Allergies in Dogs
It’s easy to overlook itching and scratching as normal dog behaviour, but it isn’t. This can indicate an abnormal response in your dog’s body to certain allergens - environmental in many cases, and less commonly, to specific foods.
This scratching, commonly due to a skin rash, can lead to dry skin on dogs and other irritations, making their skin look red or flaky. Regardless of how dog skin allergies present, it is usually a very uncomfortable condition for your dog that may keep them up through the night and agitate their already sensitive skin.
Fortunately, with the right combination of dog food and medication, you can get your dog back on the right path to less itching and healthy skin.
Environmental Allergies in Dogs
One of the most difficult things on your dog’s path to recovery is determining what is causing their allergic reaction. For the vast majority, however, dog skin allergies are caused by certain substances in the environment. These can be addressed with a multimodal treatment consisting of medication to help reduce the immediate symptoms and nutrition for effective long-term care.
Common triggers for dog skin allergies:
• Grasses
• Dust Mites
• Pollen
• Fleas
Food Allergies in Dogs
Food allergies in dogs are actually very uncommon - in fact, only 10% of dogs with an allergy experience true food allergies! Rarely, however, some dogs may experience reactions to certain ingredients, and they are identified through food elimination trials conducted by your veterinarian. The best dog food for skin allergies will be a therapeutic dog food with a single novel protein or hydrolysed protein your pet is unlikely to react to.
Novel Protein
Unique proteins that are not commonly found in pet nutrition. This lowers the risk of an adverse food or environmental reaction.
VS
Hydrolysed Protein
Gentle amino acids that have been broken into smaller pieces to help avoid detection by the immune system.
Most common food allergies for dogs:
• Chicken
• Beef
• Dairy
Spot the signs of your dog’s allergies:
Dry itchy skin is just one of the many symptoms that may indicate your dog is experiencing a bigger problem brought on by environmental allergies. In rare cases, these may also be signs of food allergies in dogs. When your dog experiences abnormal reactions such as these in response to a certain allergen, they may feel discomfort that causes them to scratch. Unfortunately, this often only further agitates the skin, increasing their discomfort.
Here are a few signs to look out for if you are wondering if your dog might be experiencing allergies:
• Red patches, spots, or pimples
• Flaky or scaly patches
• Hair loss
• Scabs, crusts, or thickened skin
• Itching, scratching, licking, and rubbing
• Bad skin odour
• Digestive issues
• Watery eyes and runny nose
Understanding how to help dogs with dry skin and other derm issues can feel frustrating, and treatment can vary on a case-by-case basis depending on your dog’s diagnosis. But in general, a combination of therapeutic nutrition that can help alleviate their signs and provide long-term care, plus veterinarian-prescribed medication, can help prevent future flare-ups of skin allergies.
How to Manage Your Dog's Skin Allergies
No one likes to see their dog itching all the time and unhappy, and many pet parents find themselves frantically seeking out solutions for how to treat their dog’s dry skin or other conditions commonly brought on by allergies. As you attempt to help your itchy pet through their discomfort, you may find yourself looking for dog shampoo for dry skin or even home remedies for dogs with itchy skin. But the best thing to do is speak to your veterinarian, who can outline a simple yet comprehensive approach consisting of dog food for skin sensitivities and certain medications for fast relief. The right nutrition can promote healthy skin from within and help alleviate your dog’s signs quickly and long term.
Remember - just like humans, every dog is unique, and the best solution will come from working with a professional to address your pet’s specific needs. Even with treatment, some dogs may have recurring signs that will require adjustments along the way, and your veterinarian will be a helpful resource in managing your dog’s skin allergies.
If you are unsure what is causing your dog’s allergies but looking for a nutrition to help manage flare-ups, you’ll want to ask your vet about a few things.
Novel Protein
It is uncommon for dogs to experience food allergies, but when they do, novel or hydrolysed protein therapeutic foods can help avoid triggering them. Certain ingredients, like egg protein, can even help to reduce itching!
Nutritional Skin Support
With the right ingredient blend, your dog’s food can help soothe and nourish their skin and coat to reduce itching and strengthen their skin’s barrier against allergens.
Medication
While you get your dog on track with dog food for long-term management of their condition, a vet may prescribe medication to help alleviate itching and strengthen the skin’s barrier against allergens. If you are wondering what you can give your dog for allergies, please note that over-the-counter medication should only be used as recommended by your vet, and is frequently ineffective and expensive.
For more information, contact The Pet Grocer.
