Introduction

When an owner suspects that her dog may be suffering from some sort of allergy, she should take her dog to the veterinarian for a comprehensive assessment and diagnosis. Once a dog’s allergies are diagnosed and the underlying cause is determined, treatment can begin. It is very important for owners to work closely with their veterinarians to identify exactly what the dog is allergic to before attempting treatment. If left untreated, allergies can become very irritating to affected animals and can greatly compromise their quality of life. The goals of treating canine allergies are to alleviate itchiness, pain and other discomfort and to return the dog to a healthy and comfortable quality of life.

Treatment Options for Allergies in Dogs

Most allergies in companion animals are treatable, or at least manageable. For example, if the skin symptoms are caused by an immune reaction to flea saliva, the owner has many available options to help eradicate that parasite from the dog’s environment. If the dog is allergic to an environmental inhalant, the owner can remove that substance from the home. If particular grasses or pollens are the culprit, the owner might consider walking the dog in a different area to prevent exposure to the allergens during seasonal erruptions.

Many topical treatments are available to soothe irritated skin, reduce inflammation and calm itchiness, no matter what the cause. These include shampoos, lotions, gels, rinses and other treatments that your veterinarian can discuss further with you. Antihistamines can be used to reduce the effects of seasonal allergies, which are called “hay fever.” Advanced, specialized and long-term treatments are also available to help acclimatize the dog’s immune system to the allergens that are triggering its adverse reactions. These options are something that you need to discuss with your veterinarian.

In cases of food allergies, the dog’s diet obviously will need to be modified and then managed, once the ingredient(s) that cause the allergies are identified. Owners may use homemade diets or can take advantage of the wide variety of specialized dog foods that now are commercially and readily available in most areas, including a number of kibbles with unusual protein sources such as salmon, venison or duck.

Prognosis

Dogs with allergies typically have a greatly improved quality of life once the allergen is identified and appropriate treatment begins. The most difficult part of this process is identifying the substance or material that the dog’s immune system is reacting to. Once that allergen is pinpointed, there are many positive steps that can be taken to reduce the dog’s adverse allergic reactions and return it to a good quality of life.