Allergic skin conditions are a continuous challenge for vets and pets owners. There are so many variables and potential causes and there is no conclusive test to get a clear cut diagnosis. The most common causes of allergies are flea allergy dermatitis, atopic skin disease and food allergies.
When presented with any skin condition your vet will always rule out bacterial, yeast or fungal infection, and mites. Once these have been treated or ruled out and the itchiness still persists then it is most likely one or a combination of these three conditions.
Flea allergy is a complex allergic reaction to proteins in the saliva of the flea. It comprises between 50% and 80% of all allergic skin disease in dogs. Just one flea is all that is needed to cause the allergic reaction.
Atopy is a genetic predisposition to synthesize IgE against environmental allergens (airborne allergens), such as plants or trees pollens, weeds, mites, dust etc. It comprises about 10 percent of all allergic skin conditions.
The origin of this disease is unknown, although it is shown there is important hereditary predisposition, i.e. allergic parents will probably have allergic offspring. Some breeds have special genetic predisposition to suffer from atopy.
Breeds that commonly suffer from Atopy:
American Staffordshire Terrier, German Shepherd, Boston Terrier, French Bulldog, Boxer, Bull Terrier, English Bulldog, Cairn Terrier, Golden Retriever, Fox Terrier, Dalmatian, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu and West Highland White Terrier.
This can start at any age from very young to quite old. The most common causes are protein sources which have been consumed by the animal for years without any problems.
The first thing we need to realize when we are treating skin conditions is that we are unlikely to cure the problem we are mainly looking at how best to manage it. Certain factors are easier to manage than others for example it is more difficult to control air borne allergens than it is to control the type of protein your pet eats. So we will start with the things that are the easiest to control.
Since flea allergy dermatitis comprises 50- 80 % of skin allergies I think its advisable to start with eliminating fleas on your pets (all pets in the house) and the environment. Then progress to exclusion diets and removing potential causes of atopy where possible.
Management for all skin conditions no matter what the cause
Remember that some allergies are seasonal and can be worse in certain times of the year.
Available from these stores: