Five common causes of dog itch
• Fleas and flea allergy.
• Bacterial and fungal skin infections.
• Mites, which cause mange and scabies
• Irritants or environmental factors that irritate a dog’s skin on contact.
• Allergies
My neighbour’s eight month old Labrador Retriever puppy could not stop scratching. He developed lots of “hot spots.” His hair fell out, first a little, then a lot. And he didn’t seem to feel well. His owners took him to the vet to be evaluated and treated for his itching. They didn’t know anything about food allergies. What they learned, surprised them.
Dog food allergy?
It might surprise some dog owners to learn that many dogs are plagued by a range of allergies. Even more surprising, about 30% of allergic dogs are allergic to food. Their dog food allergy causes them to itch, scratch, lick and bite their skin. But dogs itch and scratch, right? Any dog owner knows that. In fact, many veterinarians say that the majority of their calls and visits are about dogs with dry or itchy skin. Dogs get pests like fleas, mites and ticks. But pests and parasites are not necessarily what’s causing your dog to itch. In some cases the itching and scratching is caused by allergies.
What is allergy, really?
An allergy occurs when a dog’s immune system mistakes something normal for a dangerous substance. These normally safe substances are called allergens. They trigger an abnormal immunologic reaction, which causes release of many chemicals that cause itching. An allergic reaction then occurs.
The most common form of dog allergy is called inhalant allergy, or atopy. It occurs when a dog reacts to things in the environment, like pollen, dust mites, mold, and grass. A human with this type of allergy starts to sneeze and sniffle, and the allergy is called hay fever. But while there might be the occasional sneeze or runny eye, for the most part, a dog starts to itch. He has inhalant allergy.
When a dog eats, the protein in his food is digested, and substances called glycoproteins pass into his bloodstream. In some dogs, the glycoprotein is recognized as a foreign substance, and the chemicals that cause itching are released. With dogs, the reaction shows up in the skin, with severe itching, usually all over the body. The dog has a dog food allergy. The reaction only occurs to proteins the dog has already been eating. His body becomes “sensitized” to certain glycoproteins over time. Once started, the reactions will occur whenever he eats food with the offending protein source.
Not surprisingly, the foods most commonly involved in dog food allergies are the foods that, over the years, have been used the most in dog food.
8 common allergens in dog food
• Beef
• Chicken
• Wheat
• Corn
• Soybeans
• Pork
• Eggs
• Dairy products
Many veterinarians believe that more and more dogs are developing dog food allergies. At this time no one knows the reason. 5 to 10% of skin disorders in dogs are caused by food allergy. Some veterinarians believe that as many as 80% of dogs with inhalant allergy also have dog food allergy.
Dog breeds with higher risk of dog food allergy
• Retrievers
• Dachshunds
• Soft-Coated Wheaton Terriers
• West-Highland White Terriers
• Collies
• Shar Pei
• Springer Spaniels and Cocker Spaniels
• Dalmatians
• Boxers
• Lhasa Apsos
• Miniature Schnauzers
• German Shepherds
Any very itchy dog has at least a 5% chance of having a dog food allergy. If the dog has been evaluated and treated for the other common causes of itching, food allergy must be considered.