Think back for a moment to the last time you suffered from an intense bout with acne. Not even just a full blown case, but maybe the last time you had a pimple you worked tirelessly to cover up before it turned into more, or worse, a rash of them. Hopefully you are thinking back to a time long gone, such as high school before senior picture day. Putting the embarrassment factor aside, those bad skin reactions were tough just medicate on their own. While it may not be the most natural segue, try thinking about what it would be like to be have dog skin allergies. As a dog you don’t get the luxury of applying medicine calmly or locating the spot. All you can do is scratch and rub your back hoping to soothe the itching. Does not sound fun does it?

Dog skin allergies, however, are one of the most common problems for pet owners today.

Worst of all, while a human’s skin problems show them self right to the face, dog skin allergies come with multiple symptoms, and an impossible manner of recognizing them early. After all, a scratching dog is pretty standard and isn’t going to send you searching through their thick coat to investigate their skin.

Unfortunately, this is exactly how dog skin issues present themselves. A dog could pick up an allergic reaction from absolutely anywhere while day after day goes by and no owner realizes. Actually, it would an odder circumstance for the dog to not be scratching themselves. Why should there be anything wrong if this is happening?

But, dog skin allergies are serious and can be brought on by many factors.

Let’s just go to the main thought when we see our dog scratching up and down, and that’s fleas. However, while fleas may be a serious concern at times, they can also get in the way. Many people will treat for fleas not grasping that it could be a different allergic reaction all together, putting off really tending to the situation at hand.

Next, we have the weirder, less obvious allergens that come in from dust mites left behind, weird bugs in the grass, or just regular pollen. There is no telling what they can do at an exterior level considering dogs don’t have to ingest a potential allergen for it to cause a serious reaction.

On that note, the last instance to be aware of are indeed those food allergies. This means make sure your brand of food is compatible to your dog. Really, that should always be the case though, given the fact that you should want your dog to enjoy what they are eating everyday.

Just so you are not left in the dark though, let’s talk about some quick symptoms in addition to the causes other than increased scratching. Those would include swelling, which will be most noticeable around the eyes, hives, and rashes.

Lastly, we are not trying to weigh down your job as being a pet owner, but we are looking to just remind you of what to look out for, and dog skin allergies can be tricky. Thus, please be sure to investigate your dog’s skin on a regular basis.

Jennifer is a canine health practitioner who specializes in dry dog skin treatment.

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