Dog allergy is a worrying problem for many parents now, because we can't know what he is allergic to when the dog is not allergic, and the symptoms of dog allergy are different Therefore, many parents cannot judge whether the dog is allergic in the first time, so what are the causes of dog allergy? How to treat it?

Australian Cattle Dog

1. Endogenous genetic, Hormonal abnormalities and allergic qualities.

2. There are both seasonal and non-seasonal environmental factors. Inhale pollen, dust, wool, etc., and eat food such as horse meat, ham, and milk. In addition, injection of drugs, mosquito bites, internal and external parasite and pathogen infections, and physical and chemical factors, etc.

Endogenous factors usually refer to genetic, hormonal abnormalities and allergic constitution. Exogenous factors have a wide range, and some have obvious seasonality. Such as inhalation of pollen, dust, mites, dander, etc., ingestion of spoiled meat, milk, injection of drugs, serum, mosquito bites, exposure to chemical substances, excessive sunlight, etc.

It is more common in dogs aged 1-3 years. The initial sites are around the eyes, between the toes, underarms, groin, perineum, and lower back. Diseased dogs are mainly manifested as severe itching, erythema and swelling, and some appear papules, scales and hair loss. Pigmentation, thickening of the skin, lichen formation, and wrinkling may occur in prolonged disease. Chronic pruritus may be mild or disappear, but some may last for more than a year.

The main symptoms of allergic dermatitis in dogs and cats are red rash and itching. Clinically, drug allergies often occur, such as subcutaneous injection of vitamin K1, K3, intravenous injection of fish xylinum and other drugs, which will cause skin rash, salivation, eye , swelling of the lips or abdomen, itching, and animal scratching.

Food allergy is more common in dogs. Food allergy is also an allergic reaction. It is necessary to change the food composition to overcome the symptoms of skin loss and itching.

Bacterial allergy must be confirmed by a laboratory diagnosis. Itching causes animals to scratch their skin, causing secondary bacterial skin disease. The diagnosis of allergic skin diseases requires immunological diagnostic tests for allergens.

If you want to treat dog allergic dermatitis, you must first find the cause of dog allergy, and then treat accordingly. But sometimes dogs are allergic to dust, sunlight or mites, and these allergens are difficult for us to completely remove. At this time, we can use anti-itch antihistamines, anti-inflammatory steroids, anti-allergy drugs or anti-itch anti-inflammatory drugs. Next, let’s talk about the treatment of dog allergic dermatitis in detail.

1. Food-induced allergic dermatitis

Dogs are omnivores, but many parents dote on their dogs too much. Feed your dog a variety of canned food, treats, or human treats. On the surface, this is a dog lover, but in fact, it will lead to various problems in the dog, such as obesity, dry hair, excessive dander, allergic dermatitis, etc. Fortunately, no matter the season, food allergies are easier to control. If you suspect that your dog has food-induced dermatitis, it is recommended that you ask your dog to eat hypoallergenic/controlled allergy food from the prescription dog food on the market for about a month, and it will usually improve.

2. Allergic dermatitis caused by sun exposure

Since dogs have thinner skin than humans, they are more likely to be allergic to sun exposure dermatitis. Under normal circumstances, the dog's hair will help the dog resist part of the sun's rays. But some parents are afraid of the dog's heat, so they shave the dog in the summer. This is very dangerous for dogs. Because the summer sun is fierce and the ultraviolet rays are strong, the dog's hair can help absorb, reflect the pipeline, and resist the ultraviolet rays. But if you shave your dog's fur, even if exposed to the sun for just 20 minutes, the dog will still get sun damage early, causing redness and itching in severe cases. At this time, the dog feels uncomfortable on the skin, and will naturally scratch with its paws or lick these parts with its tongue, which will cause more serious physical damage and easily lead to bacterial infection. So please remember that when you cut your dog's hair in summer, you must not shave it completely.

3. Allergic dermatitis caused by parasites on the body

Parasites can easily cause allergic dermatitis in dogs. Common parasites are: lice, dog ticks, fleas, mites, etc. Lice can easily cause unbearable itching in dogs, and at the same time cause hair loss, eczema, blisters, pustules, etc. Dog ticks have strong blood-sucking ability and usually adhere to the dog's head, ears, and toes. It can expand dozens of times, which is easy to cause inflammation of the dog's skin; and fleas often parasitize the dog's waist and abdomen and the inside of the limbs, survive by absorbing the dog's blood, and secrete toxins, which can easily cause the dog's skin itching, hair loss and suffering from Allergic dermatitis. Treatment is to first remove the parasites from the dog, and then use anti-itch antihistamines, steroids to suppress inflammation, allergy drugs or anti-itch anti-inflammatory drugs. The most important way to deal with parasites is to do a good job in the hygiene of the dog, deworm the dog on a regular basis, and avoid letting the dog go to places with dense plants.

4. Allergic dermatitis caused by improper body surface contact

Compared with other allergies, allergic dermatitis caused by improper contact is more specific, such as Some dogs are allergic to perfumes, some are allergic to the fabrics of some pet clothes, some are allergic to external medicines, etc. Symptoms of these allergies usually appear within 2 hours of touching the item, and the dog will scratch the area, and some dogs will develop symptoms of red and swollen eye circles. Usually, as long as you stay away from the contact objects, these allergic symptoms will disappear on their own after a while, but if the dog is still like this after 3 hours, or it is more serious, it is recommended that you take the dog to the hospital immediately and let the doctor help him recover as soon as possible.