Final answer:
Histamine is one of the chemical mediators responsible for causing itchiness in allergic dogs, but it is not the only mediator. Other chemical mediators, such as cytokines, can also contribute to the itchiness.
Step-by-step explanation:
Pruritus is the medical term for itching, and histamine is one of the chemical mediators responsible for causing itchiness in allergic reactions. However, histamine is not the only mediator of acute inflammatory itch in allergic dogs. Other chemical mediators, such as cytokines, can also contribute to the itchiness.
For example, cytokines like interleukin-31 (IL-31) have been found to play a significant role in the itchiness experienced by dogs with atopic dermatitis, an allergic skin condition. Researchers have observed that blocking IL-31 can reduce the itchiness in these dogs.
So, while histamine is an important mediator of itchiness in allergic dogs, it is not the sole mediator. Other mediators, like cytokines, also contribute to the acute inflammatory itch.