Dog Allergies
Dogs can be allergic to several things in their environment, such as fleas, food, and pollen. Allergy symptoms can make your pet uncomfortable due to itching, gastrointestinal issues, or other reactions. Summit Dog and Cat Hospital in Summit, NJ, offers dog allergy treatment to reduce your dog’s symptoms from allergens and keep it healthy. We are here to share some common allergies your dog may have and how we can treat them.
Allergy Symptoms in Dogs
Allergies can affect dogs in different ways, depending on the allergen and how their body reacts. Some may cause respiratory symptoms like sneezing or watery eyes, while others can lead to digestive problems such as diarrhea, vomiting, or changes in appetite.
Skin problems are also common and may include itching, redness, irritation, or excessive licking and scratching. Recognizing these symptoms early and consulting your veterinarian can help identify the cause and keep your dog comfortable and healthy.
Insect Allergies
Some dogs develop an allergy to flea bites. The saliva in flea bites can trigger itchiness and other skin problems, resulting in excessive scratching or chewing. Other kinds of bug bites, such as bee stings or mosquito bites, can also trigger an allergic reaction in dogs. However, flea bites are the most common kind of insect allergy in dogs.
Food Allergies
Allergies to wheat, beef, corn, or other ingredients can trigger itchy skin, digestive issues, or other allergy symptoms in dogs. Commercial dog foods often contain ingredients that some dogs may be allergic to, so talk with your veterinarian to determine which food best suits your dog’s specific needs.
Environmental Allergies
Some dogs are allergic to pollen, dust, mold, household cleaners, plants, or other substances in indoor or outdoor environments. These allergies can cause sneezing or other respiratory symptoms, skin problems, hair loss, or ear infections. Your veterinarian near you can tell you ways to limit or eliminate your pet’s exposure to these allergens.
Treatment Options for Dog Allergies
Our animal hospital can help you determine what your dog is allergic to and offer ways to prevent exposure to the allergens. Our veterinarian can perform multiple food trials, use blood work, and do skin testing to determine your dog’s allergens.
Treatment options for dog allergies depend on the allergen affecting your dog. For example, you can use flea shampoo to protect your dog from fleas if it has a flea bite allergy. We may also recommend medications to reduce your dog’s allergy symptoms. Our vet can discuss treatment approaches with you once we know which allergens your dog is dealing with.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before your visit.
What are the common symptoms of dog allergies?
Dog allergies may cause itching, red skin, frequent licking, hair loss, sneezing, ear infections, vomiting, or diarrhea. Symptoms can vary depending on whether the trigger is food, fleas, pollen, dust, mold, or another environmental allergen.
What causes dog skin allergies?
Dog skin allergies can be caused by flea bites, food ingredients, pollen, mold, dust, plants, or household products. The skin allergies of dogs often lead to scratching, chewing, redness, irritation, and recurring skin or ear infections.
How does allergy testing for dogs work?
Dog allergy testing may include a physical examination, medical history review, bloodwork, skin testing, or a controlled food trial. The right allergy test for dogs depends on their symptoms and the type of allergy the veterinarian suspects.
What allergy medicine for dogs may be recommended?
A veterinarian may recommend dog allergy medicine to reduce itching, inflammation, or other uncomfortable symptoms. Treatment depends on the allergen and may also include flea prevention, dietary changes, medicated bathing, or limiting environmental exposure.
How are dog food allergies diagnosed and treated?
Dog food allergies are commonly investigated through a veterinarian supervised food trial. Your dog may need to eat a carefully selected diet for a specific period while other foods and treats are avoided to help identify possible ingredients causing the reaction.
Location & hours
Find us on
Morris Turnpike.
Open now until 6:00 pm
Office hours
Monday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Tuesday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday
8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Saturday
8:00 am – 2:00 pm
Sunday
Closed
16 Morris Tpke, Summit, NJ 07901
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