Itchy, Scratchy Blues

Does Your Dog Have Allergies?

Dogs can have allergies just like humans, reacting to things in their food, things that make contact with their skin and even by inhaling things in the air.

What Are Dogs Allergic To?

Dogs can be allergic to common substances used around the house, such as cleaning solutions and perfumes. And just like people, they can be allergic to pollen and dust mites.

Another common allergen for dogs is flea bites. Just two flea bites can cause a reaction in a dog who is allergic to them.

Dogs can also be allergic to things they come into physical contact with, like plastics, rubber, wool, certain metals, medications and lotions.

Finally, dogs can also be allergic to many things commonly found in dog food, like corn, beef, dairy, wheat and dyes.

Allergy Symptoms

Just as humans react differently to different allergens, dogs also have different reactions to different allergens. For example, it’s likely that a dog who coughs and sneezes a lot is allergic to an inhalant, like carpet cleaner or pollen.
Contact allergies in dogs generally appear as skin rashes or acne. Then again, dogs who are allergic to certain food ingredients also may have skin rashes or chew their feet after eating the trigger foods.

What Should You Do If You Suspect Your Dog Has Allergies?

If you suspect your dog has allergies, the best course of action is to take him to your veterinarian and find out if what you are observing really is an allergic reaction. Based on the symptoms, the vet may help you narrow your search in discovering what your dog might be allergic to, and how to help your dog avoid contact with those triggers.