Allergies can affect not only humans but also our beloved canine companions. Just like humans, dogs can develop allergic reactions to various substances. However, diagnosing allergies in dogs can be quite complex. Unlike humans, dogs cannot express their discomfort verbally, making it essential for pet owners and veterinarians to carefully observe their symptoms and conduct thorough investigations to identify the specific triggers.
In this article we discuss the common dog allergies and the treatment involved.
You can read up on common health problems in Rottweilers.
You can also read about how often to take your Rottweiler to the vet.
Broadly speaking, allergies are best defined as the body’s immune system overreacting to molecules in the diet or environment which should normally be harmless. Allergies in dogs tend to be to a reaction to protein molecules. There is strong evidence to suggest a genetic basis for canine allergies, also known as “canine atopic dermatitis” (CAD).
Canine atopic dermatitis is an itchy, inflammatory skin condition occurring in dogs in response to contact with environmental allergens, such as dust mites, yeast (perhaps the most common allergen I see as a practicing vet), pollen, grass, animal dander and pet dander, tree pollen, mold spores and many others.
Offending allergens are typically impossible to eliminate from your pet’s surroundings, and so management of the condition focuses on reducing allergen burden, supporting the skin barrier, and providing your dog with an appropriate anti-allergy medication (usually in the form of oral medications or allergy shots).
Some allergens (such as house dust mites, or malassezia yeast) will be present in the environment or on your dog’s skin all year round, and so your dog’s allergies may be present all the time. Other dog allergens, such as to certain types of pollen, are only present in the environment at certain times of the year, and will therefore cause seasonal allergies.
Diagnosing allergies in dogs can be complicated, due to the huge number of possible allergens; no two cases of canine allergic skin disease are the same.
Flea allergy dermatitis is believed to be the commonest dog allergy [1]. Affected dogs have an allergic reaction to flea saliva, and will develop very itchy skin, especially around their lower back, as a reaction to flea bites. If your dog has this condition, strict flea control is the best way to reduce or eliminate your dog’s symptoms.
Allergic reactions to food are believed to be responsible for 20-30% of cases of allergic skin problems in dogs [2]. A food trial (discussed below under ‘treatment’) is considered the gold standard approach to diagnosing food allergy; allergy testing is of limited use and, where undertaken, results will need to be carefully interpreted by a veterinary immunologist.
The most common food-based allergens in dogs are believed to include chicken, beef and lamb. If your dog’s allergy symptoms are being caused by a reaction to a protein molecule in their food, you can expect diarrhea to feature alongside itchy skin as part of the allergic reaction.
Where possible, identify and prevent contact with allergens in the environment and with airborne allergens.
A common first line treatment for CAD is steroid medication; typically, oral prednisolone or injectable dexamethasone are prescribed. When given at a relatively low dose, steroids provide anti-inflammatory effects. When given at higher doses, they suppress the immune system, including a dampening down of allergic responses.
Steroid medication is highly effective for treating allergies in dogs, however with long-term use, your dog is expected to experience unpleasant or even harmful side effects. For this reason, it is preferable to switch to an alternative treatment (such as Cytopoint or Apoquel) if treatment will be long-term.
Cytopoint and Apoquel work by dampening down the part of the immune system involved in the allergic response. They are safer long-term options for the treatment of allergies in dogs, however they are significantly more expensive than steroids.
Allergies in dogs can often be treated to good effect using allergen specific immunotherapy (ASIT). This is effectively a course of allergy vaccines, which desensitize your dog to the responsible allergen or allergens.
Allergy testing is required first to identify the responsible allergens. Most commonly this is undertaken using a blood sample, but sometimes skin testing will also be recommended, depending upon your pet’s medical history. Where a skin test is needed, it will often be carried out under sedation to minimize discomfort felt by your dog.
Regularly bathing your dog using prescription shampoos such as Malaseb can be a useful aid when it comes to managing dog allergies. Steroid based skin sprays or ear drops, and occasionally eye drops and/or nasal sprays may also be prescribed by your vet. Nasal spray is typically only recommended where a dog shows signs of congestion of the nasal passages, and thankfully this is not common.
Antihistamines (available over the counter) will sometimes be recommended by your vet to treat your pet’s allergies, or they may choose to prescribe steroids or alternative oral allergy medication such as Apoquel or Atopica. Some dogs require a combination of more than one medication, for example, an over-the-counter antihistamine combined with a prescription-only drug.
Cytopoint is a relatively new injectable allergy treatment for dogs, effective in many cases of skin disease due to allergies. It needs to be given to your dog every 2-8 weeks and unfortunately is fairly expensive.
When used alongside other therapies, fatty acid supplementation can be helpful in the management of dog allergies [3] and may improve the health of the skin barrier. Most dogs with allergies can benefit from the inclusion of fatty acids in their diet.
A seasonally allergic dog is simply an atopic dog who is reactive to allergens that are only present in the environment at certain times of year (for example, pollen allergies).
