There are a variety of conditions which can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including autoimmune. endocrine, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the cause.
A veterinarian may be able to come up with the right diagnosis. However, they may refer your dog to a veterinary dermatologist, who is a specialist in treating skin conditions in animals.
If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will usually ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and the easiest to control. There are many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment.
Once flea allergies are ruled out, and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are checked next. Food allergies are not related to a season, whereas most atopic allergies begin as a seasonal problem.
Dogs that develop atopic allergies usually show symptoms when they are 5 years of age, but food allergies can be a problem at any time. They are high up on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age of over 5 years, or less than 6 months.
When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for around 10 weeks. This means it is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as venison, duck, and potatoes.
Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in pet stores. Another option is to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods based on recommendations from the veterinarian.
If the dog’s itching subsides, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms return.
To find the specific food responsible for the allergy, the dog owner should feed the special diet again and add one ingredient at a time from the old diet. This should be done for at least a week until the itching increases, indicating that the last added ingredient is an allergen.
Or, the owner may choose to stick with the special food to avoid causing the dog discomfort each time an allergic ingredient is fed. Either way, whilst being tested for allergies, it should not be given treats, chewable medications, table scraps, or rawhide toys.
To check a dog for atopic and contact allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test, or skin reaction test. The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of it is shaved, and small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin. Should the dog be allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly inflamed at the area of the injection.
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Learn More: Dog Allergies Treatment
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