Dog Allergy Symptoms
Dog allergy symptoms will vary from one dog to the next depending on the allergen or allergens present and the dog’s genetic makeup. The most common dog allergy symptoms include itchiness and irritated skin. Many dogs also develop ear, eye, and skin infections. Swelling of the face and respiratory distress can also be a sign of an acute allergic reaction and requires immediate medical attention by a qualified veterinarian.
Other dog allergy symptoms not related to the skin include gastrointestinal diseases such as diarrhea and vomiting. Females that are not spayed can also experience irregular heat cycles in response to dog allergies. Licking and excessive grooming of the paws and legs are also common signs. As a result the dog’s fur may turn a dark shade of red or brown in response to pigments from the dog’s saliva.
Dogs may also rub their face and belly on the carpet. All these behaviors cause major skin inflammation as well as lesions, hair loss and dry, flaky skin. Some symptoms often become so severe that the dog develops a skin infection secondary to the original offending substance. Many dogs also suffer from more than one type of allergen causing a variety of dog allergy symptoms. These can be difficult to diagnose and manage without much dedication and patience by both the owner and attending veterinarian.
We have a Shih Tzu (4 years old in Nov.) who is suffering with skin allergies - he also has renal disease. We have him on a home made diet prescribed by a Veternary Clinic …first tried chicken and rice…he has had very soft stools…we change to lamb and rice….no change in stools. He had allergies last summer also…so I don’t believe the allergies pertain to the food…we are giving him 1 benadryl per day….but his skin is still itchy and red….we hesitate to give him any steriod shots or other medications because of his kidney issues….do you have any suggestions on a shampoo or body soak or any thing else that would be helpful for him?
Comment by Jean Slack — August 21, 2009 @ 12:31 pm
Hi Jean,
You might want to try looking for Histacalm shampoo:
http://www.amazon.com/Histacalm-Shampoo-16oz/dp/B00076HWEE
You should be able to purchase it from most veterinary offices without a prescription or you might be able to find it online. If you order online I would call and make sure the product is not expired–if they can’t give you an definitive answer I would purchase from a vet.
This product contains oatmeal as well as diphenhydramine (Benedryl). You will need to let it soak for a few minutes. It might help to control some of the symptoms your boy is having so you both can make it through the rest of summer. Let us know how it works!
Thanks for visiting
Amanda
Comment by Amanda, LVT — August 22, 2009 @ 6:40 am