Can Dogs Get Allergies? + Symptoms, Treatments & More | Pupford
Ahh spring, the time of year when just the sight of a blooming flower can trigger seasonal allergies in some of us.
Some people swear they also see their dogs showing signs of seasonal allergies too, as well as other allergies throughout the year.
So what’s the deal? Can dogs get allergies? Can dogs get seasonal allergies?
We’re going to answer those common questions and cover everything you need to know about dog allergies today.
WHAT IS AN ALLERGY?
We’re likely all familiar with the concept, but diving deeper into what an allergy actually is will help us understand how they impact our dogs.
According to Catherine Barnette, DVM and Ernest Ward, DVM, allergies are “a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance.”
In other words, something usually harmless takes your immune response from 0-100 real quick.
Okay, that might be a major oversimplification, but for our purposes, we can summarize it that way. Allergies are typically very complex and have a lot of variety, but we’re going to focus more on symptoms and treatments.
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CAN DOGS GET ALLERGIES?
A common question we get is whether or not dogs can get allergies.
Yes, they can, and it’s actually quite common. Dogs of all breeds get allergies, with most appearing after six months of age and getting stronger with age.
Here are the most common types of allergies vets see in dogs:
1. PUPPY SKIN ALLERGIES
Skin allergies (allergic dermatitis) are the most common type of allergy in dogs. They can be caused by fleas, foods, or environmental factors.
When dogs have skin allergies, they are most commonly affected on their ears and paws. However, allergic rashes and irritations can occur anywhere. These types of allergies can cause your dog to be very itchy!
2. DOG FOOD ALLERGIES
Dogs can develop allergies to foods at any point in their life, regardless of how long they have been consuming that type of food.
The most common food allergens in dogs are chicken, beef, dairy, egg, fish, and wheat. But, just like humans, it’s possible for them to be allergic to any food item. (PS- Lamb can be a good meat option for dogs with allergies!)
Additional Reading: We break down a comparison of kibble vs dehydrated vs raw dog food here.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL AND SEASONAL ALLERGIES
Now to address one of the most common dog allergy questions: yes, it’s possible for your dog to get seasonal allergies!
They can also develop allergies from their environment, such as new plants in the backyard, dust in the house, or even moving to a new house or room.
4. ACUTE ALLERGIC REACTIONS
Acute allergic reactions are the most serious – and often shocking – of all allergies in dogs. These can range from localized swelling to full anaphylactic shock.
These sudden and serious allergic reactions often happen after an insect sting/bite, administration of new medication, or introduction to a brand new food.
While these types of reactions are rare, they are very serious and require immediate care. Call your vet right away if you notice any signs of an acute allergic reaction, or head to an emergency vet hospital.
DOG ALLERGIES SYMPTOMS, INCLUDING SKIN ALLERGIES
How allergies present in your dog depends on the type and cause. Here are some common symptoms of dog allergies:
- Skin allergies – itchiness, especially at the base of the tail, ears, or paws, redness, inflammation, and presentation of flea dirt.
- Food allergies – gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea, or itchiness of the ears and paws
- Environmental and seasonal allergies – itching of the paws, ears, underarms, groin, and eyes, as well as hives, runny eyes, ear infections, facial swelling, sneezing, and coughing
- Acute allergic reactions – facial swelling, with the possibility of seizure or anaphylaxis
Some of these symptoms can also be a sign of other conditions, so it’s important to visit your veterinarian for a proper diagnosis.
Your vet will likely run some tests to rule out other serious conditions before confirming with an allergy test, although allergy testing isn’t always necessary or conclusive.
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TREATMENTS FOR YOUR DOG’S ALLERGIES
How your dog’s allergies are treated is also dependent on the type of allergy and how it presents.
While we do recommend bringing your dog to the vet to confirm allergies and create an individual treatment plan, there are things you can do to ease your dog’s symptoms in the meantime:
- Wipe or wash your dog’s paws, ears, and face after spending time outdoors or near their allergen
- Keep your dog up to date on flea prevention
- Check your dog’s skin daily for increased irritation, cuts, scratches, etc.
- Bathe your dog with soothing natural shampoo like Sudsy
- Give your dog a supplement that helps improve their gut health, skin and coat, and more like Super Pup
Related Reading: Improving Dog's Gut Health & Digestion
If your vet suspects a food allergy, they will likely recommend an elimination diet, where different combinations of foods are added to or subtracted from your dog’s diet for multiple-week periods to see if symptoms improve.
If the allergy is caused by fleas, your vet will provide a flea treatment and recommend preventive treatment, as well as ways to remove any remaining fleas from the environment.
For seasonal and/or environmental allergies, there will need to be a period of trial and error to figure out what the allergen is so it can be removed or avoided. In the meantime, your vet may provide topical or oral allergy relief medication to treat the symptoms.
Finally, as we mentioned before, acute and severe allergic reactions require emergency care by your vet or a veterinary hospital right away.
RECAP OF DOG & PUPPY ALLERGIES
Just like allergies are an annoyance to us, they can be the same for your dog or puppy. The good news is that most of the time they are not serious and can be easily treated.
To help manage your dog’s skin and coat, as well as support gut health, healthy joints, heart health, manage inflammation, and support immune health, try a supplement like Super Pup!
Super Pup was formulated by Dr. Greg Sunvold to help:
- Aid in diarrhea resolution
- Combat pathogens that cause illness
- Absorb proper nutrients from meals with digestive enzymes
- Cultivate healthy bacteria
- Kill bad bacteria with a proprietary blend of pre, pro, and postbiotics.
Does your dog experience allergies? What kind? What do you find relieves their symptoms? Tell us in the comments below!
🐶 Need help with your pup's allergies? Check out our line of supplements here! 🐶
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