How long does it take for dog allergies to go away
Types of Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them
Have you heard someone tell you that their dog has allergies? Has your veterinarian suggested that allergies could be a problem for your dog? Do you suspect that your dog has allergies? If so, then youve probably realized that allergies in dogs are not quite as simple as we might wish. For starters, there are several different types of allergies that could be causing your dogs symptoms.
Allergies are a misguided reaction to foreign substances by the bodys immune system, which, of course, people and pets can suffer from. There are quite a few different types of allergies in dogs. Skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens all pose challenges for dogs and their owners, and to make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these different types of allergies can overlap.
Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs
The symptoms of allergies in dogs may vary depending on the cause. A dog that goes into anaphylactic shock, for instance, will have a drop in blood pressure followed by shock, which is very different from a skin condition.
In general, however, the following symptoms could be a sign of an allergic reaction.
- Itchiness
- Hives
- Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
- Red, inflamed skin
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Sneezing
- Itchy ears
- Chronic ear infections
- Itchy, runny eyes
- Constant licking
Some of these symptoms could also be a sign of another condition. Make an appointment with your veterinarian if you notice changes in their behavior to get an accurate diagnosis.
Types of Allergic Reactions in Dogs
Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs
Skin allergies in dogs, known as allergic dermatitis, is the most common type of allergic reaction in dogs. Skin allergies in dogs are mainly caused by one of three things: fleas, food allergies, and atopicor environmentalallergies.Flea allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction to fleabites, and some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which can cause their skin to become red, inflamed, or scabbed because their skin will feel extremely itchy. Its the easiest type of allergic dermatitis to treat, since you can apply flea medication for dogs to help heal their skin.
Another cause of skin allergy in dogs is from food allergies and sensitivities. Just like humans can be allergic to certain foods or ingredients, dogs can be allergic, which can cause itchy skin. Dogs with food allergies usually have itchy ears or paws, sometimes along with gastrointestinal symptoms. Dr. Klein, Chief Veterinary Officer for the AKC, says that food allergies are not as common as you might think. True food allergies result in an immune response, which can range in symptoms from hives, facial swelling, and itchiness to gastrointestinal signs like vomiting and diarrhea or a combination of both.
Environmental allergens can also affect the skin and be the cause of allergic dermatitis. Things like dust, pollen, fungus, and mold can cause these reactions, but in most cases, these allergies are seasonal. As with food allergies that affect the skin, the most commonly affected areas are the paws and ears (but also include the wrists, ankles, muzzle, underarms, groin, around the eyes, and in between the toes).
All skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. As your dog scratches, bites, and licks at his skin, he risks opening up his skin to yeast and bacterial infections that may require treatment.
Urticaria, or Hives, in Dogs
Also known as urticaria, hives on dogs are very itchy but are not life-threatening. Hives appear as a reaction anywhere from 6 to 24 hours after exposure to allergens. This consists of itchy, swelled skin, that usually looks like a red rash. Its easiest to spot hives on dogs that are hairless or have short coats. Dogs with longer hair can get them too, but its more likely that youd be able to fee the hives rather than see them. Your vet will prescribe an antihistamine in order to treat urticaria in dogs.
Edema of Face or Throat
Swelling of the throat or face looks severe, but its actually almost never fatal. This area of swelling, which can also include swelling of the eyelids or ear flaps, is known as angioneurotic edema. Its actually pretty easily treated, and despite how it looks, its a good sign in terms of allergic reactions.
If your dog has edema of any of these areas, the time for a fatal allergic reaction has most likely passed, and they arent in as much danger. Angioneurotic edema occurs anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours after exposure to an allergen, and can also come with hives.A veterinarian will often give dogs with this reaction an antihistamine injection. Untreated, it may take a day or two for the swelling to subside.
Anaphylactic Shock
Perhaps the most alarming of all the types of allergic reactions in dogs is anaphylactic shock. Like people, dogs can go into anaphylactic shock if they have a severe reaction to an allergen. This happens when antibodies produced by the host react negatively to the allergen, dropping your dogs blood pressure rapidly and sending them into shock. This can be fatal if not treated, but luckily, anaphylactic reactions are rare in dogs.
