Allergies in dogs are more frequent than we might think. While dogs can’t speak up about what hurts them, ear infections, or digestive upset may hint at underlying allergic reactions. Since allergies often progress gradually, they can go unnoticed until discomfort becomes severe.
For dogs, chronic itching or skin inflammation doesn’t just affect comfort, it can also affect their quality of life, and could cause infections or complications. It’s important for pet owners to recognize signs early, manage their pet’s symptoms, and use allergy prevention strategies.
If your dog loves spring as much as we do, here are some seasonal allergies to know about!
What Are Allergies in Dogs?
An allergy happens when the immune system overreacts to a normally harmless substance. These substances are called allergens and can come from many different things in your pet’s environment. Your dog’s body thinks this allergen is a threat and creates an exaggerated immune response.
Allergies in dogs often manifest not with sniffles (as they do in humans) but through skin issues, ear problems, or sometimes digestive or respiratory signs.
What’s the difference between allergies and intolerance?
Allergies are different from intolerance, which are non–immune reactions. While allergies involve the immune system and often cause itching, intolerances more often produce digestive symptoms without effects on the skin.
6 Types of Dog Allergies
Dogs may suffer from one or more types of allergies. Below are the major categories:
1. Food Allergies
A food allergy happens when the immune system reacts to one or more ingredients in the dog’s diet, such as proteins, carbohydrates, or other additives.
Common food allergies include:
– Beef
– Chicken
– Dairy
– Eggs
– Lamb
– Soy
– Wheat
– Rice
Symptoms: Itching (especially on face, ears, feet), gastrointestinal signs (vomiting, diarrhea), and recurrent ear infections.
2. Skin Allergies (Atopic Dermatitis)
Skin allergies, also called atopy, refers to an allergy caused by environmental factors. Dogs can have seasonal allergies or year-round allergies.
This is because some allergens are seasonal, like pollen during spring time, and this causes flareups in certain periods. Other triggers like dust mites or mold indoors can cause symptoms year round. Dogs with atopic dermatitis can often have multiple allergens, so it is best to consult your vet.
Common skin allergy triggers:
– Pollen
– Grasses
– Weeds
– Molds
– Dust mites
Symptoms: Most manifestations will be seen on the skin. Itching, thickening of skin, erythema (redness), hair loss, or secondary infections.
3. Flea Allergy Dermatitis
This is an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas. Even a single flea bite can trigger intense itching in a sensitive dog.
Signs: Severe scratching, especially near the base of the tail base or lower back. You may also see “flea dirt” or black specks on fur. Sometimes hair loss or skin lesions may be present.
4. Contact Allergies
A contact allergic reaction happens when the skin touches an allergen rather than being airborne.
Common contact allergens:
– Certain fabrics
– Shampoos
– Laundry detergents
– Chemicals
Signs: Skin irritation localized to the area of contact, meaning it is only seen on one area of the dog’s body like paws or belly.
5. Drug Allergy
Dogs, like humans, can occasionally react to pharmaceutical agents, vaccines, or topical meds. While these reactions are relatively rare compared to environmental or dietary allergies, they are still possible reasons for your dog’s discomfort.
Signs: Hives, swelling, intense itching, sometimes systemic signs.
6. Respiratory Allergy (Allergic Bronchitis)
A respiratory allergy is less common in dogs than in cats. However, some dogs may develop allergic respiratory diseases that may co-occur with skin or environmental allergies.
Symptoms: Your dog may have breathing difficulties or be coughing and wheezing.
Signs and Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs
Allergic signs can often overlap with other dermatologic or systemic conditions, so veterinary evaluation is essential.
Here are common signs to look for:
– Chronic itching: persistent scratching, biting, licking especially around the ears, paws, belly, armpits
– Excessive grooming or overlicking
– Hair loss or thinning coat
– Skin redness, hot spots, rashes, scabs, crusting
– Recurring ear infections (often red, smelly ears)
– Facial swelling, hives, localised swelling
– Sneezing, nasal discharge, watery eyes (more common in environmental allergies)
– Gastrointestinal signs: vomiting, diarrhea (more common in food allergies)
– Respiratory signs: coughing, wheezing (rare but possible)
– Lick granulomas or self-trauma lesions: areas of chronic licking that develop thickened skin or sores
💡More severe conditions like parasites, bacterial or fungal infections, endocrine diseases, and others can mimic allergy symptoms so it’s crucial not to self-diagnose.
When to Visit the Vet
Although many types of allergies in dogs can be managed by pet owners under vet guidance, some reactions can be sudden and grave. Anaphylaxis can be a life-threatening reaction to a foreign substance.
Seek veterinary advice if you notice these signs:
– Severe difficulty in breathing and wheezing
– Signs of rapid worsening or collapse
– Severe facial swelling or hives
– Chronic skin lesions and blisters or recurrent infections
– Significant weight loss or gastrointestinal symptoms
Early intervention is critical. Allergies are rarely cured but they can be managed. Prompt veterinary care can greatly improve a dog’s comfort and prevent complications.
7 Vet-Approved Preventative Tips
Prevention and mitigation of allergy symptoms can drastically improve your dog’s quality of life. Although allergies can’t always be avoided, many practices can help reduce flare-ups.
1. Strict Flea & Tick Control
Flea and tick allergies can cause severe dermatitis flares. Tick season in Australia is generally from July to December, when adult ticks are more common. Consult your veterinarian on the recommended tick preventative plan for your pet.
