Allergies & Antihistimine for Dogs

What are dog allergies?

Dog allergies, like human allergies, are a state of hypersensitivity of the immune system caused by a particular allergen. The most typical allergens are from plants, insects, food, or even other animals. 

Unfortunately, allergies are quite common in dogs of every breed and background. Most of your dog's allergies will appear after their puppy stage, with most being affected after they turn one or two.

Dog allergy symptoms

Dog allergy symptoms are usually quite similar to the symptoms humans have when they experience hayfever. So how do you know if your dog has allergies? Well their symptoms can include:

• Itchiness
• Swelling of the face, ears, lips, eyelids, or earflaps
• Red, inflamed skin
• Diarrhoea
• Vomiting
• Sneezing
• Itchy ears

Why is my dog itchy?

Skin allergies are the most common kind of allergic reaction that your dog could experience. The three main causes of skin allergies in dogs are flea allergies, food allergies, and environmental allergens. 

Flea allergies in dogs is an allergic reaction to flea bites. Some dogs are allergic to flea saliva, which makes them extremely itchy. Often occurring at the base of their tail, it makes their skin red, inflamed, and scabbed.

Food allergies and sensitivities can cause itchy skin on your pet too. Common itchy or sore spots for dogs with food allergies are their paws and their ears. It’s possible for these symptoms to be accompanied by gastrointestinal ones too, including vomiting and diarrhoea.

Environmental allergens like pollen, dust, and mould can all cause your dog to have sore, red, and itchy skin. In most cases these kinds of allergies are seasonal, so it will likely be that you only notice your pet itching at certain times of the year. 

Can dogs take human antihistamines?

So, can you give dogs antihistamines? Yes, you can! But you can't be giving them human antihistamines. There are specific antihistamines for dogs. These will give them the best results, without causing them the nasty side effects they could experience if they took the human versions.