What can I feed my dog with skin allergies

Skin allergies in dogs: Vet's guide to signs and treatment

Is your pup incessantly itchy and scratchy? The presence of skin allergies in dogs is an uncommon but certainly uncomfortable condition that can occur at any age and in any breed.

While it may be tempting to try home remedies or over the counter medications to treat your dogs itching, these treatments rarely work and may even be harmful in some cases. Instead, its best to see your veterinarian to have the problem appropriately diagnosed and treated. From the selection of appropriate dog food for allergies to tackling environmental causes, read on to learn more about skin allergies in dogs and what you can do to help get your dog feeling better quickly.

What causes skin allergies in dogs?

Like humans, dogs can have allergies to foods, environmental allergens, or both. Both food and environmental allergies can result in cutaneous (skin) reactions.

Food allergies

A food allergy, better defined as an adverse food reaction, is an abnormal response to the ingestion of a particular food or food additive. The body incorrectly identifies the food molecules as an antigen, or a threat, and mounts an immune response against them, leading to symptoms like itchy skin or diarrhea.

Food allergies most often develop after prolonged exposure to one type of food. In dogs, the most common food allergens are beef, chicken, lamb, and wheat. Allergies to soybean, milk, eggs, corn, walnuts, and possibly peanuts have also been reported. Dogs that have developed an allergy to one type of food may also develop allergies to additional foods in the future.

Environmental allergies

Environmental allergies results from a defect in the skins epidermal barrier, which is thought to be due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. These epidermal barrier defects allow allergens such as pollen to penetrate the skin surface and bind to immune cells, triggering an inappropriate immune response.

This results in an inflammatory process that leaves the dog itchy, red, and uncomfortable. Common allergens in dogs include pollens, grasses, dust mites, molds, and dander.

Symptoms of skin allergies in dogs

Food and environmental allergies look very similar and are impossible to distinguish by symptoms alone. The common symptoms of allergies in dogs include:

• Chronic itching
• Recurrent skin or ear infections
• Hair loss, redness, and crusting of the skin
• Self-trauma such as scabbing, hair loss, and saliva staining
• Frequent scratching or licking

Other skin conditions can also cause similar symptoms, so if you suspect your dog may have allergies, its important to see your veterinarian first for a diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Your veterinarian will perform a full head to tail physical examination and may recommend some additional testing such as a skin scraping or sampling from your pets skin. Once the underlying cause of your pets itching and discomfort has been diagnosed, your vet will be able to develop an appropriate treatment plan to help get your pup feeling better.

How are skin allergies in dogs treated?

Treating food allergies

Food allergies are both diagnosed and treated using an elimination diet trial. Your dog will be put on a special diet for a minimum of eight weeks. This diet may be a limited ingredient diet, a novel protein diet, or a prescription hydrolyzed diet. Your dog must eat this food and no other food, treats, table scraps, or flavored medications for a minimum of eight weeks.

If your dogs skin symptoms resolve during the eight week trial, then this is diagnostic for food allergies. Your dog will need to stay on a special diet for life to avoid the ingredients that he or she is allergic to.

Managing environmental allergies

Environmental allergies are more difficult to manage because your dog cant avoid pollens or dust. Environmental allergies are typically managed with prescription allergy medications.

These may be given in the form of daily pills or monthly injections. Some dogs with environmental allergies may also benefit from immunotherapy injections, where they are exposed to low levels of the allergens they are allergic to and thus slowly desensitized to them.

Your dog first must have an allergy test to determine which environmental allergens he or she is sensitive to, and then your veterinarian can special order the injections for your dog.

In both cases, your dog may also need to be treated for any skin or ear infections that have arisen secondary to the allergies. Ear infections are typically treated with topical medications, such as medicated ear cleaners or topical ointments. Skin infections typically require oral antibiotics to treat.

Your dog may also need a course of steroids or prescription allergy medication to help reduce the itching and inflammation associated with these skin infections. Treating the underlying infection will help improve your dogs itching and also make your dogs allergies more responsive to treatment.

Can skin allergies in dogs be prevented?

Unfortunately, because allergies are caused by genetic and environmental factors, they cannot be prevented. We can only manage allergies as they occur. We can prevent flare-ups of allergies by avoiding the offending allergens, such as by feeding a prescription diet to prevent food allergy flare-ups or minimizing dust in the home to reduce environmental allergies.

