Dog Breeds Prone to Skin & Food Allergies

Owning a dog offers many benefits which as most people know includes keeping us healthy and fit. Making sure our canine companions stay in good condition themselves is all part of the responsibility of looking after them. A lot of pedigrees suffer from hereditary health issues, some of which can have a serious impact on their skin with certain breeds being more susceptible to allergies than others. Below is a list of dog breeds prone to developing allergies to both food and other things.

Poodles

For decades, the Poodle has been among one of the most popular breeds to have as a family pet or companion dog and for good reason. They are not only lovely looking, but they are great characters by nature too. However, they are also known to have pretty sensitive skin and are therefore prone to developing and suffering from a heap of skin allergies. You really do have to keep on top of fleas if you own any dog, but this is particularly true of Poodles. If a flea problem gets out of control, the allergic reaction that follows would make life incredibly uncomfortable for a Poodle. On top of this, once an irritation flares up, any and all exposed skin would be more susceptible to all sorts of other issues and infections which are often hard to clear up.

Pugs

Pugs are adorable looking little dogs and are often thought of as the "clowns" of the dog world. They are lively little characters by nature and are a joy to have around. However, you have to take extra care when you share your home with a Pug because they can often develop some quite nasty allergic reactions to all sorts of household products commonly found in the home. As soon as a skin allergy flares up, it's really important to have Pugs checked over by a vet so you can get to the root of the problem as soon as possible. The rule of thumb is that the sooner a skin irritation flares up, the quicker a vet would be able to carry out the necessary tests and make a dog more comfortable again.

Schnauzers

Schnauzers too are more prone to developing and suffering from allergic skin reactions to a lot of things including certain foods than a lot of other breeds. If you are thinking about sharing your home with a Schnauzer, it's really important to get their diet right to prevent any allergies developing. If you notice a skin allergy flaring up, the first thing you should do is get your dog along to the vet for a check up before taking a closer look at their diet. You may find the vet suggests putting your dog on a special diet to see if that makes a difference. The thing to bear in mind, that with skin allergies nothing happens over night and very often it's a question of "trial and error" when it comes to finding out what the triggers are.

Breeds that are more prone to develop food allergies include the following:

Dachshunds

Dachshunds may be short in stature, but they are full of character. Sadly, like many other pure breeds, these little guys suffer from quite of few health issues to do with their backs. They are also known to develop allergic reactions to certain foods which can cause some nasty and uncomfortable skin conditions. It's estimated that around 20% of Dachshunds develop an allergic reaction to some type of food at some point in their lives. If you notice that your dog tends to cough a lot after they've eaten or that they seem to choke and continually suffer from runny eyes, these are just some of the signs they may be having an allergic reaction to their food.

Yorkshire Terriers

The Yorkshire Terrier has to be one of the cutest and most popular companion dogs in the world. They are feisty little dogs and for their size, they boast a ton of energy and courage. Because they are so small, these little dogs need to be fed a correct diet to avoid any tummy upsets because they are liable to dehydrate very quickly. If you suspect your dog is having an allergic reaction to any food they have eaten, it's important to get them to the vet as quickly as possible. A vet would carry out some tests and would need to know what your dog normally eats before offering the right sort of advice on the type of diet you should be feeding your Yorkshire Terrier.

Australian Shepherds

Australian Shepherds were bred as working dogs and you would think they would have the constitution of an ox. However, these lovely looking dogs are known to suffer from allergic reactions to certain foods which includes toys and treats made out of hide. It's also not a good idea to give them chews made out of animal hooves. The good news is that not all Australian Shepherds may have a reaction to treats and toys made out of hide, but it's best to err on the side of caution and not give your dog any which could end up in a visit to the vet and a hefty bill!

Conclusion

If you share your home with a dog that's prone to suffering from skin allergies whether it's food related or other, it's really important to have them checked over by a vet who would be able to assess their condition and then recommend the right sort of treatment. The first thing a vet would do is make life as comfortable as possible for your dog and then carry out the necessary tests to find out what triggers the skin allergies in your dog.