Nobody likes an itch…not even puppies. But the fact is, puppies can and do get allergies, or become allergic to certain things. These allergies can range from mild irritations to serious reactions and health problems. Environmental, or food-related allergies can be quite common, but how do you know if your puppy has allergies?
In this article, we’re going to scratch that itch for you, and give you the lowdown on puppy allergies. By the end, you’ll know how to tell if your puppy has allergies, the most common allergies for puppies and dogs, allergy treatments available for puppies, and the best food for puppy allergies.
Download the Zigzag puppy training app today, and you’ll get access to the best training programme for puppies. You’ll also be able to talk to our team of professional dog trainers 24/7, and ask for as much advice for any puppy troubles you might be facing.
How do I know if my puppy has allergies – key signs?
Puppy allergies show up as an overreacting immune response and can be seen in the following ways:
- Itching and scratching
- Weepy or watery eyes
- Sneezing and coughing
- Runny nose
- Gastrointestinal problems – diarrhoea or vomiting
- Hives or welts on the body
- Ear infections, or build up of wax in the ears
If you notice these signs in your puppy, book an appointment with your Vet. They’ll be able to do all the hard work of testing, diagnosing and treating whatever nasty allergies that are going on there.
Now. We’ll be honest and say that there is debate on whether allergy tests are not completely reliable, and they do attract some criticism…but your Vet will be best placed to give you proper advice on what to do for your dog.
Is your puppy sneezing more than usual? Aw, bless you for being so concerned. You may want to read our article on “why is my puppy sneezing” – it might have the answers you’re looking for.
Common allergies for your puppy & dogs
Allergens can be found both in your house and outside. These can include pollen, food, dust and much more.
Here’s some common allergies we see in puppies:
Food allergies
Typically, an ingredient in your dog’s food such as beef, chicken, soy or wheat may cause an allergic reaction.
Common signs that your dog might be allergic to a certain food or ingredients can be gastrointestinal issues, with vomiting or diarrhoea, and skin problems. Very often, skin problems affect their ears, or cause itching, scratching or dandruff.
Environmental allergies
These include pollen, grass, dust, and mould; which can be found inside your home as well as outside. Maybe this is your chance to give your home a deep clean, hey?
You’ll frequently see hay fever-like symptoms in puppies with these allergies. They will sneeze,have a runny nose, watery eyes, or itchy ears. More like bye-fever – ugh.
Contact allergies
Chemicals that your puppy comes into contact with can also cause allergic reactions. These can be caused by the detergent you wash their puppy’s blankets or bedding with, or other cleaning products like carpet deodoriser and air fresheners. Let’s be honest, air fresheners never work anyway.
If your puppy is itching and scratching a lot, and you’ve changed your washing powder, then chances are it could be the culprit!
Flea allergies
Urgh yes, while fleas are no good for any dog really. Some puppies are highly allergic to flea saliva and bites, and will itch and scratch themselves until they are sore. How annoying are they…small but feisty little things.
If your puppy is allergic to fleas, you’ll need to get a proper flea treatment, and treat all other pets in the house!
Allergy Relief & Treatment for Your Puppy
If your puppy has allergies, then the first thing to do is identify the allergen itself. You can do this by keeping a diary of your dog’s day-to-day routines, things they come into contact with, and what their general response is.
The first person to talk to about your dog’s allergies will be your Vet. They have all the tools to help with testing, treatment and prescribing anti-allergy medication.
What you want to do, ultimately, is to get to the root cause and remove whatever allergy culprit from your puppy’s day-to-day life. Prevention is always the best approach as you want to avoid entering the stage of actually having to treat it.
Common seasonal allergies like hay fever, or insect bites can often be treated with over the counter medication like Benadryl. However, longer term or more acute allergies can be treated with drugs like Apoquel.
Some puppies respond well to topical treatments. They might even enjoy taking baths in products like Melaseb which can help to ease skin sores and soothe allergic reactions.
Best puppy food for allergies
If you think your puppy has a food allergy, the first thing to do is to keep a food diary. You’ll want to keep track of your dog’s reactions to try to pin down what the allergy might be. After that, choose a puppy food with a single ingredient protein source, and preferably one your puppy hasn’t had before to test it out.
By choosing a novel protein source, we can do an elimination diet and find out what proteins or ingredients your puppy might be allergic to. This is where your food journal will really come in handy!
Bet you didn’t know that chicken and poultry is a common allergen in food for dogs. It makes sense you didn’t know that – weirdly enough, poultry (chicken fat) is often used in a lot of foods as a flavour enhancer. Therefore, we recommend checking the ingredients of your puppy’s food bag and be on the lookout for anything poultry.
It’s also worth checking the labels of foods that say things like ‘with beef’ as they can be misleading about what the major protein source might be. Sure, they may have a proportion of beef in there, but regularly also contain other protein sources, which might be an allergen for your puppy. Copywriters and marketers can just have a way with words, don’t they?
Sometimes the easiest way is to cook your puppy’s food, but you need to make sure of a couple of things. It’s important to make sure it’s balanced, that it has the right quantities of vitamins and minerals, and that it maintains the correct ratio of proteins and fats. That way, your puppy will get the balanced diet they need and deserve. And you’ll get all the credits for being the best dog food chef.
For more information, read up on our articles about puppy nutrition, home cooking for your dog, and raw feeding for puppies.
FAQs
Can puppies have food allergies?
Yes, puppies can have food allergies. Commonly it is a protein source they are allergic to, but some puppies may have a soy, wheat or maize allergy.
Do puppies grow out of allergies?
Allergies are not something puppies grow out of, but hardening of the gut and being less sensitive to different foods does happen over time as puppies mature, and get exposed to different things..
Can vets check for allergies?
Allergy testing can be done by your Vet, but it does attract some criticism. Often, an allergy diary can be far more successful to discover what the allergen might be, so we definitely recommend this!
Download the Zigzag puppy training app to get your paws on a full puppy training programme, and information on diet and health. You’ll also be able to talk to our team of professional dog trainers about your puppy – they’re online for you 24/7 via our in-app chat, so you needn’t be alone with your puppy struggles. You can share your troubles with them!
