins, which is a polite way of saying “flea spit.” When fleas bite, they insert some saliva into the skin. Dogs can become hypersensitive to this, which leads to scratching and biting at the skin. Next comes hair loss, skin inflammation, and skin thickening.
This particular allergy is more common in heavy flea areas of the south and southeast United States.
2. Environmental Allergy (atopy)
According to Rosychuk, veterinarians classify atopy as a “genetically predisposed inflammatory and itchy skin disease,” often triggered by:
- Pollens from weeds, grasses, trees
- House dust mites
- Molds
- Fabrics (including cotton or wool)
Dogs can even be allergic to dander from other animals. Seriously. Your dog could be allergic to your cat. (That’s your pet trivia for the day.)
Dogs with this kind of itching commonly develop symptoms between 1-3 years of age and tend to get worse over the years.
Researchers have found that these dogs have “defects in the outermost layers of their skin that allow for the increased uptake of these proteins through the skin,” Rosychuk says.
3. Dog Food Allergy
Dogs can be allergic to single protein in dog food, but it is often several proteins, including:
- Beef
- Dairy
- Chicken
- Eggs
This can encompass the protein elements of grains like corn and wheat as well as things like soy.
Dog food allergies usually begin during puppyhood and often can be controlled through diet. (We’ll talk much more about that in coming weeks.)
“The incidence [of dog food allergies] does vary somewhat throughout the country,” Rosychuk says. “In the front range [of Colorado], where we do not see flea bite hypersensitivity, 5% of the dogs with [allergy symptoms] will be food sensitive. 90% being atopic, and 5% will be both food sensitive and atopic.”
Since dogs absorb these allergens during digestion, tummy troubles (diarrhea, vomiting, gas) are common. They can, however, also show skin itchiness that looks similar to atopy or environmental allergies.
Other Dog Allergies
Dogs rarely develop contact allergies, where a non-protein substance combines with a protein on the skin to produce an allergic reaction. But, that too is a possibility.
Sometimes, dogs can develop allergies to drugs, mites, bacteria, and yeast as well.
Related Posts
Tags: atopy, canine allergies, dog allergies, dog food allergy, flea bite allergy, food allergy
Posted in Dog Allergies, K9 Nutrition | 14 Comments »
14 Responses to “Dog Allergy Basics: 3 Common Triggers”
A professional writer based in Colorado, Roxanne Hawn doesn't just love dogs. She deep-down requires them in life. Something inside her genes, perhaps? That's why it's such a joy to write about all things canine. Roxanne began writing about pets in 1995, when she worked for the American Animal Hospital Association and later for the American Humane Association. During this period in her career, Roxanne served on the board of directors for the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (a coalition of animal welfare groups). Roxanne also volunteered for many years at an animal shelter, where she witnessed firsthand what happens when the human-animal bond breaks or never forms.
This is a good post, Roxanne. I didn’t realize our pets could have so many allergy triggers.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Anthony Holloway, Roxanne Hawn, Kerri 5coatCampbell, pawpawpets, pawpawpets and others. pawpawpets said: RT @K9Cuisine: RT @roxannehawn New post: Dog Allergy Basics: 3 Common Triggers (http://blog.k9cuisine.com/dog-food-nutrition/?p=2288) [...]
I look forward to reading more; I’m currently into month six of dealing with food allergies. It took five months just to get to the point of food trials. Thank you Pro Plan for changing your ingredients and causing me so much misery. A word of caution to all those who own dogs with food allergies: Never stop checking ingredient labels, even if it’s something you’ve been feeding your dog for years. Check every bag, every time.
http://opdogblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/merry-christmas-and-crappy-new-year.html
http://opdogblog.blogspot.com/2010/01/what-do-food-allergies-look-like.html
Thanks so much, Karen, for your note. I’m sorry to hear your tale, but it’s an important one for others to read. In fact, I refer back to your advice in a blog post schedule for later this month. I appreciate your participation in the discussion.
I’m so sorry you’re having to deal with this, Karen. My dog has allergies to wheat, corn, beef and chicken that manifested themselves in the form of never-ending ear infections. I hope your dog’s/dogs’ food trials go okay and that you’re able to develop a diet that brings them back to optimum health.
Celie has a real bad flea allergy. Other than controlling the fleas (HAH!), what can I do? When she gets real bad I give her a benedryl capsule.
Yep. Controlling fleas is your best bet. I’m sure the benedryl helps too, though. Poor Celie. I am SO thankful we live in a place virtually without fleas. Even thinking about them makes me itch.
Thanks Roxanne & Susan. I may link back to blogs here when I’m writing updates on the allergy progress too. My veterinarian is encouraging me to try a home diet after the food trials; my only concern is Sensi’s attachment to kibble. We tried a home diet earlier this year but after the novelty wore off, he refused to eat it.
Thanks for sharing this info! I am going to share it with my pet sitting clients.
I can attest to the fact that flea bite allergies are common in the southeast! We never had the problem in Southern California, but since moving to Georgia, we’ve had some problems. We’re using some medications that are a big help in preventing the fleas from biting in the first place and it’s been a big help.
I too was having problems with “allergies” in my Rottie (itching) and my son with his Pitbull mix (chronic ear infections). We bought the higher grade food and went to Dinovite for their all natural version of flea drops and found that it has helped tremendously. I also like the smell of the drops and I can put them on her as much as I want without fear from negative side effects. It’s great for camping…I would rather work with the all natural products and feel confident that I am not hurting her or my other animals in the process. I just want to kill the fleas not everything in between =)
Thanks, Chrissie, for your ideas.
I always use Homeopathy to treat my dog (and cats), – it is 100% safe, no side effects, very inexpensive and best of all it works all the time!
I also recommend using Tissue Salts (Schuessler Salts). They nourish, rebuild, heal.