Canine Allergies
Canine Conditions and Responses Home
Dog allergies fall into three categories.
- Those caused by fleas and other biting insects (flea allergy dermatitis)
- Those caused by inhaled allergens such as dust mites, grass's, moulds,
tree and weed pollens (Canine Atopy)
- Those caused and by foods and drugs (food allergy)
While humans tend to experience upper respiratory symptoms when an allergy
is triggered the target organ in dogs is the skin, with intense inching
being the principle sign.
Dog with allergies often scratch continuously, are miserable, snappish and
generally unpleasant to be around.
There are two kinds hypersensitivity. The immediate type occurs minutes
after exposure and usually produces hives. The delayed response occurs
hours or days later and causes intense itching. Anaphylactic shock is severe hypersensitivity reaction of the immediate type
accompanied by
diarrhoea ,vomiting, weakness, difficulty, breathing, collapse and death.
Hives
Hives are an allergic reaction characterized by the sudden appearance
of raised, circular, itchy wheals on the skin. The hair sticks out in
little patches. Frequently you will see swellings of the eyelids. Hives
generally appear within thirty minutes and disappear with twenty-four
hours.
Insect bites are a common case of hives. Hives can occur after a
vaccination. Penicillin, Tetracycline and other antibiotics can produce
hives. Topical insecticides and soaps are other causes. Hives that come
and go usually re caused by an allergen in the dogs environment.
Flea Allergy Dermatitis
This is the most common allergy in dogs. It is caused by a
hypersensitivity reaction to one or more substances in the saliva of
flees. Flee allergy dermatitis is an allergic reaction of both the
immediate and delayed type ; Itching begins immediately and tends to
persist long after flees have been eliminated.
Flee allergy dermatitis is characterised by severe itching with inflamed
skin and red pimple like bumps found where flees are heavily
concentrated - over the rump and base of the tail , under the legs ,
on the groin and belly.
Canine Atopy (Atopic Dermatitis)
Canine Atopy is a disease in which there is an inherited tendency to
develop "IgE" antibodies in response to exposure to allergens inhaled or
absorbed through the skin.
This extremely common allergic skin disease is 2nd only to Flee Allergy
Dermatitis in frequency and affects about ten percent of dogs.
Atopy begins in dogs one two three years of age. Susceptible breeds
include "golden & Labrador retrievers" "Lhasa Apsos" "Wire Fox Terrier"
"West Highland White Terriers" "Dalmatians" "poodles" "English & Irish
Setters" "Boxers" "Bulldogs" among others.
Signs firs appear in conjunction with the weed pollens of late summer and
autumn.
Later, other pollens begin to influence the picture: Tree pollens in
march and April, then grass pollens in may, June and early July.
Finally, the dog starts to react to wool, house dust, moulds, feathers,
plant fibbers etc.
With prolonged exposure and multiple allergens, the condition becomes a
year round affair.
Food Allergies
Food Allergy is the third most common cause of allergic itching and
scratching. It occurs in dogs of all ages. Allergies can develop to
meats, milk, eggs, fish, beef, pork, cereal grains, potatoes, soy
products and dietary additives.
The principle sign is severe itching, accompanied by the appearance of
small red bumps, pustules and raised patches of skin.
Characteristically, the rash involves the ears, feet, backs of the legs
and underside of the body. Since food allergy is less common than Canine
Atopy and flee allergy dermatitis, the dog is often thought to be
suffering from one of those diseases
Canine Bowen Technique and the treatment of Allergies
The Canine Bowen Technique can Support treatment for allergies in dogs. Often the dogs diet may need reviewing also. Allergies
are responses to a vast array of outside influences on the dog which the dog becomes unable to cope with, resulting in food or skin allergies.
Obviously stings and flee bites do not come under this category. The skin is the largest organ of the body and it is here that we see most allergic
reactions.
The Canine Bowen Technique aims to rebalance the bodies systems triggering these systems to work
efficiently together for the dog. Using fingers or thumbs to stimulate the
bodies own healing abilities,
Lymphatic drainage and stimulation of circulation are useful approaches when dealing with
allergies. Gentle moves are made on key areas over the body
