My dog scratches a lot, could he be allergic? How to tell if your dog has allergies?

Do you think your dog might have allergies? If they scratch a lot, read this post and you might be able to prevent a worse problem.

An allergy is an immune system disorder. This system is activated by substances that are harmful to your dog, which is why they scratch, have red or flaky skin areas, and it's very unpleasant for them.

First of all, we recommend an urgent visit to the vet, as you don't know for sure why your dog is itching, and it could be a serious diagnosis. An allergy not addressed by a vet can worsen in a matter of hours, even leading to the animal's death due to airway obstruction.

After the diagnosis, keep reading for some tips to relieve your dog's allergies

What causes allergies in dogs?

Dogs also suffer from hypersensitivity reactions, and the number of allergic diseases is increasing. Just like us, dogs suffer allergic reactions caused by our lifestyle, pollution, stress, diet, pollen...

The same type of irritants that affect humans can also affect dogs. Airborne particles like house dust or plant pollen can cause the same discomfort.

Types of allergies in dogs

There are four main types of allergies:

Contact allergies: These are the least common and can appear from contact with carpets, plastics, cleaning products... Symptoms include hair loss and intense scratching. Check their paws, between their toes; if they are coppery in color and they lick them so much that they cause wounds, it's an unequivocal symptom of an allergy.

Environmental allergies: There are various influencing factors, but the most common are dust, pollen, pollution... Their symptoms include coughing and sneezing, itching around the eyes and ears (which can become inflamed), excessive scratching to the point of causing wounds, and rubbing against sofas and furniture.

Flea bite allergies (or allergic dermatitis): This is usually an allergy to their saliva. It's the least recognized as an allergy, as the dog scratches, and we think it's due to fleas and not an allergy. Its symptoms are recognizable by skin inflammation, continuous scratching, hair loss, and ear problems.

Food allergies: Manifests with irritation in the eyes, internal mucous membranes of the mouth, swollen ears, coughing, and sneezing. To find out if your dog is allergic, you can take them to the vet for a saliva test: it's similar to human tests and helps determine if certain foods, including beef, milk, eggs, and cereals, are the foods that cause allergies in dogs.

Tips for allergic dogs

If your dog has a food allergy, the best thing to do is switch to a hypoallergenic feed, which is usually made of a single main protein. If it's also a protein they've never eaten before, the body usually doesn't develop an allergy. For other components like carbohydrates, it's better if they come from potatoes rather than cereals, which can cause more allergies.

If your dog has an environmental allergy, they will need frequent baths with hypoallergenic shampoo. On our website, you will find the German brand Lila Loves It, an organic grooming range for dogs that is recommended for allergic dogs. Check out its two varieties: Shine & Comb and Sensitive

If it's a flea allergy, brush them daily with a flea comb (nit comb) to remove any possible eggs, preferably over a white towel, so you can check that they are actually falling. Bathe them often, especially to relieve the itching. Buy a flea and lice repellent. In addition to all this, you can ask your vet to prescribe medication to relieve the itching.

Other useful tips if you have an allergic dog

Keep the air in your house clean, make sure no one smokes around them, use non-toxic or ecological cleaning products, and even consider buying an air purifier to help them breathe better and control dust mites.

Clean their water and food bowls daily and always ensure they have fresh, clean water.

Try not to vaccinate or medicate your dog excessively, as they can develop immunity to medications, and an overactive immune system is perfect for allergic problems.

In any case, visit the vet, and they will tell you what to do.

We hope we have explained a little more about the causes of dog allergies

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