Like humans, dogs also experience allergies to various substances found on their collars, beddings and food.
This exaggerated reaction, also known as hypersensitivity, manifests as visible skin conditions and is exacerbated by itching and scratching.
Thus, prompt diagnosis and treatment should follow immediately after symptoms manifest.
Types Dog allergies include allergies to food, flea, inhalants, bacteria, and contact with certain substances.

• Food Allergy- This type of allergy is the most likely type when dogs defecate more than three times in a day accompanied by itchy skin on the dog's feet, ears, feet, forelegs, armpits, and skin around the anus.
  Severe conditions manifest ear infections (chronic or recurrent), accompanied by hair loss, excessive itching, skin infections, and the appearance of hot spots.
  Unlike bacterial allergy, this type will not respond positively to steroid therapy.
  
• Inhalant Allergy- In dogs, this type causes severe and generalized itching, producing hair loss and dermatitis or inflammation of the skin.
  Dogs tend to lick excessively, causing changes in color of hair usually found on the dog's feet.
  
• Flea Allergy- The best way to determine if dogs have flea allergy is to look for hot spots along the dog's tail base and back.
  However, common symptoms include crusts and erosions of the skin, hair loss, pimple-like bumps, as well as crusts and erosions of the skin.
  Application of corticosteroids blocks the reaction and flea control strategies may prevent future occurrences.
  
• Bacterial Allergy - Dogs with this type of allergy tend to rub their body or face onto furniture or other household gadgets.
  Hair loss and appearance of red blotches are common and usually give off an unpleasant odor.
  Eyes of dogs inflicted appear red, itchy and watery.
  Antibiotics and corticosteroids alleviate these symptoms.
  
• Contact Allergy- This typical type of dog allergy shows signs of itchiness and popular eruption, similar to allergy against poison ivy.
  It affects the paws as well as the insides of the ears, especially after encounter with plants and grass.
  

Dog allergies affect not only dogs, but also their owners and other pets at home.
Prompt and proper diagnosis helps prevent complications and helps decrease the possibility of allergic reactions in the future.