1. Genetic predisposition: Certain breeds present with allergic symptoms at a young age.  Westies, Poodles, Shelties, Bulldogs, Boxers, Labrador and Golden Retrievers are common.
2. Vaccinosis: Over vaccination plays a role, although there is significant controversy about this.  Studies from Colorado State, Cornell, Michigan all show that vaccines can cause a hyperactive immune system.
3. Chemicals: Toxic effects on the immune system and lack of antioxidant protection from these toxins (dietary factors).

When an animal's immune system is inappropriate and overreactive the animal has a greater risk for cancer and viral infections.  It is almost as if the immune system is distracted with allergies. Mast cells or cell-mediated reactions appear to be the most easy to trigger, but if mast cells alone were the problem, antihistamines would be more effective.  There are hundreds if not thousands of biochemical reactions involved with allergic reactions.

Common Allergens

1. Grains of all types although the glutinous grains appear to be most common (wheat, oats, rice and barley); corn and soy appear less common
2. Red meats and chicken
3. Fish and fish oils (yes even good ones!)
4. Yeast and kelp
5. Human dander or other animals in household

Conventional treatments for these symptoms will focus on stopping the symptom with antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, steroids or antihistamines. Actually, skin scraping is important for itching dogs, especially young ones, to rule out parasites (fleas, mites, mange, ringworm or yeast). Many times bacteria or yeast will infect the animals secondarily to the allergies because the damp heat sets up a petri dish condition ideal for growth. In Traditional Chinese Medicine many of these treatments will help temporarily because they are "cooling" to the overheated immune system. But often after the medication has ceased and the body is less balanced, symptoms return with a vengeance. Veterinary dermatologists treat this condition of allergic dermatitis, atopy, or skin allergies with hyposensitization injection therapy.  This works less than 50% of the time but can provide a non-pharmaceutical route to control such severe symptoms.                       

Troubleshooting Itchy Skin

A logical approach to skin allergies:

1. Conduct a rigorous parasite finding mission including combing for fleas, skin scraping and cultures. Antihistamines can be administered and will perhaps help a little. Unlike steroid therapy or other immunosuppressive therapies, there are no long-term side effects to antihistamines.
2. Even if parasite tests come up negative, use a neem oil shampoo product once a week. Stay away from straight essential oils because they often do more harm than good.
3. Change the diet. Try switching to a grain-free diet. Raw is usually good short term, because it is a cooling diet. Cooling foods include: pork, fish, millet and green vegetables. If they are preparing their own diet, be sure they are at least adding calcium.
4. Add anti-inflammatory supplements including antioxidants. These may include bioflavinoids, vitamin therapy (especially vitamins C and E), omega fatty acids (cats need fish-sourced, dogs can utilize both fish- and vegetable-sourced) and Coenzyme Q10. Introduce one vitamin at a time and for at least three days before adding another one to see if any problems show up.
5. Introduce novel protein sources. Switching to meats, eggs and/or fish after a week can prevent sensitization to certain amino acids.
6. Consult a holistic vet. Skin allergies are almost as hard to treat as cancer if they are severe. Consult www.ahvma.org for a list of holistic vets.  Opt for acupuncture and herbs above all other approaches. NAET is ideal but there are few practitioners at this time.

7. If you cannot find a holistic vet, apply acupressure to the animal's immune gates. Over weeks and months of daily treatments this can help allergies very much. See the book Four Paws, Five Directions by Cheryl Schwartz for an illustration of the immune gates on animals.