Dog Allergies - Identifying The Cause
There are a variety of conditions that can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including autoimmune. endocrine, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the cause. A veterinarian may be able to diagnose the problem. Alternatively, they may need to refer your dog to a veterinary dermatologist, who is a specialist in treating skin conditions in animals.
If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will usually ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and are the easiest to control. There are many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment. Once flea allergies are ruled out, and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are the next thing to be checked. Food allergies are not related to a season, whereas many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.
Dogs that develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can be a problem at any time. They are high on the list of suspected causes when a dog first gets itchy skin at an age of over 5 years, or less than 6 months. When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means the dog is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as venison, duck, and potatoes.