Dogs usually develop allergies between the ages of 1 and 3. As he ages, the dog may develop allergies to new items, and his existing allergies may worsen. Except for bug bites, a dog must come into contact with the allergen over a period of time before an allergy will develop. Unlike humans, dogs seldom get a runny nose or body swelling due to allergies, but the symptoms are easy to spot.
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Scratching the Body
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Dog allergies almost always manifest with itchy skin. When a dog comes into contact with an allergen, his immune system creates a protein that attaches to cells in the skin. This attachment causes the release of histamine, which results in itchy skin. If your dog suddenly begins scratching his sides, and there is no chance he has fleas, allergies might be the culprit.
Rubbing the Face
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The facial skin also can itch, most particularly the nose. To relieve the itching, a dog may rub his face on the carpet or along the side of furniture. An antihistamine can provide some relief for the itching. Check with your veterinarian for the proper dosage.
Chewing on Feet
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The feet appear to be one of the worst spots for itchy skin. Perhaps it's because a dog's feet usually come in contact with more foreign substances than other body parts, or maybe dogs focus on their feet because they're easy to reach while lying down. Chewing feet can lead to further skin irritation, or in more serious cases, skin lesions. Treat damaged skin with a cortisone cream, and try to prevent the dog from licking the skin after application.
Recurrent Ear Infections
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The wax-producing glands of a dog's ear creates additional wax when the dog comes into contact with an allergen. Since bacteria often grow in the wax, the additional production increases the possibility of ear infections, which should be treated by a veterinarian.
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