Can Stress Make Your Dog's Allergies Worse?

Written by Dr. Albert Nelmapius, DVM · Safari Animal Clinic & Laser Center, Tampa

Prepare yourself. This one is not for the faint of heart. You know me, always poking the bear and making controversial statements.

So, at the risk of offending a large number of you, here is my theory. I have noticed over the decades that overly pampered lapdogs, treated like dolls with their own personalised beds and collars and clothing and a princess lifestyle, are infinitely more likely to have a vaccine or injection reaction, a food sensitivity, or skin allergies.

Instinctively you know that even the daintiest little Yorkie or Chihuahua was bred to be a warrior. They need a job in life that makes them feel they are doing something useful. Their enemies are not lions and tigers, but they were bred to chase rabbits and rodents down burrow holes.

I have watched a jackal in the wild with a broken leg hobbling behind the pack during a hunt, because they know it is either work or it is time to die. There is no option of an entitled sleep on the couch while the others contribute. And guess what, he did not have time to waste chewing his paws or pulling out his hair. He had a job to do.

Where it goes wrong

Along comes a well meaning but misinformed parent figure who confuses training and parenting with permissive behavior, and there you have it. Fifi never touches the ground. She is carried around on a pillow and pushed in a stroller. That creates a horrible misunderstanding in Fifi's head. She no longer believes she has an important job in this household.

Giving a dog a feeling of entitlement, as opposed to earning love, is a cruel thing to do. Dogs raised with a purpose have self confidence and a willingness to please. Otherwise their brain has nothing better to do than sit and worry about the anxieties and stresses in life.

The antidote

The antidote to depression and anxiety is to give your dog a job, preferably one involving exercise. He needs to learn what to do to earn praise from you, not just get it willy nilly. That is the best tranquilizer nature has to offer, the opportunity to be a useful contributor.

And here is the part that comes back around to allergies. Owners who are extremely anxious about their pet are the ones who ooze stress signals during an injection or a procedure, and the dog picks up on every one of them. I believe that is a root cause of hyperimmune responses.

I know, I am exaggerating a little to make a point. But surely you recognise yourself in these behaviours, just a little?