Can dog allergies be cured? What are the treatments, improvements, and countermeasures?

The "allergy problem" in pet dogs is a perennial concern for pet owners. While some dogs don't show any allergic reactions at all, dogs are extremely sensitive to allergies.

Once you develop an allergy, you may be worried about how to treat it, whether it will be cured, and whether there are any countermeasures at all.

Furthermore, dog allergies are particularly noticeable on the skin. This condition is called "allergic dermatitis." In this article, we will discuss whether dog allergies (allergic dermatitis) can be cured.

Please read to the end!

1. About Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

What are the main symptoms of "allergic dermatitis"? First, the skin becomes itchy, as the name suggests, and symptoms of dermatitis appear. The location of the rash varies depending on the type and cause of the dermatitis.

If your dog is itchy, checking where they're scratching may help you pinpoint the cause. Inflammation causes the skin to turn red, and if this inflammation continues for a long time, the skin may darken due to pigmentation, or a condition known as "lichenification" may occur.

※Lichenification = thickening of the skin like that of an elephant.

Continuous scratching can also cause hair to break and thin. Depending on your body type, your body may become oily or moist with sweat.

When the skin condition worsens, Staphylococcus aureus and Malassezia fungi present on the skin increase, causing symptoms such as red bumps and yellow dandruff.

2. What are the symptoms?

Allergic dermatitis in dogs can have a variety of causes, symptoms, and locations.

Let's take a look at the different types of allergic dermatitis in dogs.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

This is a skin condition caused by an allergic reaction to flea saliva. Flea bites are called "flea bites."

Extremely intense itching appears all over the body. Hair loss, redness, and bumps are particularly common from the base of the tail to the back.

Temperatures between 18 and 27°C and humidity levels between 75 and 85% are said to be favorable for flea breeding. Fleas are especially likely to infest your pet around the rainy season and before winter, so be careful.

However, due to recent trends in global warming and heating in homes, fleas can multiply, making it possible for flea allergies to develop year-round.

If you develop a flea allergy, even a single bite can cause an allergic reaction. Therefore, if you experience severe itching, even if no fleas are found on your body, consider a trial flea removal program.

Common Scabies

Scabies is a skin disease caused by infection with the dog mite, S. scabiei, a highly contagious mite that spreads through contact with infected dogs.

Common scabies is a disease caused by an allergic reaction to metabolites such as the cuticles and feces of the mite, and can develop even with a small infestation.

Intense itching often leads to redness, dandruff, and scratches, especially around the ears, face, elbows, heels, and abdomen. S. scabiei mites live in small numbers and are not easily detected by skin examination.

If you suspect you may have common scabies, try various treatments to identify the cause.

Malassezia Dermatitis

Malassezia is a yeast fungus that normally resides on normal skin and in the ears. However, if it overgrows abnormally, its components and metabolites can irritate and cause inflammation.

Symptoms include redness, itching, sticky yellow dandruff, and a distinctive greasy odor. It particularly occurs around the ears, mouth, eyes, and nails, between the pads of the paws, and in intertriginous areas (areas where skin rubs together, such as the armpits, inner thighs, and genitals).

Some dogs can develop an allergic reaction to even a small amount of Malassezia parasites, causing dermatitis. The parasites feed on skin oils and multiply.

For this reason, dogs with high oil content are more likely to develop Malassezia dermatitis. Shih Tzus are particularly susceptible to Malassezia dermatitis.

Canine Atopic Dermatitis

This is a hereditary, chronic, recurring, itchy dermatitis with characteristic symptoms. This primarily refers to allergic reactions to environmental allergens.

The main cause is indoor dust mites, but other allergens include pollen and mold. It's also thought that dogs' weak skin barrier makes it easier for allergens to penetrate the body through the skin.

The condition often develops in the ears, around the eyes and mouth, on the paws, between the paw pads, and in intertriginous areas. It usually develops between 6 months and 3 years of age, but it can also occur in older dogs.

Some cases are seasonal, with symptoms worsening due to high temperatures and humidity in summer or dry winter weather, or due to pollen allergies. Symptoms begin with scratching and licking, followed by redness of the skin, hair loss, dandruff, and scratches.

If the condition becomes chronic, the skin will become dark and thick. Shiba Inu dogs are known to be particularly susceptible to canine atopic dermatitis, so caution is advised.

Food Allergy

Food allergy is an excessive immune response to food components. It often begins in puppies, but can occur at any age.

Redness and itching develop in the ears, around the eyes, between the paw pads, and in the intertriginous areas. Half of cases also experience digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting. Itching is generally not seasonal and occurs throughout the year.

Diagnosing food allergies involves something called an "elimination diet test." This involves eliminating all foods your dog has been fed (especially proteins), identifying any ingredients it has ever ingested, and then introducing a diet that does not contain any of those ingredients, in an attempt to alleviate dermatitis.

Another test involves using a diet that has been hydrolyzed to the point where the dog's body is unable to react to the protein.

3. Can allergies be cured? What are the treatments, improvements, and countermeasures?

So, can dog allergies actually be cured? First of all, food allergies can be improved by avoiding feeding your dog the allergenic food.

We've covered how to identify allergen foods above, but if you're concerned, it's a good idea to consult a veterinarian or specialist about allergy testing.

Other than that, if your pet reacts to environmental allergens, treatments will aim to alleviate symptoms. Treatments include medication, supplements, daily shampooing, and brushing.

Environmental allergens are extremely difficult to treat, and symptoms often vary in severity depending on the season. Therefore, it's important to be flexible and adaptable to the situation, including the timing of medication and other treatments.

4.Summary

This article introduced the overview of allergic dermatitis in dogs, as well as treatment, improvement, and prevention methods.

It is nearly impossible to completely eliminate allergens from the world, so it is important to be mindful of your dog's living environment on a daily basis, whether or not your dog is experiencing allergic symptoms.