The Itchy Dog: is it an Allergy?

Scratching is a very common symptom in dogs,dietary trial. This involves picking a very bland
and you as an owner should aim to nip it in thehypoallergenic diet and feeding your dog
bud early before self trauma causes secondaryexclusively that for at least a month, preferably 6
injuries to your dog. However, before wonderingweeks. The author usually suggests turkey and
whether your dog could have an allergy, yourice, as less dogs are allergic to turkey than
must rule out the common parasitic (fleas andchicken. Of course if your dog happened to be
mites), bacterial (hot spots) and fungal (ringwormallergic to rice or turkey, which is rare but
and yeast) infections. See my article Is your Dognevertheless possible, you would be none the
Scratching to explore these in greater detail.Justwiser as the itchiness would continue and you
as allergies have become more common inwould assume you had ruled out a food allergy
children these days compared to severalhaving done the turkey and rice dietary trial.
generations ago, veterinarians are seeing far moreRemember if you are doing one of these trials,
allergies in pets too. It is difficult to explain thisthen your dog must not be given any treats,
phenomenon, theories range from alterations inespecially not pigs ears, chews, boneos, dental
the content of pet foods to the use of modernsticks or any rawhide products. Literally nothing
day household cleaning products or simply geneticmust be swallowed other than turkey and rice
evolution. One thing is certain, whatever the(and water!) for the entire trial period.If you have
cause, allergic dogs benefit hugely from avoidingruled out flea bite hypersensitivity and ruled out
the offending allergen or, if that is impossible,an adverse food reaction, the next step is to
appropriate treatment to minimize theconsider an environmental allergy, also known as
itchiness.Lets start with the presenting signs of anatopic dermatitis. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis
allergy in dogs. Itchiness can manifest itself notusually begin between 1 and 3 years of age,
only as obvious scratching at the neck and flanks,though any age is possible. The itchiness is often
but also as face rubbing, foot licking or chewingseasonal, which is consistent with a pollen allergy,
and over grooming. Foot licking, for example, isthough some dogs are itchy all year round. There
often perceived by owners as normal, when inare certain breeds which are predisposed to this
fact the dog is responding to itchy feet in thecondition: Boxers, Bull Terriers, Dalmations, English
only way it can, by licking them. The skinBulldogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden
between the toes may turn red and sore due toRetrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Shar Peis, Shih
the compulsive licking, and in white dogs such asTzus and West Highland White Terriers being the
West Highland White Terriers and Bichon Frises,most commonly affected. Diagnosis is usually
the fur is stained brown by saliva.Ear infectionsmade based on the history and ruling out all the
are another common sign of an underlying allergy.other causes of itchiness, and many vets will
Though general waxiness, hair in the ear canals,treat the condition on these presumptions.
lack of ventilation, bacteria and yeast may triggerHowever, definitive diagnosis can be achieved via
the infection, an underlying allergy is often thea panel of injections into a patch of skin, or blood
root cause of the itchiness. If your dog getstests. Neither of these are particularly effective
recurrent ear infections, by eliminating anand generally not performed unless the owner is
underlying allergy you may prevent your dogprepared to attempt a desensitization programme.
from going over the itchiness threshold andThis involves a long term course of injections
developing full blown ear infections.So, what aregiven by your vet on, say, a monthly basis to
the common allergies in dogs?For conveniencedesensitize your dog to the offending allergen, and
they are best separated into 4 categories.1) Fleaso make the allergic reaction much smaller when
bite hypersensitivityhe/she does come into contact with it.Contact
2) Adverse food reactiondermatitis is a skin reaction caused by your dog
3) Atopic dermatitiscoming into contact with a chemical that is an
4) Contact dermatitisFlea bite hypersensitivity isirritant. It therefore only tends to affect the
relatively straight forward to cure. It is a simplestomach, groin and feet of the dog, and is
case of eliminating every single flea on the dogcharacterized by reddening and drying of the skin
and, crucially, in his/her environment. The itchinessin these areas. It can also be seen when owners
is caused by an allergic reaction to the flea saliva,shampoo their dogs with a product that is not
and so even a solitary flea can trigger aintended for use in dogs. Contact dermatitis is
scratching frenzy. To rule out flea biterare, but easily ruled out by careful use of
hypersensitivity, all animals in the house (dogs andcleaning products around the household. Just think,
cats) should be treated with a reputabledid the itchiness coincide with the introduction of a
veterinary spot on medication monthly withoutnew carpet cleaner, washing powder or fabric
fail, and the house should be thoroughly sprayedsoftener?By far the best treatment for any
with an insecticidal spray.Adverse food reactionsallergy is avoidance of the cause. By careful
are more difficult to treat as it can be difficult toinvestigation and following the steps above this is
isolate the precise ingredient responsible foroften possible, especially for flea bite
causing itchiness in your dog. Not only that,hypersensitivity, adverse food reactions and
treating adverse food reactions requires ownerscontact dermatitis. If avoidance is impossible
to be exceptionally disciplined and motivated inthough, as is the case for many cases of atopic
preventing their pet having even a single treatdermatitis, then seasonal or lifelong treatment
unless the exact ingredients are known to bemay be indicated. Steroids are very effective at
safe.There are two ways of diagnosing anstopping itchiness caused by allergies, but long
adverse food reaction (also known as a foodterm use can lead to undesirable side effects,
allergy). For those readers for whom cost is notsuch as adrenal gland disease. Long term steroid
an issue, a blood test can be done to measureuse should only be used as a last resort, when
for ingredient specific antibodies in theother medications have been tried and failed.
bloodstream. The blood test is quite costly, and ifThese other medications include antihistamines,
combined with a blood test for environmentalessential fatty acids and medicated shampoos.Dr
allergens is usually upwards of $400 (?200). TheDavid Brooks is part of the online veterinary
company performing the blood test then providesteam at Veterinarians, Vet Technicians, Nurses,
a list of ingredients (chicken, beef, pork, rice,Trainers, Behaviorists, Breeders and Pet
wheat etc) and a score next to them, suggestingEnthusiasts are here to answer your pet
which ingredients are best avoided. The ownerquestions and concerns...
then picks a commercial diet which does notOur dedicated community of caring experts are
include any of these ingredients, or indeed awaiting to offer you advice, second opinions and
special home cooked diet. The second way tosupport.
diagnose an adverse food reaction is to conduct a