There are a variety of conditions that can make a dog itch or sneeze, including endocrine, autoimmune, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the right cause.
If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the dog is on any kind of flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and are the easiest to control. Dog owners have many options available from high-street and online pet stores.
To check a dog for atopic and contact allergies, veterinarians use an intradermal allergy test (also known as a skin reaction test). The dog is mildly sedated, a postcard-sized area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin on the shaved area. Should the dog be allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly, showing that the cause of the allergy has been found.
Dogs that develop atopic allergies usually show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high on the list of suspected causes when a dog first gets itchy skin at an age of over 5 years, or less than 6 months.
When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means the dog is fed food, which is high in protein and carbohydrate. which it has not eaten before, such as venison, duck, and potatoes.
Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in retail stores. Another option is to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods based on recommendations from the veterinarian.
Should the dog’s itching subside, the allergen is clearly being caused by one of the foods that make up its regular diet. To confirm this, the dog owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms return.
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Find Out More : Dog Allergies Symptoms
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