Allergic Dermatitis In Dogs

Like human beings, skin disease causes a lot of trouble in animals as well. Animals may not speak and may not express how they are feeling. You have to note the behavior, symptoms and the change in their activities in order for their healthy life. Most of the people love to keep pets in their homes.
People who love pets treat them like their children. In the United States, almost every 3rd person has dogs in the home and you may not bear to lose them. Dermatitis also affects dogs and poses a great threat to them. Dermatitis is defined as the tendency to develop IgE antibodies which results in reactions to various allergens. These allergens diffuse into the skin or get into the dog via inhalation.

Allergic dermatitis in dogs

Allergic dermatitis has affected almost every type of dog. The following are the major dog's types commonly affected by Dermatitis:

1. Labrador Retrievers – the gun dog is beautiful athletes and found in black, yellow pale cream and chocolate colors and around 27 - 40 kg in weight. They are trained to help out blind people,
2. Wire Fox Terriers
3. Golden Retrievers,
4. Dalmatians
5. Lhasa Apsos,
6. Bulldogs – commonly called English Bulldogs and have a wrinkled face. But there are other breeds like French bulldogs, American Bulldogs, and Olde English Bulldogs.
7. West Highland White Terriers,
8. Poodles,
9. Irish Setters,
10. Boxers,
11. English Setters

Symptoms 

Allergic Dermatitis causes so much trouble for the dogs. Common symptoms are:

1. Dogs continuously scratch ears and other parts of the body,
2. Allergic rhinitis – this is the state in which too much fluid comes out the nose again and again. It is also called runny nose,
3. Water is flowing too much from eyes – it is called watery eyes,
4. Face rubbing
5. Sneezing
6. Darkened skin
7. Hair loss
8. Bumps like acne on the skin

How to diagnose 

Dogs can react to various seasons, pollens and to substances; in order to identify these causes of allergies, you need to consult a veterinarian. He or she will guide you properly. Usually, a dog is diagnosed like this:
1. Physical examination of the dog,
2. Parasite examination,
3. Bacterial, yeast and fungal tests
4. Urine tests
5. Blood tests

Treat Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs

The best strategy to counter allergic dermatitis in dogs is to increase dog’s exposure to the allergens so that dogs could be made accustomed to these things and become addictive to them. This process is called Immunotherapy and is best suited for the long term health of your pet. This is the only right solution if you may not change the climate and environment for the pet.

Cyclosporine and steroids are also very effective in treating dermatitis but both of these put a negative side effect on the health of your dogs, that is why most veterinarian avoids to give them. Dogs can be given injections for a period of 9 months to 12 months in curing this disease.

Your pet health is a precious thing that you may not ignore. Put every effort to get rid of allergic dermatitis in dogs.