Pet Skin Doctor

Like humans, dogs can have allergic reactions to just about anything.  However, the most common allergens among canines is inhalent (such as mold or pollen), food or flea bite.  Unfortunately, diagnosis can be difficult because all of these allergies tend to manifest in the same way.

Symptoms of inhalant dog skin allergies include scratching, biting, chewing at their feet and constant licking.  Like inhalant allergies, food sensitivities primarily manifest themselves with itchy skin.  Lastly, flea allergies usually include severe itching, but it is not a reaction to the flea itself but rather to proteins in its saliva. Dogs most prone to this problem are not dogs constantly flea ridden, but those who are exposed only occasionally.  A single bite can cause a reaction for five to seven days, so many fleas may not be present to cause your dog severe itching.