How to treat dog skin allergies

Allergies are the worst! The sniffling, the sneezing, the stuffy nose...But unlike your allergies, your dog doesn't usually have the same symptoms you do. Often, when a dog suffers from allergies, his skin reacts to surrounding allergens by becoming itchy and inflamed. And this reaction can cause a host of other issues for your pup.

What Are Canine Skin Allergies?

The most common canine skin allergy is allergic dermatitis or atopic dermatitis—atopy for short. Allergic dermatitis is an inflammatory, persistent skin condition that occurs when a dog's immune system overreacts to a particular allergen.

Allergens can be anything from plant pollen to mold spores to food to pests. While allergies in humans often present as nasal symptoms and hives, dogs tend to react with skin irritation and even gastrointestinal problems.

Interestingly, many dogs that suffer from skin allergies have an inherited predisposition for developing them. Often, dogs begin showing signs of skin allergies before age 7, but that's not a hard and fast rule. Just like humans, dogs can develop skin allergies at any age. In fact, many allergies actually worsen as a dog ages.1

What Dog Breeds are Prone to Canine Skin Allergies?

Not all dog breeds are prone to developing skin allergies. A few breeds more susceptible to skin allergies include Beagles, Bulldogs, Dalmatians, English and Irish Setters, Golden Retrievers, Labradoodles and Goldendoodles, Labrador Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature Schnauzers, most terriers, Old English Sheepdogs and Pugs.

This list is by no means exhaustive, and it doesn't guarantee that any breed listed will or will not develop skin allergies. It's simply a list of dogs that are pre-disposed to atopic dermatitis.

What Are the Most Common Canine Allergies?

There are three leading causes for skin allergies in dogs:

1. Environmental Allergies. Allergens in the environment include dust, mold and pollen. Dogs, like humans, can suffer from seasonal and environmental allergies. Your dog may develop "hot spots" or "itchy spots" when specific allergens are present. These triggers may happen at particular times of the year or throughout the year.
2. Food-Related Allergies. Dogs can also react badly to foods or specific ingredients within a food. While a dog may have a skin reaction, a secondary issue may arise that's more gastrointestinal. For example, a dog might vomit or develop diarrhea after digesting a particular allergen. Be aware that proteins, not grains, cause most food allergies.2
3. Flea Allergy Dermatitis. Flea bites cause flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs aren't generally allergic to the flea itself but rather the proteins in the flea's saliva. Interesting fact: A single flea bite can cause a reaction for as long as seven days! That means even one flea bite can do a lot of damage.

What are Common Symptoms of Canine Skin Allergies?

How do you know what to look for if you think your pup has allergies? Common symptoms include:

• Excessive licking
• Face rubbing
• Hives or targeted swelling—especially ears, eye area, flaps of ears and face
• Itchiness—especially at armpits, ears, feet, flanks and groin
• Loss of fur
• Red, irritated skin

How Do You Treat Canine Skin Allergies?

To help your dog feel better, you'll want to uncover the initial cause of the allergic reaction. For example, while topical anti-itching creams may offer some relief from red and irritated areas, it's not a long-term fix. Maintaining a dog's healthy skin requires avoiding irritating allergens altogether.

Food Allergies

Food allergies can be a little difficult to unravel. The best course of action is to eliminate foods or change dog food to see what triggers an allergic response. Keep in mind that even high-quality dog food can contain ingredients that trigger an allergic reaction in your dog.3 Before you start your pup on an elimination diet, chat with your vet. You want to make sure your pup maintains its nutritional needs while you're on the path to discovery.

Environmental Allergies

While easier to discover, environmental allergies can be more challenging to avoid. For example, if your dog is allergic to pollen and you live in the country, there may be too many triggers to avoid altogether. Discuss a treatment plan with your family vet to bring your pup relief. Your veterinarian may suggest antihistamines or other proven methods of dealing with environmental allergens.

Flea Allergies

Dealing with flea allergies concentrates more on preventative measures than relief. Flea and tick prevention is paramount because the most effective way to treat an allergy is to avoid the allergen. For example, Adams Flea & Tick Collar for Dogs & Puppies kills adult fleas and ticks and even repels mosquitoes*. These tiny pests cause a lot of damage to a dog's skin, so it's imperative to be proactive. In addition, Adams Plus Flea & Tick Prevention Spot On for Dogs is another option to keep tiny pests at bay.

Flea prevention isn't just about guarding your dog. It's also vitally important to protect your home and yard against insects that prey on your beloved pup. Adams Flea & Tick Home Spray is essential in killing adult fleas, flea eggs, flea larvae, ticks, bed bugs, mosquitoes and other annoying pests. This spray is convenient because it's effective on pretty much anything your pup touches: bedding, upholstery, carpets and more. In addition, Adams Yard & Garden Spray can help eradicate over 60 kinds of insects. That's prevention on steroids! The upside to pest prevention is that it protects the entire family—not just your precious pup.

Can you test for canine allergies?