Dogs with seasonal allergies should be managed as discussed under the “Atopic Dermatitis” heading, above, but may only need treatment at certain times of year when they are coming into contact with allergens.
If your dog has food allergies, the best treatment is to avoid feeding any protein molecules to which their immune system is reactive. The quickest and easiest sure-fire way to treat canine food allergies is to switch to a strict anallergenic (for preference) or hypoallergenic diet. Feeding these diets eliminates the possibility of setting off your dog’s food allergy, so we call them “elimination diets”.
An anallergenic or hypoallergenic diet will only be effective when fed exclusively; if your dog is still eating table food, dental chews or anything else at all(including flavored medications) alongside their therapeutic diet, it will not be effective.
Strict avoidance of any non-hypoallergenic foodstuff is essential. It takes eight to twelve weeks of feeding a strict hypoallergenic or anallergenic diet to see the full effects in terms of the reduction of allergy symptoms.
Dog allergy symptoms range from mild and occasional to constant and severe symptoms, depending on the frequency and magnitude of contact with allergens. Pet allergy symptoms can cause considerable distress for both the owner and the canine family member.
Affected dogs will display some combination of the following allergy symptoms:
In more severe cases with an acute allergic reaction, the following allergy symptoms may also be seen:
Research suggests that Rottweilers may be more prone to developing canine atopic dermatitis (skin allergies) compared to other dog breeds [4], although (unlike some other breeds) no specific gene linked to the condition has yet been identified in Rottweilers [5].
If your Rottweiler is itchy, the first step is to make sure they are up to date with parasite treatment (using a prescription veterinary product to combat fleas, lice and mites). You should also consider whether your Rottie could be suffering from contact dermatitis, a type of itchy skin condition that occurs when the skin comes into direct contact with an irritant substance such as washing powders, shampoos or cleaning products.
A bacterial skin infection can also cause itching, as can certain types of skin cancer in older dogs. Once your vet has ruled out all of the above, a diagnosis of environmental or food allergies should be considered.
The best dog food for a Rottweiler with skin allergies is an anallergenic diet, such as Royal Canin Anallergenic or Hills Z/D. Both of these food contain hydrolyzed proteins; these are proteins which have been broken down into such small molecules that they avoid recognition by the immune response, and so will not trigger allergic reactions.
Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common canine allergy [1], with one study finding 51.4% of included dogs appearing reactive to flea saliva on serology (blood test) [6]. For comparison, the prevalence (percentage of the population which is affected) of CAD is cited as being between 3-15% [7][8].
In summary, while diagnosing allergies in dogs may be complicated due to the unique nature of each case and the multitude of possible allergens, with the right approach and collaboration between pet owners and veterinarians, it is possible to identify triggers and develop effective strategies for managing seasonal allergies. By doing so, we can ensure our furry friends can enjoy their lives to the fullest, free from the discomfort caused by allergies.
Read here about wet dog food vs dry dog food.
You can also read about best wet food for dogs and best dry food for dogs.
Reference List:
[1] Jeschke, P. and Nauen, R. Flea Allergic Dermatitis, Comprehensive Molecular Insect Science. (2005)
[2]. Olivry, T. and Mueller, R.S. Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (9): time to flare of cutaneous signs after a dietary challenge in dogs and cats with food allergies, BMC Veterinary Research, (2020)
[3]. Bensignor, E., Morgan, D.M., and Nuttall, T. Efficacy of an essential fatty acid-enriched diet in managing canine atopic dermatitis: a randomized, single-blinded cross-over study, Veterinary Dermatology. (2008)
[4]. Ambly et al. Occurrence of allergic dermatitis in dogs with special reference to canine atopic dermatitis in Kerala, Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences. (2022)
[5]. Outerbridge, C.A. and Jordan T.J.M. Current Knowledge on Canine Atopic Dermatitis. Advances in Small Animal Care. (2021)
[6]. Ichikawa, Y. and Beugnet, F. Epidemiological survey of anti-flea IgE in Japan by using an antigen-specific IgE quantitative measurement method. Parasite. (2012)
[7]. Olivry, T. and Mueller, R.S. Critically appraised topic on adverse food reactions of companion animals (9): time to flare of cutaneous signs after a dietary challenge in dogs and cats with food allergies. BMC Veterinary Research. (2022)
[8]. Saridomichelakis, M.N. and Olivry, T. An update on the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis, The Veterinary Journal. (2016)
Our deep affection for these magnificent dogs started years ago when we welcomed our first Rottweiler into our family. Over time, we’ve added a few more of these big-hearted furballs to our clan, and along the way, we’ve gained valuable insights into their distinct personalities, needs, and quirks.
Whether you’re a seasoned Rottweiler owner or contemplating bringing one into your life for the first time, we’re here to offer guidance and can’t wait to share our knowledge and affection for this remarkable breed with you!
Copyright 2024 I Love Rottie, all rights reserved.