Last Updated on October 12, 2018
If you own a pet and in particular a dog would you be able to tell if the dog suffered from allergies?
A dog can be prone to allergies just like we are and can suffer from the same causes IE pollen, bacterial, contact even fleas or mites.
There are several symptoms we can look for that may suggest things aren’t quite right, firstly as with humans allergies tend to be seasonal with the hotter or summer months being worse, as with hay fever sufferers when plants and grass are growing , crops being harvested this can cause mayhem for those with hay fever and sinus problems,
Very basic symptoms would include sneezing and watering eyes both of which are aggravated by rubbing and scratching of the face, our dog would likely display this by pawing at its face or rubbing on the ground or furniture.
Another significant area for concern is fleas, A flea infestation can cause misery in its own right for the dog, however, the suffering can be compounded by a reaction to the associated flea dirt or saliva, signs would be continued itching and possibly even chewing and persistent licking in certain areas, usually the tail and paws, if you inspect the dog you may see flea movement, but on the stomach and at folds in the skin redness or flaky dry skin would be obvious, if this goes untreated the dog can give its self-nasty weeping sores which have their own set of problems if left untreated for example infection.
Probably the other most common allergy in a dog would be associated with its food, or certain ingredients used in the manufacturing of the food, some common ingredients associated with dog food allergies are,
•corn
•wheat
•soy
•dairy
•beef or other meats
This type of allergy may occur if the dog’s diet has a drastic change, symptoms would include sickness, diarrhea and in severe cases a skin reaction, if you can attribute the reaction to a change in diet then this can be reminded fairly easily by means of trial and error to eliminate the offending product.
Symptoms of dog allergies can be categorized as follows
•heavy shedding, or Shedding in just specific areas
•dry, itchy and flaky skin
•ear infections or excessive ears wax
•chronic hot spots
•chewing and licking to the point of self-mutilation
•a dull coat
•stomach upset
If your dog shows any of the above then an allergy may be present, if the cause is not blatantly apparent then seek guidance from your local vet, as time progresses the suffering may worsen and cause further underlying health issues.
