Allergy in dogs: definition, causes & symptoms
Is your dog behaving unusually? No, more than usual! →Diarrhea, flatulence, →rumbling tummy, vomiting or →frequent scratching and itching are a daily occurrence? Then it could be that your furry friend is suffering from an allergy. Don't worry! We'll help you recognize more signs and have a few tips on how you can get your furry friend back on their paws again.
Allergy or intolerance?
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What is an allergy?
If your dog reacts to something specific, such as a food, it could be an allergy or intolerance. Depending on whether there is an allergy to something, the symptoms can vary in severity.
While with an intolerance you might "just" have to hold back the occasional fart, allergies can cause much more serious health consequences. Intolerance, on the other hand, is simply due to the lack of an enzyme needed to process certain foods. An allergy is therefore an exaggerated reaction of the body to a specific substance. While healthy dogs can normally tolerate certain substances from the environment or types of meat like beef, in the case of an allergy, the body can switch into danger mode and mistakenly send the corresponding signals to the immune system.
Allergies in dogs are usually overreactions of the immune system to a harmless substance or food.
Which allergies are most common in dogs?
The most common allergies include allergies to →fleas and other parasites, environmental allergies (atopy) such as pollen and grasses, contact allergies, and in fourth place are food allergies and intolerances.
Every dog can react differently to the composition—sometimes it's a single ingredient, sometimes several components. Certain types of meat like chicken and beef are, according to studies, more likely to trigger allergies. The reason for this is protein compounds in the meat or in other food components such as grains or soy. Statistically, all types of grain together make up the largest allergy component when it comes to food allergies in dogs.
Overview of allergies in dogs
How do allergies develop in dogs?
An allergy develops only rarely from the first contact with the triggering component. Usually, several contacts between, for example, food and the body are necessary for the body to develop an allergy. During the first contact, only internal processes take place and the body becomes sensitized to an allergen, but from the 2nd or 3rd time, symptoms become visible. Causes of allergies can be found in food, in environmental conditions such as fine dust, in humid living environments, but also in the hereditary transmission of allergies.
How can you recognize an allergy in dogs?
Unfortunately, dogs can only communicate to a limited extent—so paying attention to symptoms is the first step that can help with the identification of an allergy . The following symptoms indicate whether your furry friend is suffering from an allergy or intolerance:
Frequent vomiting, which only improves after a change in diet
Diarrhea, which initially gets better after a change in diet
Flatulence
Itching with flaky skin
Inflammation of the skin and →hot spots
Hair loss
Occasionally poor appetite and lethargy
Ear problems, inflammation
In summary, dogs suffering from an allergy often show itching, inflammation, and gastrointestinal problems.
Itching, diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy – the symptoms of an allergy are varied and show that the whole body can be affected.
How does an allergy test work in dogs?
Various tests help veterinarians diagnose allergies in dogs. In addition to the classic blood test there is an allergy test, the elimination diet and other clinical procedures for diagnosis. It is notable that blood and allergy tests often do not provide clear and reliable results.
The "allergy test of choice" is usually the elimination diet. The name says it all, but actually the procedure is not a diet at all—you simply exclude, in phases, food components to which your dog may be allergic or intolerant. The elimination diet lasts several weeks to months, as the body only adjusts slowly. Often, this way the ingredient can be found that your dog is allergic to.
If it is an environmental allergy or others, various procedures are available. In this case, specific diseases are investigated and gradually ruled out until the relevant allergy is found.
Various diagnostic methods may include, among others, an allergy test and an elimination diet.
How much does an allergy test for dogs cost?
Depending on the veterinarian and the scope of the test, it costs around €100 to €300 and often settles somewhere in the middle—the amount varies so much because sometimes several triggers are investigated and the effort involved is accordingly high. An elimination diet on the other hand, only incurs consultation costs and the cost of new food for you.
How are allergies treated in dogs?
Eliminating or avoiding parasites and substances
If the diagnosis reveals an allergy to parasites such as fleas, the therapy consists of removing the parasites. So you create an environment for the dog where the allergy-triggering source is present as little as possible or not at all, and can thus alleviate the symptoms. If the itching is already severe, supportive ointments can be prescribed.
Elimination diet
What helps with diagnosis also works for treatment. The method of choice for food allergies is often to remove certain ingredients from the menu. So it's not as bad as it sounds, but it does require one thing above all—from you: patience. And time. And above all: consistency!
So, in consultation with your vet, feed for an extended period—about 8 weeks—preferably monoproteins, meaning just one type of meat. Beef, pork, and any meat that your furry friend has recently had problems with should be avoided to rule out intolerances from the start. Be sure to avoid grains, sugar, soy, and especially artificial additives.
Finally joy in the bowl again! An elimination diet helps identify the cause of a food allergy and ensures pain-free enjoyment.
Hypoallergenic food
"Hypoallergenic" means producing products with as few allergy-triggering ingredients as possible. These →hypoallergenic types of meat are ideal for an elimination diet, but you should limit it to just one type. There are some foods that naturally have this hypoallergenic property. For dog food, these mainly include:
Lamb
Horse
Venison
Duck
Goat
Kangaroo
We know the problem with sensitive dog stomachs all too well and have also added →water buffalo, kangaroo and insects—yes, insects—to our range of sensitive foods.
Hypoallergenic Food for the Elimination Diet
Preventing allergies in dogs
The development of allergies is complex and, unlike other diseases, prevention is difficult. To prevent flea allergy, the right and consistent preventive care is important, by administering, in consultation with your vet, →special preparations.
A varied, →species-appropriate diet allows the body to adjust to different protein and carbohydrate sources. But remember: be sparing with hypoallergenic sources like kangaroo, horse & co.—because in case of an allergy, exotic varieties are helpful.
For environmental allergies, only heredity and breeding with healthy animals can be considered, which is why you should pay special attention to prevention here, making sure your dog comes →from certified breeders or from animal welfare, and in no case from illegal puppy trade or backyard breeders.
