Symptoms of allergic dermatitis in dogs

The main symptoms of allergic dermatitis in dogs and cats are red rash and itching. Drug allergies often occur clinically. For example, subcutaneous injection of vidinine calcium, vitamin K1, K3, intravenous injection of Houttuynia cordata and other drugs will cause animals to develop skin rash, salivation, eye, lip or abdominal swelling and itching. and symptoms such as scratching by animals.

Food allergy is relatively common in dogs. Food allergy is also an allergic reaction. It is necessary to change the food ingredients to overcome the symptoms of skin hair loss and itching.

Bacterial allergies can only be diagnosed through laboratory diagnosis. Due to itching, animals scratch their skin, causing secondary bacterial dermatoses. The diagnosis of allergic dermatoses requires immunodiagnosis of allergens.

DogsThe causes of allergic dermatitis in dogs

1. Endogenous include hereditary, hormonal abnormalities and allergic predispositions.

2. Exogenous factors include seasonal and non-seasonal environmental factors. Inhalation of pollen, dust, wool, etc., and ingestion of horse meat, ham, milk and other foods. In addition, injection drugs, mosquito bites, internal and external parasites and pathogen infections, as well as physical and chemical factors, etc.

Endogenous factors usually refer to genetics, hormonal abnormalities and allergies. External factors are widespread, and some of them are significantly seasonal. Such as inhaling pollen, dust, mites, dander, eating spoiled meat, milk, injected drugs, serum, mosquito bites, exposure to chemicals, excessive sunlight, etc.

It is more common in dogs aged 1-3 years. The initial sites are around the eyes, between toes, armpits, groin, perineum and lower back. The main symptoms of sick dogs are severe itching, erythema and swelling, and some have papules, scales and hair loss. In the long course of the disease, pigmentation, skin thickening, lichen formation, and wrinkles may occur. Chronic itching is milder or disappears, but some cases last for more than a year.

Treatment of allergic dermatitis in dogs

1. Allergic dermatitis caused by food

Dogs are omnivores, but many parents dote on their dogs too much, always feeding them various canned foods, snacks, or human delicacies. This may appear to be about loving dogs, but in fact it can cause various problems in dogs, such as obesity, dry hair, excessive dandruff, allergic dermatitis, etc. But the good news is that no matter what season it is, food allergies are relatively easy to control. If you suspect that your dog has food-induced dermatitis, it is recommended that you ask your dog to eat hypoallergenic food/control allergy food from the prescription dog food on the market for about a month, and it will usually be basically improved.

2. Allergic dermatitis caused by sun exposure

Because dog skin is thinner than human skin, allergic dermatitis is more likely to be caused by sun exposure. In general, dog hair helps dogs protect themselves from the sun. But some parents are afraid of dog fever and shave their dogs in summer. This is very harmful to dogs. Due to the strong sunlight and strong ultraviolet radiation in summer, dog hair helps absorb, reflect and resist ultraviolet radiation. But if you shave your dog's hair, even if it is only exposed to the sun for 20 minutes, the dog will still be damaged by the sun very early, and in severe cases, it will cause skin redness and itching. When dogs feel uncomfortable, they will grab these areas with their paws or lick them with their tongues, causing more serious physical damage and bacterial infections. So remember, don’t shave your dog completely during the summer.

3. Allergic dermatitis caused by superficial parasites

Parasites can easily cause allergic dermatitis in dogs. Common parasites include: lice, dog ticks, fleas, mites, etc. Ticks can easily cause unbearable itching in dogs, and can also cause hair loss, eczema, blisters, pustules, etc. Dog ticks have strong blood-sucking abilities and usually stick to the dog's head, ears, and toes. After sucking blood, the dog tick will become sick. It can expand dozens of times and easily cause inflammation of the dog's skin; fleas often live on the waist, abdomen and inside of the limbs of dogs, survive by sucking the dog's blood, and secrete toxins at the same time, which can easily cause itching, hair loss and diseases of the dog's skin. Atopic dermatitis. The treatment method is to first remove the parasites from the dog, and then use antihistamines to relieve itching, steroids to suppress inflammation, drugs to suppress allergies, or anti-itching and anti-inflammatory drugs. The most important way to deal with parasites is to improve dog hygiene, deworm dogs regularly, and avoid letting dogs go to places with dense plants.

4. Allergic dermatitis caused by improper body surface contact

Compared with other allergies, allergic dermatitis caused by improper contact is more specific. For example, some dogs are allergic to perfume, some dogs are allergic to the fabrics of some pet clothes, some dogs are allergic to topical drugs, etc. . Symptoms of these allergies usually appear within 2 hours of contact with the object. The dog will scratch these areas, and some dogs will have red and swollen eye circles. Normally, as long as you stay away from the contact object, these allergic symptoms will disappear on their own after a while. However, if the dog is still like this after 3 hours, or it becomes more serious, it is recommended that you take your dog to the hospital immediately and let the doctor help him recover as soon as possible.