This can be a response to any allergen, most commonly bee or wasp stings, or vaccine reactions. Because of this, your vet will always recommend keeping a close eye on your dog after theyve been given any new vaccine, drug, or food item, as they might be allergic.
If a dog has had a past incident and survived, the owner may carry an epipen, but sometimes the first occurrence can lead to death. Fortunately these reactions are very rare in dogs.
In some rare cases, a severe food allergy reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur, similar to severe peanut allergies in humans. The best way to diagnose and treat a food allergy is to work with your veterinarian to manage your dogs symptoms and discover the ingredient causing the reaction.
Diagnosing Allergies in Dogs
Flea allergy dermatitis is typically the easiest allergy to diagnose. It is usually diagnosed by identifying fleas on your dogs body and applying a product that kills fleas before they can bite to see if that solves the issues.
The first thing your veterinarian will do in allergy testing is rule out any other condition that could be causing your dogs symptoms. If your veterinarian feels that an allergy is a likely cause, they may propose allergy testing to try and determine the cause of the allergen that is causing the reaction. However, keep in mind it may not always be possible to determine the cause of an allergy with testing.
If you have ever undergone allergy testing, then you know that diagnosing allergies is often complicated. Its the same for dogs, but its worth it to understand what to stay away from when it comes to your dog.Food allergies are often diagnosed using an elimination diet. A food trial consists of feeding a dog one source of protein and carbohydrate for 12 weeks.
Treating Allergies in Dogs
The best way to treat an allergy is avoidance of the cause and allergen, which may not always be possible. They type of treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog has. For example, the best way to treat flea allergy dermatitis is to kill the fleas, whereas the best way to treat a food allergy or food intolerance is a change in diet.
Depending on the cause and severity of your dogs allergic reaction, your veterinarian will prescribe different things. For hives, they might suggest antihistamines, cortisones, medicated shampoos, whereas with food allergies they might suggest fish oil or other Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. For skin allergies, they might prescribe dog-safe anti-inflammatory wipes or shampoo on skin to provide irritation relief.
In addition to any lifestyle changes that might be necessary, your veterinarian may also prescribe an allergy relief medication for your dog that will help control the signs associated with the allergic reaction, such as itching and any secondary skin infections that might have developed as a result of the irritant.
If your dog has a severe allergic reaction, your best course of action is to get them to an emergency veterinary hospital as quickly as possible.
How Long Does It Take to Get Rid of a Food Allergy in Dogs?
Dogs food allergies can be a painful experience for them and you; here is how long it takes to get rid of them.
Having a pet with food allergies can be a scary and dangerous situation which seems even more terrifying when you factor in the aspect it can take a long time to calm down.
It will take 1-2 weeks to get rid of symptoms from food allergies in dogs. It can take up to 12-16 weeks before seeing significant results if it has been running for a while. Completely curing a food allergy is impossible as it is a chronic disease, and symptoms will only subside by eliminating the allergy source.
You will be happy to hear that food allergies are not as common in dogs as many people tend to believe. Most digestive or skin problems associated with food are more often than not a food intolerance, so lets talk about food allergies in dogs and what you can do to help.
How long does it take to get rid of a food allergy in dogs?
Unfortunately, there is no way to get rid of a food allergy in dogs. Allergies are an immune response to a particular food, most often a protein in your dogs dinner, such as chicken, beef, lamb, pork, soy, and dairy. To get rid of the negative reaction your pet has to a food source is to completely eliminate it from their diet.
While your vet can give you medication to help treat many of the most uncomfortable and more significant symptoms, the allergy is never going to completely go away.
If your dog has already ingested a food source that causes them to suffer from an allergic reaction, you will probably continue to notice adverse effects for up to three months before there is a dramatic change in their condition.
How long do allergic reactions take to start?
If your dog has allergies to certain foods or ingredients, you might have difficulty identifying the source of the problem at first. Most allergic reactions will begin 24-48 hours after eating and can even hold off for up to two weeks, making it hard to pinpoint the exact cause.
The length of time it takes for some food allergies to present themselves is why so many veterinarians tell their patients to gradually introduce new foods or treats, especially when they have a young puppy. I typically like to wait it out a little longer just to be sure.
