Mary Allen
Allergies to pollen, mites, and food, for example, affect not only humans but also dogs. As many as 10 to 15 percent of all dogs are estimated to suffer from some form of allergy.
The pollen season is here and just like us, humans, dogs can also have allergic problems. The most common are mite allergies, but allergies to pollen, mold, and food also occur. Approximately 10-15 percent of all dogs are estimated to have allergies. The symptoms to be aware of are if the dog gets itching on the face, armpits, paws, or recurrent ear infections. Some dogs may even have watery or itchy eyes.
As many as 10-15 percent of all dogs are estimated to have some form of allergy. AniCura’s veterinarian Rebecka Frey gives tips on how to find out if your dog is allergic and what treatments are available.
Seek advice from a veterinarian
– An allergic dog gets more or less intense itching, which can manifest itself in the animal tearing its paws, licking, or nibbling. Allergies in dogs usually start from the age of one to two, but can also start earlier. If you have a younger dog with typical symptoms, you should seek advice from a veterinarian for further investigation, says Rebecka Frey.
About a third of the dogs that have mite allergies also have some form of food allergy, mainly to proteins. Therefore, it is important to find out if the dog is hypersensitive to its food because otherwise, it is very difficult to get the dog’s itching in order.
Can not be cured, but treated
There are several ways to treat allergies in dogs, but just like in humans, allergies can not be cured but are a lifelong disease the dog has to live with.
– The earlier a veterinarian can make the diagnosis, the better the prognosis for the treatment. What the treatment looks like is individual, but there is, for example, allergy vaccination which makes the immune system easier to tolerate different substances. The dog can also receive medication that reduces itching and inflammation, says Rebecka Frey.
Those who have an allergic dog often need to spend a little extra time on regular care and more thorough cleaning of the ears and paws, to give the dog a good quality of life despite his chronic illness.