Knose Pet Care Plans (a separate product from Pet Insurance) come with parasite prevention to help pet owners maintain year-round parasite control at home. Your vet can give you the best options for treating all the pets in the household based on their activities and your environment.
2. Maintain a Clean Indoor Environment
Regular cleaning can significantly reduce allergens in the home. Vacuuming frequently, washing your dog’s bedding every week, and dusting furniture, floors, and surfaces all help control buildup.
Adding air purifiers with HEPA filters further improves air quality, while keeping windows closed during high pollen seasons prevents allergens from entering. Using allergen-blocking covers on pillows and mattresses can also make a big difference.
Together, these steps help reduce airborne and dust allergens, creating a healthier environment for you and your dog.
3. Wipe Paws & Rinse After Being Outdoors
After walks or outdoor play, wipe your dog’s paws, belly, and legs with a damp cloth or gentle pet wipe to remove pollen or mold spores clinging to fur. This will also help keep the inside of your home clean from any allergens.
4. Grooming with Vet-Approved Products
When bathing your dog, use products that are specifically made for them. Vets can provide product suggestions and a recommended grooming schedule according to your pet’s breed.
Use gentle, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free shampoos. In between baths, use hypoallergenic wipes to clean off dirt from the skin coat. Overbathing should also be avoided as this can strip natural skin oils.
5. Choose Hypoallergenic Diets
If you suspect food allergy, consult your vet for recommendations on eliminating certain foods. Pet owners often choose hypoallergenic diets or rotate protein sources. Also avoid giving your dogs treats or table scraps to ensure they have nutritional balance.
💡Consider asking your vet for supplements that can support skin health, reduce inflammation, and possibly help with itching in allergic dogs.
6. Limit Environmental Allergen Exposure
During high pollen seasons, monitor the pollen count and limit outdoor time during peak pollen hours. Choose walk times when pollen is lower (early morning or after rain).
If you live in an area with a lot of nature, bring your dog to places with short grass or keep your garden trimmed to lower allergen exposure. Also check for humidity as mold tends to thrive in high humidity.
7. Avoid Irritants or Chemical Exposures
When taking care of your home, make sure to use pet-safe, fragrance-free cleaning products. Harsh chemicals or strong perfumes can exacerbate contact allergies. Take note of the areas that your dog stays in at home and ensure that any chemicals you use to clean them are not harmful.
Make sure to avoid toxic cleaning products during spring cleaning!
Debunking 5 Common Myths About Dog Allergies
Myth 1: Dogs only get allergies as puppies
✅ Truth: Dogs can develop allergies at any age, even to previously tolerated substances.
Myth 2: Grain-free diets cure allergies
✅ Truth: Most common allergens for dogs include both proteins (beef, chicken, dairy) and grains. However, suddenly switching to grain-free diets without vet supervision may not help and could cause nutritional imbalance.
Myth 3: All hypoallergenic dog foods are the same
✅ Truth: Not necessarily. Different brands of hypoallergenic dog foods use varying formulations of proteins. Some may still trigger reactions depending on the dog.
Myth 4: Dogs only have one main allergy
✅ Truth: Not necessarily. Dogs can have multiple concurrent allergies (e.g. food and environmental). Some dogs are more sensitive than others.
Myth 5: Human medications are totally safe for dogs
✅ Truth: Many human medications can be unsafe for dogs. Human formulations are not always the same as medications for pets. Always consult your vet for medical advice.
Veterinary Treatments for Dog Allergies
As much as you try to prevent allergies in dogs at home, the vet always knows best. Here are some common treatments that your vet might recommend:
Diagnostic Testing
– Intradermal Skin Testing: Small amounts of allergens injected under skin to assess reaction.
– Blood Tests: These are sometimes used to determine your dog’s overall condition and screen for any underlying health conditions
– Elimination Diet Trials: Under the vet’s guidance, you isolate food allergens from your dog’s diet to eliminate possible causes.
– Skin scrapings, cytology, cultures: These types of tests are used to rule out infections or parasites.
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What Knose Covers
Treating allergies in dogs requires repeated care, and this is why having good pet insurance can change your dog’s life.
Knose supports pet owners in taking care of eligible treatments for managing their dog’s allergies for eligible conditions. While each insurance policy is different, here are the allergy-related conditions that Knose can help you handle:
– Allergic reactions to insect bites (e.g. spiders, mosquitoes)
– Skin allergies or dermatitis
– Atopic dermatitis from pollen, dust mites, etc.
– Secondary infections (bacterial, fungal) linked to allergy
Knose Pet Insurance doesn’t cover parasite prevention, diets (including prescription foods), or supplements, which is why we have Knose Pet Care Plans (a separate product from Pet Insurance).
Knose Pet Care Plans are designed to complement your policy. This way, pet owners can access holistic pet care and prevention from common health issues, with financial support from us!
Having Knose Pet Insurance can support the recurring costs of allergy diagnostics, medications, and long-term management, while Pet Care Plans help with preventative wellness for parasite protection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Disclaimer
Coverage for illnesses and injuries is subject to your selected plan, Knose Pet Insurance terms and conditions, and only applies where the condition is not a Pre-Existing Symptom or Condition and is outside any applicable Exclusion Periods. See the Product Disclosure Statement for full details.
Post by Knose Pet Insurance in collaboration with Marie Boncan
Marie grew up surrounded by animals, but caring for Kublai, her Yorkie-Maltese mix with a liver shunt, sparked a deeper commitment to pet health. Drawing from her experience caring for a pet with special needs and her strength in academic writing, she creates insightful content that shines a light on key pet care topics for Knose as a freelancer.
