There are many conditions that can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including autoimmune. endocrine, and parasitic skin diseases. Therefore, it takes some detective work to identify the right cause.

If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will normally ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product. Flea allergies are quite common and are the easiest to control. Dog owners have many options available from high-street and online pet stores.

Once flea allergies are ruled out, food allergies are the next thing to be checked. Food allergies are not related to a season, whereas many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem.

Dogs that develop atopic allergies typically show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high up on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months, or over 5 years.

When testing for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks. This means it is fed food, which is high in protein and carbohydrate. which it has not eaten before, such as duck, venison, and potatoes.

Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in pet stores. Another option is to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods recommended by the veterinarian.

If the dog’s itching subsides by at least half, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the regular diet to see if the symptoms return.

To check for atopic and contact allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test (also known as a skin reaction test). The dog is mildly sedated, a small area on the side of it is shaved, and small amounts of common allergens are injected into the skin on the shaved area. Should the dog be allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become slightly inflamed, showing that the cause of the allergy has been found.

Next : How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Food Allergies?