Between dogs and cats, the most common house pets, allergic reactions are more predominant in dogs, said Karen Helton Rhodes, a board certified veterinary dermatologist who practices in Riverdale, N. Rhodes said one difference between allergies in humans and pets is that people tend to get allergies early in life and tend to outgrow them, especially food allergies. Food allergies are the least common allergic skin diseases in animals, although Rhodes said certain states, such as Florida and Michigan, see proportionately more food allergies in pets. As is typical with food allergies in people, the best way to diagnose a food allergy is through an eight- to 10-week strict hypoallergenic dietary log, said Bonenberger. With environmental allergies, intradermal skin tests and vaccines are given to see evidence of wheals (a firm, elevated, round or flat-topped skin lesion). read more

Tags: dogs, allergic, allergies, skin, hypoallergenic dogs, allergy