Dog Skin Allergies

Dog skin allergies are among the number one problem of pet owners today. As much as you would love to keep their coat shiny and flaunt it, you would never be able to do so unless dog skin allergies  are treated. This is why it is extremely important to know which types of dog skin allergies can actually affect the skin of your dog. Knowing about them can also become your means of prevention.

There are actually four different types of dog skin allergies which can affect the otherwise healthy skin of your dog.

Dog skin allergies fall into four main categories.

Dog Skin Allergies — Four Main Types

The first of the dog skin allergies is known as “Nutritional Dermatitis”. This particular type of dog skin allergy happens on dogs which exhibit a negative or adverse reaction towards certain foods. These dogs will react to foods just as humans would typically react to food related allergies or sensitivities producing red rashes combined with severe itching.

Another one of the dog skin allergies is Atopic Dermatitis. Most veterinarians deem this to be the most commonly occurring of the different types of dog skin allergies. The onset of these dog skin allergies can occur while the dog is still a puppy and the condition can gradually progress from well into adult years. This kind of allergy, like some other dog skin allergies, is typically triggered by certain allergens.

Parasitic Dermatitis is well known, and is some what common in it’s occurrence among the list of dog skin allergies. This particular dog skin allergy is caused by a parasite residing right in the coat of your dog, and the most common source is fleas.

Aside from fleas, ticks, gnats and deer flies are also considered to be triggers of parasitic dermatitis. These parasites irritate the skin of the dog as they attempt to turn the dog into a host animal, and in the case of fleas it’s usually their saliva which commonly causes the allergic reaction. When these type of dog skin allergies manifest themselves, the skin of the dog appears to be severely inflamed and very itchy.

Once all these particular types of dog skin allergies have been ruled out by a veterinarian and yet a diagnosis still can’t be established, the veterinarian may opt to classify your dog skin allergies under the “Neurogenic Dermatitis” category. In this scenario, the dog may have developed, or be showing signs of excessive chewing or licking.

When dogs exhibit behaviors of excessive licking and chewing, the behavior is classified as Lick Granuloma or Acral Lick Dermatitis, and the obsessive behavior ends up causing an infection or irritation on the dog’s skin. There are medical opinions which seem to indicate that cases such as separation anxiety, confinement, and frustration can trigger this on your pet dog.

Dog Skin Allergies — Become Better Acquainted With Them

Dog skin allergies are not necessarily thought of by every pet owner.  It’s very important for pet owners to get acquainted with the different types of dog skin allergies so as pet owners,  you can prevent these challenges from happening to your dog. Also, should you identify any of the known symptoms occurring in your pet, then you will be better equipped to immediately identify the problem, enabling you to take your dog to the veterinarian so necessary tests can be performed.  When it comes to dog skin allergies, make sure that you never give medications to your dog without proper medical confirmation and receiving the actual prescription from a veterinarian.