![]() ![]() It over reacts to the allergens and releases loads of inflammatory chemicals which create redness, swelling and itch. The immune system of affected dogs is also abnormal. These gaps let water out (leading to dry, flakey skin) and let allergens in (where they stimulate the immune system). With atopic skin, the cells have ‘gaps’ between them – like a dry stone wall. Normal skin cells are tightly packed together – like bricks with good quality mortar. The genetic cause explains why some breeds are more prone to atopy than others.Īffected dogs have areas of skin ( see below) that don't have a normal barrier function. While Some pets are unlucky enough to have both atopy and food allergies.Ītopy is an inherited condition – your dog has a genetic predisposition to react to environmental allergens. While moulds can cause allergies all year round, there are often spikes during spring and autumn.įood allergies can also cause skin problems, but these are separate from atopy. The Australia Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy have a nice pollen calendar if you want to know when common allergenic plants are going gangbusters. trees (eg plane trees) pollinate early spring. ![]() weeds (eg ragweed) usually pollinate late summer.grasses (eg ryegrass) start pollinating (releasing pollen) in late spring and go through to late summer.If your dog gets itchy (or has worse itch) during certain times of the year, she might have a pollen allergy because these are usually seasonal. pollens (from grasses, weeds and trees).Unless we allergy testing, we can't really say what your dog is allergic to. If you're interested in reading about the similarities and differences between allergic skin disease in people and animals, you might like this article: Atopic Dermatitis in Animals and People: An Update and Comparative Review. Generally, affects dogs start showing signs between 1 and 3 years of age. It may be that the itch and skin changes are just very mild in younger dogs and not so noticeable. In fact, it unusual for signs to be reported before a year of age. Unlike eczema, which commonly affects infants, dogs don't usually have atopy as pups. You can think of your dog’s atopy a bit like a person having eczema. You may have heard that term before in the context of the human allergic conditions: rhinitis (hay fever), asthma and eczema – also called the atopic triad. An allergy is an altered (exaggerated) immune response to a normally harmless substance in the environment.Ītopic dermatitis is often just called ‘ atopy’. Atopic dermatitis is inflammation of the skin due to allergy. ![]()
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