Understanding Your Dog's Allergies and The Underlying Issues
Can dogs have allergies like humans do?
Sure. Pets can get allergies just like humans do. In fact, how they get them, why they get them, and the problems that lead to allergies in the body are all going to be very similar between the species.
What kinds of allergies can dogs suffer from?
Yes, dogs and cats can both suffer from allergies that involve food allergies, environmental exposure, flea and tick allergies, contact with chemicals, and so on—all the major things that we think of.
What are the differences between environmental, food, and flea allergies in dogs?
The big differences between the different types of allergies are basically the antigen or allergen that the body is responding to. If it's a food-borne allergy, then it's more than likely something they're ingesting that they're reacting to. Although that can be environmental toxins as well because there are plenty of pollens that get into food sources that our bodies are exposed to through an inflamed gut, and the immune system will react to that.
Environmental allergies involve skin exposure, respiratory exposure, and walking in the yard and getting exposed to chemicals. There is a chemical-type exposure when it comes to fleas and ticks. It's going to be the bite of that insect that causes the allergy. Particularly with fleas, the saliva of the flea causes a very significant response in patients who are allergic to that saliva. The immune system, in general, is responding to whole proteins that it reacts to. Those whole proteins can come through environmental exposure, skin, respiratory, food-borne, or ingestion-type response through the GI tract, or it could be from an injection of something like saliva from an insect into the skin that the immune system is going to react to.
How do I know if my dog has allergies?
Typical symptoms can vary, but oftentimes in dogs, we'll see the ears and the anal glands start with the first sign. Itchy ears and anal glands, where they may be scooting on their butt a little bit, would show some itchiness and inflammation in that gland. It may proceed right to, or even start with, generalized skin allergies where they're licking and chewing on their feet, maybe scratching their body. They might have red areas or darker pink areas of skin that are inflamed and itchy for the patient. Itchiness and scratching are all signs of skin or generalized allergies of the skin.
In the case of food-borne or a GI-type allergy, where there's inflammation in the gut, they could be vomiting, have diarrhea, or have severe enough inflammation in that gut where they just don't want to eat. They may have ulceration in the GI tract that causes them pain and discomfort. Signs are varied, but in the case of flea and tick allergies, if they have a flea bite allergy, it's going to be horrendous itchiness, and they will be mutilating their skin and scratching to relieve that itch.
What steps will a veterinarian take to diagnose a dog with allergies?
Diagnosis can take a few different forms. On the conventional side, it often involves allergy testing where, just like in humans, there are injections of allergens done in the skin, and they will look at the reaction to those allergens. There are also some other tests where blood samples can be sent in.
Personally, I don't use allergy testing at all. It doesn't really serve a purpose in what I try to do for the patient. It is very much a conventional approach where you find out what they're allergic to and try to avoid that in their life to reduce their symptoms.
Unfortunately, avoidance is not dealing with the underlying reason they have the allergies in the first place. For me, that doesn't really fit the approach I use because I am trying to fix the underlying reason that the immune system is not responding appropriately to these allergens that the pet gets exposed to.
Allergy testing doesn't get used in my practice. I don't consider it to be of economic value for the client and not of therapeutic value for me with any kind of useful diagnostic information. I really don't care what they're allergic to. I care about the underlying reason that their immune system isn't responding or working correctly. Those allergens that they're allergic to today, if you have a dysfunctional immune system, may be different or added to later on. You test them now versus a year from now, and they're probably going to react to more things because their immune system hasn't been corrected yet.
What aspects of my dog's health can be affected by allergies?
What do allergies affect in your dog's life, or what other aspects of health might be affected? You have to look at the underlying reason that they have allergies in the first place, and that's because the immune system isn't working right. Anything that relies on a properly functioning immune system could be at risk of having symptoms or clinical signs. If a dysfunctional immune system progresses and gets more injury through over-vaccination or things like that, you could end up with an autoimmune disease or even cancer down the road.
