Allergies in Dogs: A Growing Trend or a Modern Health Crisis?

There is not just one allergy in dogs. You could almost say that there are as many different types of allergies as there are dog breeds. Whether it's food, medication, mites or detergents - there's nothing in this area that doesn't exist. But what are allergies anyway? An allergy is always a reaction of the immune system to one or more substances. The body identifies some substances as pathogens and forms antibodies against them. This internal "battle" can then manifest itself in the form of rashes, itching, behavioral changes and more. The insidious thing is that allergies can develop to substances that have never previously been a problem for the dog. Sometimes a chicken-based food that has been well tolerated for years can suddenly cause huge problems.

Allergies can develop both immediately after coming into contact with a certain substance and after a longer period of time. If the organism reacts immediately, this is referred to as a particularly strong immune response with many antibodies. If the allergy occurs after a delay, the body "collects" allergic contacts until an allergic reaction becomes visible.

The allergies that are increasingly on the rise are said to be food allergies. They occur most frequently after flea saliva allergies and so-called atopic dermatitis, in which dogs react to external environmental allergens. Common symptoms of food allergies include skin rashes, itching, painful ear infections and digestive problems. Such allergies can even develop into secondary diseases. A food intolerance can also be determined by the localization of the skin changes: In the case of an allergy, the altered areas of skin are almost always found in the abdominal and groin area.

However, the diagnosis of a food allergy is like a detective game. It is not always clear whether and which allergy it could be and which substance triggers an immune response, which then manifests itself in the dog in whatever form. If you are then at a loss, you fall back on some kind of diagnosis in order to have one at all: One of these is "trend disease". With this diagnosis, dog owners are accused of attributing an allergy to their pelt-nose where in fact none should exist. However, the dog is not helped by such a "diagnosis". It must continue to suffer. And until you really get to the bottom of the cause.

Does your dog fart often and regularly have diarrhea? It doesn't have to be - but it can be a sign of food intolerance. Even if digestive problems in a dog are often tolerated and not really taken seriously. For example, regular unpleasant odors that are considered "normal" can be the first sign of a food intolerance. In the case of such symptoms, a food allergy must always be taken into account, as a well-tolerated diet does not cause regular flatulence or indigestion. 

Of course, many other reasons can play a role in digestive complaints. You should ask yourself the following questions before carrying out an allergy test or a complex exclusion procedure:   

• Did your furry friend eat the food too cold?
• Did you switch to a new type of food too quickly?
• Is your dog currently struggling with worming or vaccinations?
• Is your four-legged friend stressed because you are on vacation, for example?
• Is there a gastrointestinal infection?
• Is the dry food contaminated with mites?
• Is your dog being fed too much variety with different types of food?

These questions are important to rule out these causes of digestive and skin problems. Overall, correct feeding management is important for a functioning digestive system. If very different types of food are combined, different digestive processes occur in the dog's intestines, leading to gas formation and incorrect fermentation. This imbalance can attack and loosen the dog's intestinal mucosa. This mucous membrane serves as an important immune barrier for the animal. If it is attacked, potential allergens can penetrate through its loosened "façade", which means that the dog is more likely to develop an allergy to ingested food components, as the path has been opened up for allergens.