Dog Contact Allergies

Dog contact allergies are the least common among the various dog allergies. We see this type of allergy occasionally in the store. Usually the dog has many allergies and this is just another one on his list.

To sum up what a dog contact allergy is; it’s any type of substance that comes into contact with your dog that causes a certain type reaction to any part of the dog.

Typically you will see contact allergies localized to one area on the dog. Instead of multiple places like you would see food, flea, or airborne allergies.

We’ve seen contact allergies caused from flea collars, flea treatments and bedding as several of the top problems.

Some people will wash there pets bedding in a chemical cleaner and cause a reaction. We’ve seen this several times at the store. A customer will come in and say they’ve tried everything and he’s still itching a lot. Sometimes just in one localized area, sometimes all over. We’ll ask where the dog sleeps. We may get back, on my bed; he has his own bed or something like that.

Then we’ll ask what they use for laundry detergent. After that we’ll suggest trying something else for a short time. Many times they will come back and say that was it.

Of course some of the first questions also asked are about flea treatment. Many of the brands that you apply to the back of the neck have potent chemicals in them. They have been known to cause some reactions. See our page on Dog Flea Allergies for more information.

Outside dogs are more prone to dog contact allergies than strictly inside dogs. They roll around the grasses that may or may not have chemicals.

Proper nutrition goes a long way to keep up the immune system that will help build tolerances up. See our page on Healthy Dog Food for more nutritional information.

If you move from one area to another, there can be subtle differences in the types of grasses. This has often caused allergies. Checking with your local vet or better a holistic vet, will usually yield good information about local type allergies that they have seen.

Look for things like changes in shampoo if you take your dog to a groomer. If you recently changed floor cleaners, laundry cleaners, added something to your carpet. Any of those can cause a reaction to certain dogs.

If you have a particular problem and you need some ideas, feel free to contact us on our Ask Us A Nutritional Question page.

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