| Many pet parents are not even aware that their dog | | | | signs of trouble. |
| could be suffering from allergies. In fact, it can be | | | | According to Carol S. Foil, a board-certified veterinary |
| hard to convince some people that dog allergies even | | | | dermatologist: "Atopic animals will usually rub, lick, |
| exist. The main reason is that when dogs are | | | | chew, bite or scratch at their feet, muzzle, ears, |
| affected with allergies they don't sneeze and sniffle | | | | armpits or groin, causing hair loss, and reddening and |
| like people do. Instead, they tend to suffer from | | | | thickening of the skin." In fact, sometimes the dog's |
| intense itchiness and skin irritation. | | | | intense reaction to the allergy itself causes additional |
| A common term used in veterinary literature to | | | | problems such as secondary bacterial infections. |
| describe the itchiness and irritation associated with | | | | Therefore it's very important to determine the cause |
| allergies in pets is atopic dermatitis. The condition is | | | | of the problem rather than continually try to treat |
| hereditary and passed from affected parents to | | | | the symptoms. |
| offspring. Common sense dictates that dogs affected | | | | Avoidance of the offending allergen is the most |
| with atopic dermatitis should not be used for | | | | desirable treatment option. However, many dogs that |
| breeding purposes. It's estimated that currently up to | | | | suffer from atopic dermatitis react to many different |
| 15% of dogs are affected with some form of the | | | | types of allergens which can make treatment difficult |
| condition. | | | | for owners. There are diagnostic tests available to |
| While any dog and even mixed breeds can be | | | | detect specific allergens for dogs but these tests are |
| affected, several breeds are more commonly | | | | often expensive and require a trip to a veterinary |
| associated with the condition. These include | | | | specialist. However, in the long run this is probably the |
| retrievers, terriers, bulldogs, Irish Setters, Dalmatians, | | | | least costly option for dog parents that are |
| Lhasa Apsos, and sheepdogs. Dogs typically begin to | | | | constantly picking up medications and taking their dog |
| show signs between 1 and 3 years of age, although | | | | to the veterinarian in a constant battle to treat their |
| there are always the early and late bloomers. | | | | dog's symptoms. |
| Especially in the case of food allergies, it can take | | | | Many dog owners often complain about the high cost |
| many years for the allergy to develop. Many dog | | | | of hypoallergenic dog food, but if the diet helps keep |
| parents falsely rule out the possibly of a food allergy | | | | their dog out of the veterinary office the price is |
| for the cause of their pet's problems because "he's | | | | more than worth it. The reason why the dog food is |
| been eating the same food for years." In fact, many | | | | more expensive is because the main ingredients are |
| dogs with food allergies have been eating the same | | | | not typically found in pet foods and is more costly |
| problematic food for many years with no previous | | | | for the manufacturer to produce. |