We dogs can develop allergies just like you humans. Basically, an allergy is caused when the immune system has a hypersensitive reaction to something known as an allergen. Allergies can develop suddenly to things that never bothered us before. There are 5 known types of allergies in dogs:  contact, flea, food, bacterial and inhalant.  Here is a little bit of information to help you understand each of the five types of allergies.

1.  Contact – this is the least common type of allergy in dogs.  An example of a contact allergy would be an allergic reaction to a type of bedding like wool or cedar shavings or to cleaning products.  It causes a local reaction on the skin where it comes in contact with the allergen and causes skin irritation and itching.  Removing the contact irritant solves the problem.

2.  Flea - this is a common allergy in dogs.  Those of us dogs who are allergic to fleas have a severe reaction to the saliva of the flea when it comes in contact with our skin.  One bite can cause very intense itching.  The most common place for this to happen is on our back side right where our tail connects to our back.

3.  Bacterial – as disgusting as it sounds to a “Diva”, all of us have staph bacteria that lives on us without  causing any problems.  Some dogs can become allergic to this bacteria.  When that happens, it causes an area or areas of hair loss that look similar to ringworm. YUCK!!!

4.  Inhalant – this is the most common type of allergy in dogs.  We become allergic to the same inhaled allergens that affect you humans such as trees, grass, weed pollens, molds, mildew and house dust mites.  We usually react to these allergens with severe itching.

5.  Food - we are not usually born with food allergies, but develop them to food products we have eaten for awhile.  This allergy is usually to the protein compound found in our food such as beef, pork or chicken.  Symptoms of food allergies can be itching, digestive disorders and respiratory distress.

There is alot of information on the internet regarding dogs and allergies.  My mom found the following websites helpful when she was researching this blog topic for me:  www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/allergies, www.petwave.com/dogs/dog-health-center/multi-body-system-disorders/allergies/aspx, and www.dog-care.suite101.com/article.cfm/allergies_in_dogs.  If you suspect your dog may be suffering from allergies,  you should consult your veterinarian for a professional diagnosis.