Many dogs suffer from allergies. The Yorkie is no exception. Over 20% of dogs have some type of allergy. There are 2 types of allergic reactions that a canine can have:
External
Internal
Without treatment, a dog can have an array of symptoms which can cause great discomfort. Sometimes, the treatment is as easy as making a small change in the environment.
However, in some cases, allergies can become so severe that it limits the dog’s ability to function. Physically symptoms can be very painful.
It if for this reason, that one must be aware of the symptoms, causes, preventions, diagnosis and treatment.
Is it External?
The first step is to find out if the allergy is external or internal for your dog.
External dog allergies will be something outside your Yorkie that is causing him or her to have an allergic reaction.
The Symptoms of External Dog Allergies
The most common symptom of an external dog allergy is itching. A lot of Yorkie owners wonder why their dog scratches so often. If your Yorkie clearly does not have fleas, the answer is probably a dog allergy.
An allergy to an external element may cause:
Itching – sometimes severe, some dogs may scratch open their skin, thus leading to potential skin infections
Fur loss – A dog who is constantly exposed to an element which the dog is allergic to may have patches of fur loss or areas in which the fur is dry and thin
In rare cases, a dog may only have the symptom of a runny or very stuffed nose. By the process of elimination, you can sometimes very quickly find out which object is causing this. We know of a breeder who's puppy had a severe nasal discharge which veterinarians could not diagnose. Using the process of elimination, she determined that it was the cute, soft stuffed animal toy that the puppy loved to cuddle with. Removing that toy and replacing it with a different dog toy almost immediately cured him!
Treatment for External Dog Allergies
Treatment will be a removal of the element which is causing the Yorkie to have the allergic reaction.
If showing the symptoms above, your dog may also be allergic to:
The carpeting in your home - Aside from changing your home from carpeting to hardwood floors, you can help your Yorkie by laying down blankets for him or her to sit, lay and play upon.
The carpet cleaner that is used – Try to use a cleaner that is hypoallergenic and odor free
Laundry detergent, which leaves remnants on clothing, sheets and more – There are many hypoallergenic laundry detergents available
Dog shampoo, this is actually quite common. It is highly recommended to use a high quality, hypoallergenic dog shampoo and conditioner.
Smoke – Not only can a dog be allergic to 2nd hand smoke, a dog just as a human can develop cancer because of it. It is recommended to have any smokers do so outside or in a room that is completely separate from where your Yorkie wanders. Windows should be opened to air out that room. Air fresheners will only mask the odor and not eliminate the allergy cause.
A certain fabric blanket, stuffed animal toy or other.
The most common allergy is to fleas. While fleas cause itching, a dog who is allergic will actually be allergic to the saliva of the fleas. For this reason, it is very important to always use free protection for your Yorkie. If you can actually see fleas, you will want to clean all sheets, blankets, dog beds and such in hot water and dry them on a hot cycle. The house must be treated for fleas with a fogger. Your Yorkie must be cleansed with a flea shampoo.
If your dog has sores, missing or thinning fur, gently rubbing vitamin E oil onto these areas can help your dog heal.
Giving your Yorkie an Omega 3 fatty acid dog supplement can speed up the healing process, as well.
Bathing your dog in an oatmeal based dog shampoo can be very soothing
Watch for skin irritations that have developed into sores and/or open leaking scabs. This will be a sign that an infection has developed. A veterinarian must treat this with antibiotics.
Is it Internal?
The most common internal allergy for dogs is their dog food. There are other elements also, such as a rare allergic reaction to medication.
Symptoms of Internal Dog Allergies
Internal dog allergies may cause:
Coughing
Sneezing
A shortness of breath
Wheezing noises
Snoring
A discharge of mucus from the Yorkie’s mouth or nose
Vomiting – a sign that the allergy is a food related one
Diarrhea – another sign that your dog is allergic to their dog food or an ingredient in it
Treatment for Dog Food Allergies
If your Yorkshire Terrier is vomiting and/or having diarrhea this should be checked out by the veterinarian to rule out any other medical causes. If it is determined that your Yorkie is having a food allergy, you have 2 options. You may:
Switch to a hypoallergenic dog food
Homecook for your Yorkie
Dog food allergies are common you will need to feed a bland, yet healthy diet to find out which ingredient is causing problems.
If you decide to home cook for your Yorkie, you will want to begin with very simple dinners, with limited ingredients. Every 2 weeks, you can add a new ingredient and this should help you identify the culprit.
Begin with plain, white, boneless, boiled chicken and plain, white rice. Do include a full & complete dog food supplement. Adding a 2nd supplement of an Omega 3 fatty acid dog supplement is known to help calm down allergy symptoms. Dr. Sara's Healthy Home Cooking for the Yorkie includes some fantastic recipes for the beginning meal to identify allergens and recipes for wheat free dinners (as wheat is the most common culprit) Read More About Home Cooking
Treatment for Respiratory Allergies
Your Yorkie may be allergic to pollen or environmental elements which are inhaled.
For any symptoms that affect the respiratory symptoms such as coughing, sneezing and so forth, it is recommended to:
Keep your Yorkie inside when the lawn is mowed
Keep your dog inside during days of high pollen counts, this information is often displayed during weather reports
Just as with humans, running the air conditioner, having a clean air purifier in the home or running a dehumidifier can greatly help.
Treatment for Severe Cases
In severe cases, your dog’s veterinarian may prescribe a topical solution to be applied to your Yorkie.
Antihistamines may be prescribed. This medication is known to work in about 30% of all cases and only works when used together with Omega 3 fatty acid supplement and the elimination of the element which is triggering the allergy to the dog.
Immunotherapy is used in cases in which the avoidance of the allergy trigger is impossible, if the dog has shown symptoms for approximately 5 months and if other treatments of Omega 3 and antihistamines do not work.
The dog then will be given skin tests to check for hypersensitivity. Once a trigger is found, the dog will be injected with altered antigens on a slow and steady basis. These are given either weeks or months apart, depending on the type. This helps the dog become desensitized to the allergic cause and works quite well. Up to 80% of dogs show marked improvement.
In more severe cases, steroids may be given. This is given to the dog via injections or by oral form. Injections are usually given to a Yorkie with anywhere from a 1 week to a 6 month wait between shots. Oral steroids is sometimes preferred because if side effects appears, the oral does can be discontinued and the dog will stop having side effects rather quickly; once an injection is done, it can not be reversed. Oral steroids for Yorkies suffering from allergies are usually given for 3 to 5 days in a row and then evened out, usually every other day.
Steroid treatment for dogs with allergies is reserved for very severe cases, in which all other efforts have failed. Why? Because of side effects on the dog. Each dog will react differently; however the most common side effects are weight gain, excessive drinking, increased urination, hyperactivity, panting, diarrhea and/or depression. Yes, Yorkies can get depressed.
Long term effects can be a drastic change to the Yorkie’s coat, resulting in very dry coarse fur. The dog may develop skin issues and liver problems.
What You Need to Know
We have had experience with Yorkies who have had very unusual symptoms of allergies; that fall out of the normal classifications of allergic symptoms. It is sad how a simple allergy can be so harmful and discomforting to a dog. For this reason, we have put our combined knowledge into 1 easy to read format: The YorkieInfoCenter E-book (Yours to download in about 2 minutes) To learn more, just click here.
