Dog Skin Allergies and Their Causes

With humans, dog allergies can be difficult to diagnose because there is a whole range of different things that can set them off. Keeping a diary of when the allergy flares up can help you make links to possible causes. Another option is allergy testing at the vets. If you can identify the culprit causing your dog's skin allergy, you can take steps to avoid it.

The most common types of dog allergy are:

1. Inhalants

This is the most common type of allergy in dogs. Many dogs are allergic to seasonal inhalants, such as pollen from trees and grass, which tends to be around for a few weeks at a particular time of year. Other inhaled allergens - such as mould spores, house dust mites, chemicals on furniture and carpets, indoor air fresheners and fabrics like wool and nylon - can be a problem all year round. The symptoms are usually scratching and biting, especially in the areas of the feet, armpits, tummy and face.

Natural treatment of dog allergies caused by inhalants - our recommendations:

Hypoallergenic Hemp or Organic Cotton dog beds

2. Flea allergy

Many dogs are allergic to fleas - or, more accurately, to the saliva that fleas inject when they bite. Just one flea bite can set off a severe allergic reaction in some dogs, causing a frenzy of itching, scratching and hair loss.

Please read my previous articles on fleas and mites, and the natural remedies that are available.

3. Food allergies

It's thought that food allergies cause about 20% of the problems with itching and scratching in dogs. The most common dog food allergies (in order, starting with the most common) are: beef, dairy, chicken, lamb, fish, eggs, corn, wheat, and soya products.

The only way to find out which of these, if any, is causing your dog's allergic reaction is to use an 'elimination diet' in which you feed a special diet (consisting of protein and carbohydrate that your dog has never come into contact with before - and absolutely nothing else) for 12 weeks. If the allergy symptoms disappear, your dog may have a food allergy. Then you can try introducing different foods back into the diet one at a time, to see which causes a reaction.

Once you have identified the cause of your dog's food allergy, you can avoid it. But be aware that dog food allergies often develop as a result of prolonged exposure to an ingredient, so rotate your dog's diet to include different foods.

Note - true dog food allergies are different to food intolerances, which cause diarrhoea and vomiting. Food intolerance is when a dog finds a particular food difficult to digest (similar to people getting an upset stomach after eating something that disagrees with them).

Natural treatment of dog food allergies - our recommendations:

Antos Vegetable Chews

Burns Venison Ears and Tongues

Pet Munchies Chicken and Duck Dog Treats

Rib Racks Free Range Healthy Dog Chews

I'll be writing more on food allergies, what goes into commercial pet food and what's good to eat if you're a dog who wants to be a healthy dog!

4. Bacterial allergies

Some dogs are allergic to bacteria in the environment that are harmless to most dogs. If the dog has a weak immune system, the bacteria can penetrate into the skin, causing an infection.

Natural treatment of dog skin infections - our recommendations:

Ekoneem Organic Neem Oil

Dorwest Mixed Vegetable Tablets

5. Contact allergies

Sometimes, dogs are allergic to certain chemicals that come into contact with their skin, for example: flea products, soaps, shampoos, detergents, plastics, rubber, and other synthetic substances. Signs of the reaction (irritated red skin) are usually found on the feet, tummy, neck and chin. This type of allergy is rare. Removing the substance from the dog's environment usually solves the problem.