Can a dog s allergic reaction go away on its own

7 Signs of an Allergic Reaction in Dogs

Runny snout, itchy eyeswhats going on with your poor pooch? Well, just like us humans, allergies can plague dogs with uncomfortable symptoms. If you see your pet suffering from what looks like severe allergic reactions or long-term seasonal allergies, theres a strong chance youre right.

Its important to speak to your primary care vet if you think your dog is dealing with allergies. In serious cases, that well discuss in this blog, VEG is here with emergency treatment for your dog.

Below, you can read up on the different types of canine allergies and what to do in case you notice symptoms. Addressing this problem sooner rather than later will ease your buddys allergy blues.

TYPES OF DOG ALLERGIES

Woe is your doggo. Somethings got your furry friend feeling down and you suspect allergies. But youre not sure if its the weather, something in the home, or another reason altogether. VEG is here to help! Check out this list of the four most common types of allergies in dogs. Each has its own causes and treatments, but understanding the categories can make a big difference in how well you recognize your dogs allergic reaction.

1. Food allergies

Your dog is usually quite the foodie! But now your pal has a sick stomach after eating certain types of food. This could be a food allergy, and the most common symptoms youll see is vomiting or diarrhea. However, food allergies may also present as skin conditions or fur loss, so be on the lookout for skin and hair problems.

2. Skin allergies

Yeesh, your pup usually does well in the great outdoors, but something is wrong. Skin allergies! Make sure your pet is on regular flea/tick preventative, which you can get through your primary veterinarian. We mention this because skin allergies in dogs can often be caused by exposure to fleas or ticks. Its also possible that plants or yard treatment chemicals are irritating your dogs skin. A skin allergy will present as:

• Hives (small, raised red bumps all over the skin)
• Itchiness
• Redness

A skin allergy for your dog can be caused by other things too. Have you tried a new detergent recently? New rug cleaner? Any of these could be the culprit, but you can likely rule them out quickly if you remove the suspected irritant from any contact with your dog.

3. Seasonal allergies

Its breezy and your dog is sneezy. If you notice your dog getting sick (ear infections, licking or chewing at their feet, sneezing, etc.) around the same time every year or notice him sneezing more often when hes been outside all day, theres a chance its seasonal allergies. Check out all of the allergy types in this blog, because its important to rule out other factors to make sure this is the case.

4. Acute allergies

Dogs who have sudden allergic reactions to irritants have acute allergies. Most commonly caused by pesky insect bites or stings, acute allergies may have other causes as well. An acute allergy will show as:

• Facial swelling
• Vomiting
• Trouble breathing and collapse in severe cases, this is an anaphylaxis reaction

Acute allergies may need immediate emergency vet treatment. Call or come in to your nearest VEG if you notice any of these signs. Our ERs are open 24/7, so call anytime and speak with a doctor who will answer your questions.

SYMPTOMS OF ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN DOGS

Now, were sure youre itchin to know about the seven allergy symptoms in dogs! Here are the most common reactions and what to do about them:

1. Itchiness and hives

Is your dog scratching a lot or have red areas of skin? These reactions are common in all types of allergies. If scratching and hives are the only symptoms you notice, you can wait a day or two before scheduling a GP vet visit. But if theyre coupled with any other symptoms, get to VEG soon. You may be tempted to give your dog allergy medication because theyre having a rough go of it, but call VEG for advice before doing so.

2. Diarrhea, vomiting, and upset stomach

If your dog has diarrhea or is vomiting, visit Veterinary Emergency Group as soon as possible so your dog can get the care he needs right away. Caution: this may be a sign of an early anaphylactic reaction.

3. Itchy ears

Though totally annoying for your dog, itchy ears usually arent a sign of anything life-threatening, and can wait for a primary care veterinary visit. However, if your pet is increasingly uncomfortable and/or starts to have any trouble walking, or your dogs head is tilted to one side, get to VEG asap for treatment.

4. Sneezing and runny nose

Your pups achoos are totes adorbs, but beware, when sneezing and/or runny nose is accompanied by fever or by any other symptoms on this list, your dog requires immediate veterinary intervention. They may be signs of seasonal allergies and could be very benign, but its important for your vet to check for the cause of your dogs allergic reaction.

5. Runny eyes

Watery, runny eyes need to be checked out by your primary care vet, even if you think theyre just due to an allergic reaction. This can also be a symptom of upper respiratory infection. Another reason for runny eyes is if there is damage to the eye itself (scratch or ulceration of the cornea). Rule out these potential issues by taking your dog to your vet to find out the real cause.

6. Frequent licking or chewing on skin

This symptom of a dog allergy kind of hides in plain sight! If your dog chews or licks his skinespecially his feetfrequently or seemingly nonstop, this is a sign hes dealing with some form of allergies. Who knew?

The problem could come from exposure to irritants in the backyard or on walks, but it may also be a symptom of food allergies in your dog. Although not an emergency, youll need to go to your primary care vet to determine how to treat it and what the underlying cause might be.

7. Swollen face

Take heed, a swollen face or snout is a sign that your dog may be headed into anaphylactic shock. Although dogs with a swollen face dont always suffer anaphylaxis, it is common. We recommend bringing your dog in to be seen by an emergency vet at VEG if there is any facial swelling. Well triage your dog immediately, and provide treatment to prevent it from getting worse. If theres enough swelling going on, it could lead to other signs such as trouble breathing, so dont wait it out.

SEE A VET FOR ALLERGIC REACTIONS IN DOGS

Now that you know a little bit more about what to expect from your dogs allergic reactions, you can determine whether or not its an emergency or if you can wait to schedule a regular vet appointment.

The veterinarians at VEG are here and ready to help with your dogs allergic reactions or any emergency your pet may be experiencing. Were open 24/7 and youll see a doctor right away. Best of all, you never have to leave your dogs side. Have questions about VEG? We have answers!

Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.

Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.

Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs

The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.

In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• Itchiness
• Hives
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears
• Chronic ear infections
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Constant licking

Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.

Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs

Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.

Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.

Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).

All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs

Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.

Edema of Face or Throat

Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.

If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.

Anaphylactic Shock

Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.

This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.

If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.

In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.

Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.

The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.

If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.

Treating Allergies in Dogs

The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.

Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.

In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.

If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.