You don't have to guess what your pup may be allergic to. Allergy testing is available for pets. However, it's just as complicated and expensive for pets as it is for humans. If you've ever subjected yourself to allergy testing, you know it's not a walk in the park, and thus it may not be the best option for your favorite furry friend.

While seasonal and environmental allergy tests are easily accessible, they're not always accurate. In fact, some studies have shown that blood and skin testing for food allergies isn't consistently accurate in dogs. Therefore, it's essential to discuss your options with your vet. They're up-to-date on what's available and effective in helping discover the allergen that's affecting your dog.

How can I help my dog right now?

If you want to give your little tail-wagger some much-needed relief, consider giving him a good grooming session and a bath designed to soothe the skin.4 A thorough brushing will help remove unwanted dander and dandruff—which helps remove any allergens attached to your pup's fur. For bathtime, be sure to select a shampoo that will keep unwanted pests away as well as soothe your pup's irritated skin. Adams Plus Flea & Tick Shampoo with Precor is a noteworthy option because it's enriched with soothing aloe, oatmeal, coconut extract and lanolin.

As a pet parent, it's up to you to prevent harm when possible, so preventative measures are paramount.5 Control and prevent what you can, and remember that canine skin allergies are extremely common. Obviously, you can't bubble-wrap your furry friend, but you can take steps to keep him happy and healthy by removing potential allergens where possible.

Managing a dog with skin allergies can be involved and even frustrating for both you and your pup. But remember in most cases, allergic dermatitis can be controlled with a proper diagnosis. So, consult your vet and find a treatment plan that works best.

*excludes California.

1. Burkett, Leigh. PetMD. "Allergies in Dogs and Puppies: Signs, Causes, and Treatment," 30 June 2020. //www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/food-allergies-vs-seasonal-allergies-dogs
2. Barnette, Catherine and Ernest Ward. VCA Hospitals. "Food Allergies in Dogs," //vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/food-allergies-in-dogs
3. Animal Medical Center of Southern California. "Canine Allergic Dermatitis: Causes and Treatment Options," 05 March 2018. //animalmedcenter.com/canine-allergic-dermatitis/
4. Small Door Vet. "Dog Skin Allergies: Canine Atopic Dermatitis," //smalldoorvet.com/learning-center/medical/atopic-dermatitis-in-dogs
5. Burke, Anna. American Kennel Club. "Dog Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment," 07 March 2021. //www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-allergies-symptoms-treatment/

Atopic allergies typically result in itchy skin and therefore the most common signs are scratching and chewing of the armpits, between the hind legs and abdomen, the face and the ears. Affected dogs will often lick, or even chew, their feet.

Atopic dermatitis – abdomen (Source: County Vets)

Severe, chronic case of atopic dermatitis (Source: County Vets)

You will observe redness in the affected areas, and the dog’s continual licking and scratching at the site only makes it further inflamed. This can lead to bacterial infections on the skin and the ears. Check your dog’s ears by pulling back the ear flap and looking for redness and discharge.

Typically these symptoms start between 1 and 3 years of age, however onset can occur from as early as 4 months to as late as 7 years of age.

Some of the common allergenic plants are Wandering Jew, Ragweed, Sorrel, Dock, Clover, Kikuyu, Papsalum, Fescue, Privet, Pine Oak, Birch and Couch grass.

The only way to tell which of these your dog is allergic to is to perform allergy testing at the vet.

How can Atopic Dermatitis be treated?

Like many allergies, Atopic Dermatitis is a life-long condition that can’t be cured, however it can be managed in a few different ways:

• Anti-itch medications include anti-histamines, corticosteroids, antibiotics (to treat bacterial infections), medicated shampoos, conditioners and skin lotions or creams. Before using medication, always consult your vet for advice on what to use and how to use it, and be mindful of any potential side effects.
• While this isn’t often possible when it comes to environmental allergens, try to remove the source of the allergy as much as you can. Unfortunately, pollens can be carried up to 80km in the air, and dust mites are everywhere. If you can’t avoid the allergen, wipe or wash your dog’s paws to manually to remove allergens after walks and hikes. In addition to this, you can remove the allergenic weeds from your backyard.
• If the symptoms are mild and/or very occasional, you can prevent your dog from scratching by using an Elizabethan collar, socks or t-shirt to reduce the risk of infection.
• Hyposensitation therapy (allergy “vaccine” shots) is the administration of a series of injections by which your dog will gradually become desensitised to the targeted allergens. The effectiveness of this treatment can vary; however, in 75% of pets some relief has been recognised.
• Supplements such as biotin and omega-3 oils have a natural anti-inflammatory effect and may suppress itching and support coat health.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

What is it?

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is also called “flea bite hypersensitivity”, and is an allergic reaction to flea saliva. Not many fleas are needed to cause a dog to experience intense itching. It is the most common allergic reaction in dogs, with about 50% of dogs suffer from FAD.

In rare cases, dogs have been found to be allergic to other insects such as mosquitos and midges.

What are the symptoms?

Dogs that are allergic to fleas will chew and bite their backs, back legs, bellies or tails – sometimes even until it bleeds! The skin often becomes red, raw and painful and you may even see little flecks of flea dirt (which is flea poo). Flea bites often lead to hot spots – red, inflamed and/or infected lesions on the skin –  due to the trauma from dogs chewing themselves in trying relieve their intense itching.

