Roughly about 20 percent of the dogs living in our homes suffer from some allergy type, with the most common being atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy and inhalant allergy. If you observe your dog with constant scratching, tail-chasing, coughing and wheezing, eye and nose discharges it is very likely that they are suffering from allergies.

Atopic dermatitis is a skin allergy disease caused by hypersensitivity developed by your dog’s immune system to several very common substances like molds and dust mites. Your dog may exhibit signs of this by scratching and licking himself very often (particularly licking and chewing the paws, abdomen and legs), and the ears may be hot to the touch. Check to see if your dog’s saliva causes stains. A red to brown stain is another indicator that your dog is atopic, and saliva stains may show on the paws and armpits. In persistent cases, the skin on the abdomen changes color from pink, to a bright red then to black.

Flea allergy is the most common form of canine allergy. However, it is not the flea but the flea’s saliva that your dog may be allergic to. Your vet can perform a skin allergy test to find out if your dog has flea allergies. If this is positive, a strict control regimen can reduce symptoms, and your vet will advise as to what type of treatment (ranging from pills to sprays to shampoos) is best for your pet.

Dogs are susceptible to allergens like pollen from trees, grass, and flowers, dust mites and molds which are inhaled from the air. Dogs will show their reactions to these through scratching and biting, as well as chewing of feet and licking constantly. A less common reaction is recurrent infections in your dog’s ears. Frequent vacuuming and dusting of the areas where your dog spends much time of their time (like the sleeping area) will help alleviate the symptoms.

Dogs also exhibit allergies to the food they eat. The symptoms of this can mimic those of any of the other allergies (facial itching, limb chewing, belly itching, recurrent ear or skin infections) and so makes this particularly difficult to diagnose and even more difficult to pinpoint the culprit. Other symptoms of food allergies are vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing and sometimes, even changes in behavior. Food allergies vary from dog to dog, and you should monitor your dog closely for any signs of allergy after any change in diet.
Some of the main ingredients likely to cause food allergies in dogs are beef, chicken, chicken eggs, dairy products, wheat, corn and soy. These, unfortunately are also some of the most common ingredients in dog food. Commercial dog foods also contain many fillers, coloring agents, preservatives etc which give rise to a higher incidence of allergies than natural or raw diets.
The dangers of poor quality commercial dog food, as a cause not only for allergies but for many of the causes of ill-health in dogs is a subject I cover in detail in my book “Canine-911!”
If you suspect your dog has a food allergy, the first thing to do is to try to establish the specific ingredient causing the reaction, and this can be done by removing them all from your pet’s diet.

Do this by feeding your dog a meal of a protein and starch source (such as rice and lamb) that your dog has not had before. Over a week add, one at a time, more ingredients into it. The possible allergen can be identified if symptoms return after adding a particular ingredient. Allergic reactions, however may not appear immediately after consuming the allergen, so it is wise to discuss your observations with your vet. Once established, avoid any food containing that ingredient.

Rebecca Prince is author of “Canine-911! – How To Save Your Dog’s Life” which gives First Aid and Healthcare for your dog and is essential reading for all dog lovers