Introduction
According to a small animal general practice in the UK, thirty to forty percent of dog owners complained of their dogs having some form of an allergy (Sousa, 2013). Although this is an overall small percent and an even small percent is due to food allergens it is still an important and very prevalent issue. Canine pruritus can be defined as an unpleasant sensation that triggers a desire to scratch, itch, rub, chew, and/or bite at a dog’s skin (Sousa, 2013). Canine pruritus can be broken into two groups, infectious and allergic diseases. This paper will focus more on the allergic disease which can include; flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and other allergic dermatoses (Sousa, 2013). There is a wide range of pruritus in dogs that is scored on a scale of one to five, one being no itching and five being constant itching (Verlinden et al., 2007). Every dog is different in what it is allergic to but also in how they show signs of the allergen. Therefore, it is important for an owner to know their dog and know when they become more uncomfortable when pruritus is present. Diagnosis of an allergy is very difficult and even harder to prove if it is a food allergy. Food allergies are only diagnosed if clinical signs are improved during specific …show more content…
The types of allergies can vary in severity and in clinical signs. One of the major problems with allergies is that many of the different types of allergies show similar signs as others. Some even appear to be one type of allergy but end up being one you didn’t expect because the clinical signs are so similar. One type of dermatoses is flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). This is one of the first things that a veterinary will look for once infectious dermatoses is ruled out. Flea allergy dermatitis is usually found on the lower half of the body including the tailhead. FAD is the most common allergic
According to a small animal general practice in the UK, thirty to forty percent of dog owners complained of their dogs having some form of an allergy (Sousa, 2013). Although this is an overall small percent and an even small percent is due to food allergens it is still an important and very prevalent issue. Canine pruritus can be defined as an unpleasant sensation that triggers a desire to scratch, itch, rub, chew, and/or bite at a dog’s skin (Sousa, 2013). Canine pruritus can be broken into two groups, infectious and allergic diseases. This paper will focus more on the allergic disease which can include; flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy dermatitis, atopic dermatitis, and other allergic dermatoses (Sousa, 2013). There is a wide range of pruritus in dogs that is scored on a scale of one to five, one being no itching and five being constant itching (Verlinden et al., 2007). Every dog is different in what it is allergic to but also in how they show signs of the allergen. Therefore, it is important for an owner to know their dog and know when they become more uncomfortable when pruritus is present. Diagnosis of an allergy is very difficult and even harder to prove if it is a food allergy. Food allergies are only diagnosed if clinical signs are improved during specific …show more content…
The types of allergies can vary in severity and in clinical signs. One of the major problems with allergies is that many of the different types of allergies show similar signs as others. Some even appear to be one type of allergy but end up being one you didn’t expect because the clinical signs are so similar. One type of dermatoses is flea allergy dermatitis (FAD). This is one of the first things that a veterinary will look for once infectious dermatoses is ruled out. Flea allergy dermatitis is usually found on the lower half of the body including the tailhead. FAD is the most common allergic