Typical symptoms of allergies?
- Our dogs are very strong and even if they don’t complain openly they give us small signs that tell us that something is happening to them. Typical symptoms of allergies:
- vomiting
- Diarrhea
- small wounds on the skin
- It looks like he has dandruff
- Skin rash
- Very swollen insect bites
- Ear infections (which can become chronic)
- Loss of hair
What they owe? What types are there?
Environmental Allergies: caused by some element of the dog’s environment, they tend to be more frequent in spring due to the pollen of some plants as it happens to us. ATOPIA (inhalation dermatitis) is the allergy caused by the inhalation of pollen, dust, mold, tobacco, etc., that are in the dog’s environment.
Food Allergies: not all dogs feel good about all food. Food allergies are the cause of between 20% and 35% of non-seasonal skin ailments and usually develop before one year of age. The main food allergies are caused by cereals and legumes (corn, wheat and soy), chicken, beef and veal protein, eggs and milk. They are detected mainly by diarrhoea, vomiting, skin rashes and/or dandruff, and disappear when the allergenic foods are eliminated from the diet.
Medication allergies.
Contact allergy: our dogs are curious, and sometimes when they smell some plastic object, animal or chemical product, it can cause allergic reactions on their skin and mucous membranes. They can also be caused by the cleaning products we use at home, the fabric softener used to wash clothes or the shampoo we use to bathe them.
Allergies to parasites and insect bites: bites from fleas, wasps, spiders, bees, processionaries… can cause many problems for our dogs, especially if they are allergic to them. For example, flea bites (DDPA) cause hypersensitivity in the skin due to the antigens contained in the saliva of fleas and is the most common skin condition in Mediterranean dogs and cats. One of the most dangerous is the processionary, since by approaching the nose or the tongue it can cause inflammation of the face and eyelids, inflammation and even necrosis of the tongue, a lot of salivation, gasping due to difficulty breathing, and in case of ingestion of the processionary choking, vomiting and hemorrhaging, and in the most extreme cases anaphylactic shock and death.
In the most serious cases of allergy, as in the case of the processionary, we must immediately go to the veterinarian. Also if you constantly lick a bite or rash, as it can cause a wound, if you have been stung on the face, mouth or nose, are apathetic, diarrhea or vomiting is convulsive and/or contains blood.
For mild cases here are some recommendations:
Vomiting and diarrhoea: analyze the diet we are giving him and try a Grain Free feed (without cereals) and lamb or fish or a Barf diet, in order to eliminate possible food allergens from the diet. Keep in mind that many of the so-called hypoallergenic feeds still contain traces of cereals or chicken, carefully check the ingredients of the feed to make sure that you are completely eliminating the allergen from your diet.
Small wounds on the skin: we can clean the wounds with iodine, thyme water or chlorhexidine every morning and night until it heals. As long as the wound is not in the mucous membranes.
Skin rashes or insect bites: on swollen skin without a wound, we can apply cold cloths or a little ice for a short time at intervals (so as not to burn the skin, just to calm it down).
Eruptions, hair loss and ATOPIA: Fatty acids (Omega 6 and Omega 3 such as salmon oil) improve the quality and shine of the hair. Fatty acids help reduce the amount and effects of histamine released in response to allergy. The treatment lasts weeks or even months and although most dogs improve considerably or are totally cured, there are dogs in which no change is shown.
Are there breeds more prone to allergies?
In general, purebred dogs tend to be more prone to allergies than mongrels due to less genetic diversity.
In addition, there are certain breeds in which allergies are very common, such as in certain Terriers such as the Scottish, the East Highland White, the Cairn and the Wirehaired. They are also common in Pugs, Miniature Shnauzers, English Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, and larger breeds such as Setters, Retrievers, and Dalmatians.
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