I really try to focus on the underlying reason that the allergy exists in the first place, which is a dysfunctional immune system, and try to get that corrected in the body so that the body responds more appropriately to the allergens they encounter. Things that you might see could certainly be loss of rest, stress on the body due to itchiness, and not getting good rest. The gut is generally inflamed when the immune system isn't working right, the gut isn't working right, the liver isn't working right, and we generally have some low vitamin D and magnesium levels.
There's a lot at play here, but overall, there is dysfunction in the immune system and many potential pathways in the body that support immune system function that are also dysfunctional and need to be corrected. Those pathways are as varied as fingerprints on a human compared to another individual in the pet population.
We need to try to identify that as best we can and give appropriate inputs to correct that, and any of those dysfunctions can lead to its own clinical signs. Signs could be wide and varied, but certainly the itchiness, loss of rest, and stress on the body, which becomes a vicious cycle with detracting from immune system function. Again, things with GI tract inflammation, diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, and so on. In the case of respiratory allergies, you can see coughing, sneezing, and runny eyes, and it'll have a seasonal influence. Spring and fall are really bad for environmental allergens, and you can see a lot of respiratory signs in those pets affected in those seasons.
Can allergies in dogs lead to other health complications?
Yes. If your dog has allergies, it indicates an underlying dysfunction in the immune system. When the immune system isn't functioning correctly, other problems can develop, such as autoimmune diseases where the immune system attacks the body's own cells, or cancer where the immune system fails to recognize abnormal, cancerous cells, allowing them to grow into masses.
These conditions can be very severe and life-threatening, often seen as progressions from allergies. I always say, if you want to see something like cancer or autoimmune disease develop, overvaccinate a severe allergy patient and wait six months to a year; you may see further developments in the immune system. These major consequences are progressions of the dysfunction already present. Every time we injure the immune system, it becomes more dysfunctional.
Do I need to see a veterinarian if my dog has allergies?
Yes. If you suspect your dog has allergies, seek a veterinarian's care. At the very least, conventional methods can include allergy testing to determine allergens and conducting avoidance trials with food or environmental factors. Conventional medicines can suppress clinical symptoms, although they don't address the underlying reasons for allergies.
In my practice, I aim to correct the immune system dysfunction causing the allergies. By improving immune function, we hope to prevent more severe consequences like autoimmune disease or cancer, which can result from a progressing dysfunctional immune system.
What treatment options are there for dog allergy relief?
On the conventional side, there are several treatment options, including medications and immunotherapeutics, to suppress clinical symptoms. Unfortunately, none of these address the root cause of immune system dysfunction.
From a natural perspective, I aim to identify and correct dysfunctions that impair the immune system, such as an incorrect microbiome, inappropriate vitamin D and magnesium levels, or gut inflammation. Detoxifying the liver may also be necessary. These are starting points for addressing immune system issues. Improved nutrition, often involving a species-appropriate diet, is crucial for a well-functioning immune system. While conventional treatments can suppress severe symptoms like itchiness or skin damage, I don't rely on them in my integrative veterinary practice.
Are there any home remedies for dog allergies that are safe to use?
Generally, I don't recommend home remedies as they can waste time and money without properly addressing the issue. Suppression is best achieved through conventional treatments. We need diagnostics to identify the underlying cause of immune dysfunction rather than using unverified remedies. I prefer a targeted approach, addressing what the pet's body needs to improve overall immune function.
Are seasonal allergies in dogs common?
Yes, seasonal allergies are very common in dogs, typically occurring in spring and fall. Some individuals experience flare-ups during these times, while others have year-round allergies, reacting to various exposures. Fall allergies usually begin around August as pollen levels change, subsiding after several hard freezes. These are the two major allergy seasons, similar to humans.
How frequently do I need to do a dog allergy treatment for my pet?
The frequency of treatment depends on the method used. Some conventional treatments require daily or even twice-daily medications, while others involve monthly or bi-monthly injections. Hyperimmunization is also possible. However, these approaches don't change the underlying cause of allergies.
From a natural perspective, we aim to fix the immune system, which takes time due to its memory. Severe allergies can take over a year to resolve, with an initial 3-4 month period of intense treatment to identify and address deficiencies. This phase is followed by maintenance to support immune function. While seasonal allergies may cause mild flares, they are usually manageable if we maintain the improvements made.
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