More severe food allergies can show signs of reaction within 20-minutes of exposure and can be life-threatening. This is going to look a lot similar to humans who have severe bee or peanut allergies. If your dog is going into anaphylactic shock, you might notice:
- Face and lips are swelling rapidly, significant swelling in the eyes
- Showing signs of difficulty in breathing or laboured breathing
- Hives or large welts developing around the body
- Extreme and sudden weakness
- Vomiting and uncontrollable diarrhoea
Without immediate medical attention, your dog could end up passing away from its food allergy.
How long does it take for an allergic reaction to clear up?
It should only take a few days for you to begin noticing an improvement in your pets health, but the entire condition will not be completely clear for around three months on average. The time it takes for your dogs allergic reaction to clear up will largely depend on how much of the food they ate and how sensitive they are to the ingredients.
The recovery time can be expedited a little through medications and treatment provided by your vet, but this will only help to clear up adverse effects such as dryness or pain caused by frequent itching or medications like Benadryl to help reduce the urge to scratch.
Delayed allergic reaction to food
While most cases of food allergies in dogs will present some type of signs or symptoms within 24-48-hours after consumption, there are some types of food or tolerance that can push back the reaction to several days and even weeks.
In many cases, dogs will not start to develop symptoms of food allergies until after they have ingested the troublesome ingredient for a few weeks, giving the allergen time to build up in their systems, postponing noticeable problems, and making it that much harder to diagnose.
Gastrointestinal allergy symptoms in dogs
One of the most significant indications that a dog is suffering from food allergies is the change in their bathroom behaviours and gastrointestinal sounds. Although it may sound a little bizarre, knowing your pets potty routines and paying attention to when and why their stomachs may be bubbling, and gurgling can help you quickly identify whether a food allergy is at play or not.
Some of the most common gastrointestinal allergy symptoms in dogs result from food include but are not limited to,
- Diarrhoea
- Vomiting
- Frequent bowel movements
- Passing gas
- Stomach gurgling or growling sounds
- Straining to go to the bathroom
If you suspect your dog is suffering from an allergic reaction to their food, stay vigilant when they go to the bathroom; if you notice loose or watery stool or your pet is struggling to get anything out, that should be an immediate sign of concern and should indicate that further investigation is required.
The most common allergic reaction to food allergies in dogs
While you will typically see gastrointestinal issues with dogs suffering from food allergies, it isnt the most common indicator, at least not for the majority of cases. Most people will start to notice their pets experience excessive itchiness, causing them to chew and lick themselves constantly, even to the point of losing patches of fur.
These long and extreme scratching sessions commonly occur on the paws, arms, face, and back.
You may also find your dog experiences frequent ear infections, hyperactivity, increase in aggression, weight loss, red underbelly, a dull coat, and lack of energy.
Can you cure food sensitivity in dogs?
The reason there is such a misconception regarding the commonality of food allergies in canines is that many people dont recognize the difference between allergies and sensitivity.
Dogs are much more likely to struggle with a sensitivity to a certain food item rather than being allergic to it. Food sensitivity has nothing to do with immune response and is typically due to the body struggling to digest or absorb the foods they are sensitive to (commonly proteins).
Although many people seem to think dogs can slowly build up a tolerance to the foods causing them discomfort, it is highly unlikely, and the only way to help your dog get back to their old selves is by eliminating the food they are struggling to digest.
How to determine which food your dog is allergic too
The easiest way to determine what types of foods your dog is allergic to is by eliminating specific ingredients from their diet slowly. This process is referred to as an elimination diet and isnt going to be easy.
To begin the elimination diet, you have to start your pet on hypoallergenic food they have never had before and preferably with ingredients they do not normally eat. This diet should be followed for about twelve weeks. If your pets symptoms disappear, you know the allergin lies somewhere in their old eating habits.
You can continue to keep your dog on hypoallergenic food, or you can begin adding back different ingredients from their old meals one at a time. Each time you offer your dog a new item, wait multiple days to see if any side effects begin to show.
You can also have your vet perform a blood test that can help narrow down which food items your dogs immune system isnt equipped to handle.
Final Thoughts
Although it is impossible to get rid of food allergies in dogs, or anyone else for that matter, there are plenty of ways to treat them at the onset of symptoms to provide some relief and give yourself time to fully eliminate the problem ingredient from their diet for good.
