Dog Allergies Treatment

Dogs, like people, have allergic responses when their immune system overreacts to certain substances. When they enter the body, the offending substances, called antigens or allergens, set off an alarm. This alarm stimulates the body to produce antibodies to defend itself against what it perceives as a threat–the allergen invaders. The antibodies attach themselves to immune cells, called “mast cells,” within the skin and other body tissues. When the allergens penetrate these tissues’ surfaces, they are captured by the antibodies, which then stimulate the mast cells to release powerful chemicals into the surrounding tissues. It is these chemicals, called histamines, that cause inflammation and itching.

In dogs the allergen is found mainly in the skin scales and the saliva. There are many kinds of allergens such as tree, grass or weed pollens, molds, house dust, house dust mites, animal dander, human dander, feathers, fleas, certain bacteria, various chemicals and even ordinary foods.

Many dogs can be affected by one or more allergy. There are four ordinary dog allergies which comprise :

1. inhalant allergies
2. flea allergies
3. skin allergies
4. food allergies

Up to 40% of dogs that have been tested have proven positive for flea allergy. Inhalant allergies, also known as atopy, include pollen, mold, mildew, and dust mites. Dogs suffer from food allergies on a annual basis other than a seasonal basis like atopy. Skin allergies include ringworm and mange which are fungal diseases. Three of the more ordinary dogs that possess these health maladies are golden retrievers, poodles, and bull dogs.

Allergies can manifest dogs in many ways. Constant itching, skin infections, chewing and licking, eye and nose discharge, vomiting and diarrhea, coughing, sneezing, wheezing, ear infections and paw chewing. Dogs can develop allergies at any age and can be allergic to more than one thing at a time.