How To Identify Allergies In Dogs

When looking at the common symptoms of allergies in dogs to help you identify a particular type of allergy, it is useful to also look at external factors as well. For example, changes in your dog’s environment, the time of the year, and changes in her behavior can make a difference when trying to determine whether the symptoms indicate an allergy or some other health issue. If you believe your dog has an allergy, these factors can also play a role in finding the root cause.

The only sure way to confirm that your dog has allergies, and to determine what she is allergic to, is to perform an allergy test. There are various tests that can be done to confirm dog allergies.

Types of Allergy Tests To Determine Allergies in Dogs

• blood testing

• intradermal testing

• environmental change

Blood Testing

When performing a blood test, a sample of the dog’s blood is taken. The vet then examines the blood for antigen-induced antibodies that may be present in the dog’s body. There are generally two types of blood tests that are used:

• the RAST (Radioallergosorbent) test
• the ELISA (enzyme linked immunoabsorbent assay) test

The RAST Test

In the RAST test, the blood that is drawn is checked for a negative reaction to various allergens like mold, dust, pollen, and other chemicals. The blood may also be tested for a reaction to other allergens such as food, nylon, and some synthetic materials.

The test uses complex analysis so it takes about two weeks to get back the results.

The RAST test is good for diagnosing inhalant allergies in dogs that is usually caused by pollen, dust, or mold. However, it is not a conclusive diagnosis for contact allergies. It also has some drawbacks. Since it is actually designed for humans, it may result in false negatives when used for testing dogs. Because of this, many vets recommend following up with an intradermal skin test.

The ELISA Test

The ELISA test is very similar to the RAST test. The advantage is that many veterinarians agree that this test produces more accurate results.

Intradermal Testing

In intradermal testing, an antigen is injected under the dog’s skin. If the skin becomes red or an irritation develops around the area of the injection, the dog is allergic to that specific antigen. The test is about 75% accurate at identifying allergies in dogs. However, if your dog is being treated with steroids or antihistamines, the results will be inconclusive.

Environmental Change

Environmental change is not really a test, but rather a process of elimination. It involves eliminating things that your dog interacts with in a controlled way to narrow down the cause of an allergy. It is usually trial and error, but can be a good first step to finding the cause of your dog’s allergies.

Identifying and then diagnosing allergies in dogs can be a challenging task. You have to know what to look for, and even then it can be a guessing game to determine the root cause of the allergy and pinpointing the exact type of dog allergy without doing further testing. Although it does take time and effort to identify allergies in dogs, the long-term reward for both you and your dog will be well worth it.

Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Move on to the next article, Dog Skin Allergies, or go back to the previous article, Symptoms of Dog Allergies.

Best,

Omar Reyes

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