Allergies don’t just affect humans, dog allergies are more common than you might think and can severely impact on the health of your dog. Dogs can be allergic to many things including fleas, chemicals, food ingredients, pollutants in the air and even their own fur. Rather than simply administering medication, such as steroids, it would be better to find what is causing the allergy and remove it. This may not be easy however, especially if your dog has multiple allergies.
Dog allergy symptoms include wheezing, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, a patchy coat, runny eyes or nose and tiredness or lethargy. How do we determine what is causing your particular dog’s allergy? And, more importantly, how do we det rid of it?
One of the main causes of allergies in dogs is fleas. However this is simple to eliminate. Simply buy one of the products on the market that eliminates fleas or ask your vet to recommend one. Make sure you apply it regularly as fleas can’t be eliminated by just one application.
Another common allergy in dogs can be found in their food. Dogs can be sensitive to chemicals in their food or to one or more of the ingredients. Some ingredients in dog food cause allergies more frequently than others. Among these are eggs, fish, beef, chicken, corn and wheat. Please note that corn is a serial offender and is often used in cheaper brands of dog food as a filler. Ask your vet what he recommends, or there are also hypoallergenic do foods available.
Your dog may even be allergic to his own fur. This is particularly common for long haired dogs. When your dog cleans himself his swallows a lot of hair and this can make the situation worse. Washing your dog once or twice a month and brushing him daily will go a long way to combat a hair and dander allergy.
Do you use chemical cleaners in your home? Dogs may be quite sensitive to these. Use natural cleaning products or those without bleach or other harsh chemicals. Mold can affect your home without you knowing it. Testing for and removing mold will improve the health of your entire family including your dog.
Dog allergy symptoms such as itchy skin can be relieved by washing your dog in water with some added oatmeal. Dog shampoos that contain tea-tree, aloe vera or eucalyptus will soothe the skin and will temporarily relieve irritation.
Mixing some omega 3 fish oil in with your dog’s food can dramatically improve skin conditions in some dogs. Evening primrose oil can have the same effect.
For severe allergies, anti-histamines can provide immediate relief. However there may be side effects such as lethargy.
If your dog has allergy symptoms, it means that something in his environment is upsetting him. Finding the cause of the allergy is the hard part, but taking care of an allergic dog is relatively easy once you have identified the problem. Always ask your vet for advice if you do not know where to start.
