There are many conditions that can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including endocrine, autoimmune, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the right cause.
If allergies are thought to be the cause, the first thing a veterinarian will usually ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and the easiest to control. Dog owners have many options available from high-street and online pet stores.
To check a dog for atopic allergies, veterinarians use an intradermal allergy test, or skin reaction test. The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin. Should the dog be allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become inflamed at the area of the injection.
Dogs that develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms when they are 5 years of age, but food allergies can be a problem at any time. They are high up on the list of suspected causes when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months, or over 5 years.
When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on what is referred to as an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means the dog is fed food, which is high in protein and carbohydrate. which it has not eaten before, such as venison, duck, and potatoes.
Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in retail stores. Another option is to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods based on recommendations from the veterinarian.
Should the dog’s itching subside, the allergen is clearly being caused by one of the foods that make up its regular diet. For confirmation, the owner can reintroduce the old diet to see if the symptoms return.
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