And although allergies cannot be truly prevented, we do know that there is a genetic component to the development of allergies. This means it is best to avoid breeding dogs with allergies to avoid passing on this condition to the next generation of puppies.

Conclusion

Allergies in dogs can cause a lot of itching and discomfort, but the good news is that they can be managed. If you suspect your dog has allergies, the first step is a visit to your veterinarian for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Remember to follow your veterinarians instructions closely to ensure the best outcome for your dog.

Whether your dog has food allergies, environmental allergies, or a combination of the two, there are steps you can take to manage this condition and help get your dog back to feeling his or her best again.

Dog Skin Allergies: What to Know

Is your dog suddenly scratching more than ever before? Dog skin allergies are one possible reason behind canine itchiness. Heres what to know about skin allergies in dogs.

What Causes Skin Allergies in Dogs?

Also called allergic dermatitis, skin allergies are the most common type of allergic reactions in dogs. There are three major causes of skin allergies in dogs: fleas, food allergies, and atopic (or environmental) allergies.

Types of Dog Skin Allergies

Flea Allergy Dermatitis in Dogs

Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to flea bites. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva. This makes affected dogs extremely itchy, especially at the base of the tail, and their skin may become red, inflamed, and scabbed.

Dermatitis from fleas is the easiest to treat. In these cases, the dog reacts to saliva injected into the skin as the flea feeds. Its like having mosquito bites all over you.

The key with this type of allergy is that the itch is more intense over the tail head. You usually see fleas, or you may find flea dirt, which looks like black pepper on the skin surface. Vets typically treat flea allergy dermatitis by applying a product that kills fleas before they bite.

Food Allergies in Dogs

Food allergies and sensitivities can cause itchy skin, as well. Dogs dealing with food allergies often are itchy around the ears and paws. Gastrointestinal issues may appear, as well.

There are several possibilities for why food allergies develop. Some dogs have a genetic predisposition to developing allergies. The same holds true for atopic allergies.

The other contributing factor to food allergies is constant exposure to the same ingredients. For example, if you have continually fed a lamb and rice diet, continued exposure to those ingredients can cause intestinal inflammation and leaky gut syndrome (where the antigen is absorbed through the gut lining). The reaction appears in the skin, creating itchiness.

Talk to your vet about whether rotating foods in your dogs diet can help prevent them from developing allergies. Foods that commonly trigger dog skin allergies include grains (like corn, wheat, rice, barley, and oats) and chicken.

However, true food allergies may not be as common as people think, according to Dr. Jerry Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from skin conditions (hives, facial swelling, and itchiness), gastrointestinal signs (vomiting and/or diarrhea) or a combination of both. In some rare cases, a severe 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 which ingredient may be causing the reaction.

Environmental Allergies in Dogs

Environmental allergens, such as dust, pollen, and mold, can cause atopic allergic reactions or atopic dermatitis. In most cases, these allergies are seasonal, so you may only notice your dog scratching during certain times of the year. As with food allergies, 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). Dogs often scratch their ears or lick their paws.

There is some debate about how these allergens cause itchiness. The traditional theory is that your dog may inhale them, then these allergens proceed through the lungs into the bloodstream, eventually finding their way to the skin. The other possibility is that they settle on the skin and migrate between the skin cells to the lower skin layers (the dermis). Either way, an allergen reacts with an antibody, which triggers the release of a histamine, causing itchiness.

Your vet may diagnose atopic allergies with intradermal skin testing, where allergens are injected into the skin to look for reactions. They may also treat atopic allergies with medication (such as canine antihistamines, cyclosporine for dogs, or prednisone for dogs) and also with allergy injections (hyposensitization).

With all dog skin allergies, there is the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at their skin, they risk opening up their skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.

Local Honey For Allergies In Dogs Explained and Does It Work

Local honey is sweet and delightful. It has a natural sweetness that is said to have a wide range of health benefits. It sometimes ends up in the mouths of our dogs, too. If you are thinking about giving local honey to your dog as a medicine, you certainly question if Local honey is safe for allergies in dogs and how it works.

1. HELPS WITH DOGS ALLERGIES

Local Honey, when given to dogs in moderation, can be beneficial to their health. If your dog suffers from seasonal allergies, you can relieve them by giving them a daily dose of a tiny amount of local honey. The term local is the one to remember here because local honey is made by honey bees that gather nectar from local flowers, which can help your dogs who live in that area get rid of their seasonal allergies during the spring and fall.

