Monday, December 26, 2011

Types and Symptoms of Dog Skin Allergies

By Jennifer Gretson


Dog skin allergies happen in different ways and because of different causes. No dog is totally safe from them so as a dog owner, you may want to take it into consideration to know what these common types of allergies are and how they are likely to appear on your dogs.

Insects are the most common source of dog skin allergies because their bite creates an allergic reaction. This is what commonly happens with fleas. It's the saliva that gets left behind when they bite that actually causes dog skin allergies.

Aside from this, dogs can also have canine atopy. Atopy is the type of allergy wherein inhalants can be the trigger. Among the most common causes of atopy are pollen, dust mites, and other particles that can get mixed with the air your pets breathe.

People are not the only ones that can get affected by food allergies. Even dogs do. So it would be wise to know what stuff you feed your dogs and to read the ingredients of the kibble that you buy. If you are also introducing a food to your dog for the first time, it would be best to observe how they would react to it.

There are also different ways in which these dog skin allergies would manifest themselves. The most obvious is frequent scratching especially right on the ears of the dog and the hind legs. If you observe that your dog seem to be scratching too much and gnawing on their body parts, better check those areas for any wounds or current infestations.

Eventually, the dogs would have red patches obvious on their skin. When you give them bath, those red spots may be relieved and soothed especially if you use a soap or shampoo with special formulation. At this point, make sure that you are also using mild formulation for your dog because their condition is already sensitive.

In its advance stage, skin infections may eventually become dermatitis. This is also a common symptom that is observed when a dog's skin becomes infested with flea saliva. In its advance stage, the skin becomes inflamed with papules and hair loss also happens.

Regardless of the dog skin allergies which your pet may be experiencing, keep in mind that the best person who could see them is a vet. So if you suspect your dog to be suffering from some unknown allergy, go see their vet immediately.




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