Your dog is itchy all the time--scratching her armpits, licking her feet or rubbing her face on the carpet. These are signs of allergy, also called atopic dermatitis. Allergies manifest themselves in dogs in the form of skin problems, not usually in sneezing and watery eyes like they do with humans. Your veterinarian can help you develop a plan to help your allergic dog, and it may include antihistamines and steroids like prednisolone.
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Diagnosis
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Allergies typically begin within the first three years of your dog's life, but may have a later onset. Your vet will want to know if the itching takes place during certain times of the year for a certain period of time, or whether it seems worse in a certain environment. Your vet may recommend that you try eliminating certain foods, grooming products or cleaning products from your dog's life, one at a time, to see if that eliminates the allergy. If not, your vet may want to determine the source of your dog's problem by performing a skin test, in which a series of common allergens are injected into your pet's skin to check for reaction.
Antihistamines
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Anthistamines like Benadryl, Tavist or Chlor-Trimaton work by blocking the production of histamine, a substance your dog's immune system generates in response to irritants. Antihistamines work for about 30 percent of allergic dogs. You may have to go through a trial-and-error period in which you watch not only to see if the antihistamine helps your dog's itching, but also watch for side effects. These may include decreased appetite, constipation, dry mouth, drowsiness and hyperactivity. When you find the right medicine at the right dose, your dog should be free of side effects.
Prednisolone
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Steroids like prednisolone serve as anti-inflammatory medicines to reduce severe itching. Prednisolone is a hormone that affects the entire body, so it should be administered in low doses, every other day, once the acute symptoms are under control. Prednisolone can have severe side effects, like excess appetite or thirst, urinary incontinence, loss of muscle mass, immune suppression and can cause miscarriage.
Immunotherapy
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If your dog's allergies are severe, your vet may recommend periodic injections to reduce your dog's sensitivity to specific allergens. This may work best if your dog has multiple known allergies. You give your dog the shots that your vet prescribes. About 35 percent of allergic dogs respond to this treatment.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids
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Supplement your dog's diet with omega-3 fatty acids. Not the same as oils, fatty acids work to reduce the production and effects of inflammatory chemicals like histamine in your dog's skin, and they improve your dog's overall skin and coat health.
Avoidance
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Once you know what your dog is allergic to, before you try any of the treatments above, you should try avoidance--reducing your dog's exposure to the allergen. For example, if your dog has hay fever, keep her inside while the pollen is blooming and use an air conditioner. If your dog is sensitive to dust mites, wash all of her bedding in hot water and vacuum frequently. If your dog is allergic to corn, for example, look for a dog food that doesn't contain corn, or consider putting your dog on a home-cooked diet.
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