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Question:
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"We've been treating our 2-year-old dachshund for skin allergies for more than a year. The previous owner never had a problem, so it has to be in our home. What are the most common causes of skin problems in dachshunds?"
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The problem isn’t necessarily in your home. Allergies tend to first appear in young adulthood, so it may be that your dog simply hadn’t "grown into" her allergies before you got her.
As well, although a tendency toward allergies can be inherited, it’s just the tendency, not the specific allergy, that is passed along genetically. In other words, dachshunds aren’t more likely to be allergic to molds while beagles are more likely to be allergic to ragweed; it’s individual.
Blood tests and skin tests are two ways of determining what your dog is allergic to. If she’s had one of those tests and the results were inconclusive, you should try the other type of test. Once the offending substances are identified, you can avoid them or limit your dog’s exposure to them.
Food allergies can also be diagnosed using a "novel-food trial": the dog is fed a special diet containing ingredients it has never had before for six weeks. If the allergic symptoms improve significantly, a food allergy is likely. The most common documented food allergies are to beef, dairy, or wheat, but allergies to egg, chicken, lamb, soy, and other ingredients are also seen.
Does your dog take antihistamines? If she’s been on one and it hasn’t helped, talk to your vet about trying another. Different antihistamines work better for different dogs.
For other causes of itchy skin in dogs, see my answer to the question "My bassset/shar-pei mix has been scratching his belly..." under this same heading.
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