If you’ve noticed that your beloved dog seems to be sneezing and scratching a lot lately, it’s not just in your head — dogs can get allergies just like humans can. These allergies may be seasonal and caused by pollen or other environmental factors, but they can also occur year-round in response to other factors like fleas, diet, and more.
In this ultimate guide, we’ll delve into the types of allergies that dogs can have, explain the signs of allergies to look for, discuss how vets will diagnose allergies in your dog, and finally cover dog allergy solutions for managing their symptoms.
Types of Allergies in Dogs
There are several different kinds of allergies that dogs can have. Allergies typically don’t develop in dogs until they are at least six months of age, with most dogs showing their first signs of allergies between one and two years of age.
By far, the most common type is a contact allergy (sometimes called a skin allergy), which occurs when their skin or coat comes in contact with the allergen. There can be many different triggers for contact allergies, including seasonal causes like pollen and environmental causes like dust and mold.
Many dogs also experience flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), in which they experience severe topical reactions to even a single flea bite, especially around the base of their tail. Because the dogs scratch them so hard, these bites often become inflamed and scabbed.
Other dogs may experience respiratory symptoms, especially in response to seasonal or environmental triggers that can be inhaled, like dust or pollen. Their symptoms may be similar to that of humans with seasonal allergies, such as sneezing and having itchy, watery eyes. They may also develop eye boogers or nasal discharge. These are often accompanied by topical symptoms such as itchy skin, especially if they came in physical contact with the allergen.
Finally, some dogs do have genuine food allergies to certain types of kibble or treats for dogs, but this can be difficult to diagnose formally. Most dogs have food sensitivities, rather than outright food allergies. Food sensitivities and allergies can cause a variety of symptoms. Your dog may exhibit gastrointestinal issues like vomiting and diarrhea, but they may also have topical symptoms such as itchiness or other signs like chronic ear or foot infections.