Pollen from many flowers can be found in tiny doses of local honey. Pollen can be gradually introduced into your dogs body through the consumption of local honey. It assists him in the production of antibodies. When the temperature gets warmer, these antigens prevent the body from developing antibody responses to airborne allergies.

2. HELPS WITH DOGS SKIN PROBLEMS

Local Honey used topically is a terrific approach to help relieve and mend common canine illnesses like hot spots, dermatitis, and bug bites, so consider giving it a try if your dog suffers from any of these conditions. Honey is another natural remedy to help soothe cuts, wounds, and bruises. Local honey has trace amounts of hydrogen peroxide. This disinfectant cleans without causing damage to the tissues that are recovering.

To treat your dogs condition, you only just apply a very thin layer to the affected area. Dont forget to cover it with some sort of dressing as well. We are aware of how delicious honey can be that your dog may taste it.

3. HELPS WITH DOGS DIET

Ingesting local honey can moderate your dogs bodys response to hunger. Honey is a form of simple sugar, but the way it is metabolized is quite different from that of table sugar. It also requires a lower insulin dosage and has a slower absorption rate into the bloodstream. It has the potential to slow down digestion as well as the absorption of glucose.

If your dog is prone to gaining weight, adding a little honey to his diet might keep a healthy weight.

4. HELPS WITH DOGS ENERGY BOOST

Local honey contains a variety of sugars that, when digested in the same manner as other simple carbs, can provide your dog with a boost of energy. This is remarkably brilliant for active dogs before they exercise, as well as for sporty dogs before they train. Some dog owners believe that honey might offer their aging pets additional energy without causing them to become unduly active.

5. HELPS WITH SOOTHING A DOGS THROAT IRRITATION

Maybe youre already familiar with this through your own experience. A sore or irritated throat may benefit tremendously from the application of raw honey. The same principle applies to your dog. Honey is an excellent approach to give comfort to your dog if they are suffering from coughs and colds or any other lung irritations.

HOW MUCH LOCAL HONEY CAN YOU GIVE TO YOUR DOG?

Local Honey is a good food to include in your dogs diet; however, you should know that honey is a simple sugar. Regarding dog snacks, particularly for toy and miniature varieties of larger breeds, a thumb size that less is typically more. An excessive amount of it may result in undesirable side effects. If you want minimal eating of your dog, carefully follow these recommendations:

Honey, one-fourth of a teaspoon per day, up to ten pounds.

10-20 pounds teaspoons daily

20-50 pounds 1 teaspoon daily

50 pounds or more up to 2 teaspoons each day

Remember: If you wish to give your dog local honey, you should consult with your vet about the precise amount of honey you can give to your dog, especially if your dog suffers from a health issue like diabetes. In the alternative, you could think about giving your dog a treat that is lower in sugar, such as cucumbers. Whenever you give your pet a new meal, you should always keep an eye out for any changes in his behavior and bowel movements to ensure that the food is agreeable to his system.

HOW DOES LOCAL HONEY DIFFER FROM OTHER KINDS OF HONEY?

As is the case with a great deal of merchandise available today, not all types of honey are considered equal. It can feel like you are a scientist or chemist to properly grasp what youre purchasing at the local supermarket. There is very little to no actual honey in a jar of many goods sold in supermarkets. Some of them are grown by the use of fume boards or insecticides. So youre looking for the perfect kind of honey, are you?

Find local honey for allergies in dogs explained and does it work if you need to and look for a fresh, unprocessed, and unfiltered. This will ensure that your dog is getting all of the benefits that honey has to offer. Local beekeepers are a possibility worth considering when finding local honey.

CONCLUSION

Honey is completely risk-free for dog consumption and, when given in moderation, may even provide some health benefits. People have taken advantage of the natural health advantages it has brought over the course of history. Its possible that if you use it carefully, it could be beneficial to your dogs health, too. It is an excellent choice for dog treats that call for sugar as an ingredient. Local honey for allergies in dogs explained, and does it work to offer your dog local honey, if you want to treat or ease the symptoms of coughs and colds or allergy symptoms, or if you just want to provide them with a little bit of extra strength.