Nobody likes an itch…especially not 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 dog has allergies?
In this article, we’re going to scratch that itch for you, and help you learn about dog allergies. By the end, you’ll be able to tell if your dog has allergies, the most common allergies for puppies and dogs, learn about puppy allergy medicines, and the best food for dog and puppy allergies.
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How do I know if my dog has allergies – signs of dog allergies?
Puppy allergy symptoms can show up as an overreacting immune response and are often seen in the following ways:
- Itching and scratching
- Weepy or watery eyes
- Sneezing and coughing
- Runny nose
- Gastrointestinal problems – diarrhea 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 allergy symptoms they have.
To be honest, there is some controversy about whether allergy tests are fully trustworthy, and they do draw some criticism… However, your veterinarian is the best person to advise you on what to do if your dog displays allergic symptoms.
Is your dog 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’ll have the answers you’re looking for.
Symptoms of Common Puppy & Dog Allergies
Allergens can be found both in your house and outside. These can include pollen, food, dust, and much more.
Here are some common allergies we see in dogs:
Food allergies
Typically, an ingredient in your dog’s food such as beef, chicken, soy or wheat may cause allergic symptoms or a reaction.
Common signs that your dog might be allergic to a certain food or ingredient can be gastrointestinal issues, vomiting or diarrhea, and skin problems. Very often, skin issues affect their ears, or cause itching, scratching, or dandruff.
Environmental allergies
These include pollen, grass, dust, and mold; 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 dogs with these allergies. They will sneeze, and have a runny nose, watery eyes, or itchy ears. More like bye-fever – ugh.
Contact allergies
Chemicals that your dog 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 deodorizer and air fresheners. Let’s be honest, air fresheners never work anyway.
If your dog is itching and scratching a lot, and you’ve changed your detergent, 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 Treatment & Medicine for Your Puppy
If you suspect your dog has an allergy, 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 dog’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 dog 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 dog hasn’t eaten before, to test it out.
By selecting 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 a common allergens 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 flavor 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 dogs have food allergies?
Yes, both puppies and dogs 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, however, over time they mature and can become less sensitive to different foods as the gut gets used to it.
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 in pinpointing what the allergen might be, so we definitely recommend trying this!
Download the Zigzag puppy training app to get your paws on a full puppy training program, and information on diet and health. You’ll also be able to talk to our team of professional dog trainers about your dog – 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!