How can flea allergy be treated?

The most effective method is to be very diligent and use products to kill and prevent fleas from infesting your dog. As fleas are pretty much everywhere, it is almost impossible for your dog not to have fleas unless you are using a good-quality flea control product all year around.

There are many efficient and convenient products available, but it’s always advisable to ask your vet for advice. Your vet may prescribe steroids and antihistamines to break the cycle of itching and scratching. Regular warm baths with medicated anti-itch shampoo and conditioner can also help.

You should also vacuum regularly and wash your pet’s bedding frequently in hot water (>60 degrees celsius).

Be aware of possible flea exposures if you have other dogs visiting (especially if you don’t know whether they are on flea control or not) or if your dog visits places where there are other dogs, such as dog boarding, doggy daycare and dog parks.

Flea prevention all year round is really important, and even more so if your dog has FAD. Once you have a flea infestation on your dog and in your home, it becomes a nightmare and is very difficult to resolve. Make sure all other pets in the household are also treated.

Using a flea comb may help to find out if your dog has fleas, however, fleas are tricky to find as they are good at hiding and running away to escaping the comb. Also, only 5% of fleas actually live on the dog; the remaining 95% ( including the eggs, larvae and pupae) live in the environment (e.g. bedding, parks, carpets, gaps in floorboards and garden).

Click here to learn more more about how to control fleas.

Food Allergies

What is it?

Food allergy is when your dog is allergic to one or more foods. The most common allergen foods for dogs are:

• Beef
• Milk
• Chicken
• Eggs
• Fish
• Cereals (wheat, soya, corn)

It is not clear what causes a food allergy. It is surmised that changes in the animal’s immune system cause the body to see certain ingredients as ‘foreign’, which leads to an immune response that causes the allergic reaction. Fortunately, food allergy in dogs is relatively uncommon.

Dog with Hair loss secondary to food allergy (Source: Zoetis U.S.)

What are the symptoms?

The main symptom is itching of the skin that results in licking and chewing, especially around the face, paws and ears.

This can be accompanied by an unpleasant skin odour, excessive scaling, red bumps, pimples and ear and skin infections. In some cases, gastrointestinal symptoms occur, such as indigestion, noisy gut sounds, intermittent mild diarrhoea and vomiting.

Diagnosis of a food allergy is a lengthy process which involves working very closely with your vet for months using a system of diet trials.

How can it be treated?

Once you know what your dog is allergic to, you can manage your dog’s diet in order to prevent flare-ups (a flare-up is when the skin becomes worse and intense treatment is required). In some cases, the vet may prescribe medication such as antihistamines and steroids.

How are allergies diagnosed?

If you are visiting your vet more than 3 times per year for itching, ear or skin infection, ask your vet about possible dog allergies. Allergies cannot be cured, but with patience and diligence, they can be managed successfully .

Keeping a detailed history of your dog’s itching will be helpful for the diagnosis. This means monitoring and recording the symptoms in detail: what you observed, when it occurred, what happened before, any treatment given and the outcome.

The symptoms of different dog allergies are usually very similar, which can make it hard to tell which is the underlying cause. It is best is to consult your family vet before jumping to any conclusions.

Your vet will suspect an allergy based on the dog’s symptoms but will first rule out common and curable causes of itching such as fleas, mites, bacteria and yeast infections. Find out more about other skin conditions in dogs.

• Testing for atopic allergies is done through skin or serum (blood) testing in a similar way it is done for people.
• For flea allergies, vets will look for a typical pattern of skin inflammation as well as the presence of fleas and/or flea dirt, scratching and skin sores. Often they will prescribe a specific flea treatment trial to determine whether fleas are the problem.
• To identify a food allergy, the dog will need to be put on an exclusion diet for 8-12 weeks. This means the animal is fed only ingredients that he has never eaten before; he cannot eat anything else at all for that time. As food allergies are uncommon in dogs, we advise work with your vet to make sure there is not another underlying cause that can more easily be managed.

Recommended products that can help

Regardless of the type of allergy your dog is suffering from, it is very important to reduce the symptoms as much as possible. Anti-itch medication may be prescribed by your vet but if not, there are other helpful products available over-the-counter at pet retail stores and veterinary clinics. Products such as gentle medicated shampoos, conditioners, skin lotions or creams and fish and linseed oils can help to reduce skin irritations, prevent secondary infections and assist with healing your dog’s skin.

Allergies in dogs are more common than most of us think, and the number of allergic dogs is increasing. There are many different things that can cause an allergic reaction in our dogs. Whilst you can’t cure allergies, you can manage them so your dog can live a comfortable, almost itch free life again.

You will need to consult your vet or a specialist (dermatologist) to identify the type of allergy your pet is suffering from in order to find the best treatment suited to your dog.

*Please note, any pet insurance advice provided is general only. Refer to the applicable Product Disclosure Statement for details of Bow Wow Meow Pet Insurance cover.