3 Things You Need to Know About Allergies that Dogs Can Suffer From

When you see the words “dog” and “allergies” together, you probably think about the fact that nearly 30% of people can’t be around dogs without suffering an allergic reaction. However, if you are a pet owner, then you might need to consider the fact that while many people are allergic to dogs, your dog might be allergic to some things as well. When you identify a new allergen, check that your dog's current food doesn't contain it as an ingredient and even consider switching to a hypoallergenic dog food from this list to prevent adverse reactions.

If you aren’t sure about some of the more common allergens that can be harmful to your pup, here are three things that you should be aware of.

Food Allergies are Often Actually Something Different

Many pet owners are quick to throw around the term “allergic” if their dog suffers from any type of reaction to a certain food. While some dogs are allergic to things like wheat or soy, more often than not, the negative reaction to a food is actually a food sensitivity, not an allergy.

If a dog is allergic to something, then the reaction will be fairly immediate and severe. Hypotension or going into shock isn’t uncommon. However, if your pet experiences gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea after eating something, then they are technically sensitive to that food item as opposed to allergic to it.

Even though it is very likely that your dog will be right there to lick up any and all food that might fall to the floor, there are a few foods that all dogs need to be kept far away from. For instance, chocolate is toxic to dogs because they can’t properly digest it. Grapes and raisins are also things that you should never give to a dog.

Allergy Screening

If you do suspect that your dog suffers from an allergy, whether to food or something else, then you can actually have allergy screening done to be sure. Certain veterinary clinics, like those at veterinarianfriscotx.com, specialize in this sort of screening so that you can detect any potential allergies and then help your pet avoid them in the future.

If the screening test comes back to reveal that your dog is, in fact, allergic to a certain food item, a change in your pet’s diet will most likely be necessary. Thankfully, your vet should be able to prescribe a diet that will exclude whatever it is that your dog needs to stay away from.

Dogs Can Be Allergic to Certain Insects

All dog owners know how tough it can be to keep biting insects like fleas and ticks off their pets. Unfortunately, some dogs are actually allergic to the bites of these insects. Instead of the typical reactions suffered from these bites, dogs with allergies will experience more intense reactions with incessant itchiness that can be incredibly relentless.

If you find that your dog is allergic to a certain type of insect, you will need to take extra precautions against them. Normal insect repellent might not be enough to ward off the troublesome bugs.