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Dog Allergies Allergens which commonly affect dogs can be split into two main groups – environmental and edible. When a dog’s immune system identifies an everyday substance as a danger, the body will try to rid itself of the allergen which can cause a variety of digestive, skin and respiratory issues.
Behaviours such as scratching at the ears and face, rubbing the face against furniture or carpets, and biting and chewing at the feet and tail, are usually indications that an allergen is affecting your pet.
Bald spots, redness of the skin, chronic ear infections, odours and brown staining where the dog has been licking are also signs that your pet is suffering from an immune response to something in their environment or diet.
Sensitivities can develop at any point in a dog’s life, to substances such as flea saliva, wheat, beef, pollen and cleaning chemicals, to name just a few.
Generally, if the allergy appears to be seasonal and only occurs during particular months of the year, it will be due to something outdoors. For problems within the home, it is likely that the allergens will affect the pet year-round.
Common AllergensWheat & Gluten Allergies: Allergies to food will often present as digestive upset, as well as itchy skin, asthma, irritated eyes, inflamed ears, nasal discharge and swollen paws. Of course, these symptoms can also be indicative of infections, so if your dog suddenly develops these symptoms it is important to contact a vet. Symptoms that we have noticed can be particularly reduced by removing wheat from the diet include persistent ear infections, chewing at the paws, tear staining and staining of the paws. Many vets will encourage allergy testing, which should be availed of if it is an affordable option for the owner, however it should be known that the results from such tests can lead to prescription diets at a very high cost throughout the dog’s lifetime. Some vets will advise exclusion diets, removing common allergens from the dog’s diet until the dog stops displaying symptoms, then adding allergens slowly in order to discover the trigger.
Flea Allergic Dermatitis: Flea saliva can cause extreme reactions for some dogs, with one or two flea bites causing severe itching and discomfort for many weeks. For dogs who suffer from flea allergic dermatitis, prevention is imperative. Most animals with flea allergic dermatitis will have very few fleas, due to excessive scratching and grooming, so often owners will think their pet is reacting to a different allergen. Hot spots are a very common sign of FAD, the most common allergy in dogs. An effective flea control product should be used throughout the year, ensuring the pet is covered by the treatment at all times. Frequent vacuuming and use of sprays containing Insect Growth Regulator will remove eggs and larvae from the environment where the pet lives.
Protein Source Allergies: Some dogs have allergies to particular protein sources, such as chicken, beef and dairy. The most reliable way to diagnose a protein source allergy, is through the use of a hypoallergenic diet. A novel protein source can be used, such as Venison or Duck, such as in Pet Connection’s Grain Free diet, which will reduce the chance of an immune response. Alternatively, some prescription hypoallergenic diets will be based around the use of hydrolysed proteins. Hydrolysed proteins are made when animal proteins are broken into very small molecules, which the body may not recognise as allergens. Either approach should lead to success, if the allergen is a protein source and the exclusion diet is applied over at least 5 weeks. Exclusion DietsSome pets can have more than one food allergy. Food allergies often start in pets younger than 1 or older than 7 years of age, but they can be acquired at any time, even when a pet has been eating the same food for months to years.
Exclusion diets can be used for two reasons, or a combination of both - diagnosis and treatment. The diagnosis of food sensitivity requires the demonstration of improvement of signs when the food is withdrawn and return of signs after feeding the food again. If a patient gets better when on an exclusion diet, long-term feeding of an appropriately balanced diet without the allergen may be a very effective treatment.
Regardless of which elimination diet is selected, it should be introduced gradually over a 5-7 day period. This is extremely important as some animals may develop gastrointestinal problems if their diet is changed suddenly. Most pets adapt to the new diet well, but some need time to adjust. If the pet doesn't adjust to the new diet within a week or two or refuses multiple therapeutic diets, a home-cooked diet can be formulated with the help of a veterinary nutritionist. To formulate the best possible plan for your pet, it is also important to take into consideration challenges such as households with multiple pets or small children.
It is imperative that your pet does not receive any other food or treats throughout the elimination programme, and should be allowed to consume only the prescribed diet, associated treats and water. This includes table food, rawhide, pig ears, bones or other chew toys made with animal products, supplemental fatty acids and oils, parasite preventives, medications or toothpastes with added flavour and treats used to administer medications (e.g. peanut butter, cream cheese, etc).
The exclusion diet should last for at least eight weeks before reintroduction of potential allergens, and at least four weeks after the resolution of symptoms. To prove that a food allergy is responsible for a pet's condition, a diet challenge is then typically performed. This involves reintroducing the original diet, or ingredients from the original diet, to see if the pet has any reaction. In the food-allergic pet, clinical signs will usually worsen within hours to two weeks, depending on the allergen. If an adverse reaction occurs, resume the elimination diet exclusively. Once the flare-up is resolved, reintroduce individual ingredients from the former diet one at a time to identify the specific cause.
Dogs, particularly, are scavengers by nature. They will hoover up everything that might be food. This behaviour must be prevented for an effective exclusion diet trial. Times of particular difficulty are when there are young children or visitors in the house, when there are multiple pets, during walks when off the lead and during social events, e.g. parties. Use of a short lead, constant supervision and, occasionally, a muzzle may be necessary.
Choosing the ideal formulation for an exclusion diet can be difficult, we find that most dogs have success with Burns Sensitive Pork & Potato or Pet Connection's Grain Free Salmon & Trout.
Burns Sensitive Pork & Potato is a holisitic blend, designed to be hypoallergenic through the use of limited ingredients and is generally easy to digest. It is free from wheat and uses pork as a novel protein source, containing no other animal products.
Pet Connection's Grain Free Salmon & Trout is ideal for owners who prefer a higher meat content in the exclusion diet. It is free from all grains, including wheat, oats, barley, rye and rice, and uses sweet potato as a novel carbohydrate source alongside a fish content of 50% salmon and trout. |