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Symptoms of Dog Skin Allergy
Skin problems are one of the most frequent reasons
people take their dog to the vet. Making an accurate diagnosis of a
skin disorder is very important when deciding on a course of action.
For this reason, it is helpful to know the symptoms of dog skin
allergy, and how they differ from the symptoms of other dog skin
problems, such as mange or ringworm.
There are several areas on the dog that tend to get irritated when a
dog has allergies. One of the most common places is the ears, which
often look reddened inside and are irritated and itchy. Other common
spots are the lower legs, feet, head of the tail, and crotch.
Dog skin allergy symptoms are often seen in connection with some
other dog health factors. For instance, anxiety and stress can
increase the symptoms seen. Dogs that have one allergy often have
others. For instance, if they are allergic to pollen, they might
also be more sensitive to flea bites, drug side effects, foods, and
other substances.
One of the most notable symptoms of dog skin allergy is the presence
of one or more hot spots. These are raw areas of inflammation where
the dog has licked or bit itself. The itching makes the dog keep
licking and biting, which results in the area becoming infected.
These spots are usually oval or circular in shape and appear swollen
and tender. A dog can nip at you if you are rough when trying to put
medicine on one of these because the spots are painful.
Another complicating factor when distinguishing symptoms of dog skin
allergy from other dog skin problems is that allergies often lead to
other infections of the skin. The allergy is the reason the skin
became red and irritated in the first place. The irritated flesh in
turn is more susceptible to yeast or bacterial infections.
Therefore, the dog might appear to need treatment for the secondary
yeast and bacterial infection, but there is really an allergy as the
source of the problem.
Usually the allergic symptoms are in response to inhalants, such as
pollen, dust mites, or other airborne particles. Less frequently,
dogs are allergic to foods or materials their skin comes into
contact with.
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