Contact Allergies in Dogs
This is the least common of all allergies in dogs. Dog skin allergies are when a dog develops sensitivity or irritations caused by objects that his skin comes in contact with.
In many cases, a dog’s skin allergy arises suddenly and the symptoms are noticeable within 24-48 hours of contact. Sometimes it is easy to determine what is causing a reaction on your dog’s skin. For example, If you recently purchased a new dog bed and he begins itching the same week, it may be a simple removal of his bed to prevent a reaction. However, some irritants are developed in common materials that your dog had no previous reaction to. Dog skin allergies are as rare as 1 in a million, but are still important to detect and treat immediately.
Causes of Skin Allergies
There are a few different causes of contact allergies. Some irritants may include:
- Types of bedding such as rubber or wool
- Certain types of metal in a dog leash or collar, like chrome and nickel.
- Different types of shampoos or lotions used.
- Chemicals like fragrances or fabric deodorant.
Irritation Indicators
The most common side effects of dog skin allergies are skin irritations such as redness, sores, bumps in the skin and commonly affect areas which are sparsely haired and directly exposed to the irritant. Areas commonly affected include near the lips, muzzle or abdomen, and back of the paws. Dogs will scratch at this area and it may cause hair loss and become red and inflamed. For more information on symptoms of dog skin allergies, please visit our symptoms page
Treatment
A dog skin allergy is the easiest allergy to cure as it involves localization of a skin’s reaction to the allergen. Dogs with contact allergies should be restricted from areas treated with bleach or floor cleaning products, carpet detergents or hard wood floor waxes. For more information on treating dog skin allergies, please visit our treatment page.
Did You Know?
Dog food allergies account for about 10% of all allergies found in dogs. It is the third most common allergy, after flea allergies and inhalant allergies.
