Dog Allergies – Is Your Dog Suffering In Silence?
Dog allergies might actually be more common than you think. In fact, many dogs suffer from underlying allergies without their owners ever realizing it. Owners tend to try and treat dog allergies as if they’re other ailments which only results in a dog that doesn’t get better while the owner wonders what more they can do.
Being able to identify, treat and eliminate dog allergies is easier to do when some basic information is understood about the different kinds of dog allergies that are common in today’s world, and how to go about handling the different situations. If you have a dog who suffers from a possible allergy, use the following guidelines to learn how you can take care of the problem once and for all.
Flea Allergies
Believe it or not, dogs can become allergic to fleas at any given point. Even if you have experienced flea infestations multiple times in the past, there may come a time when your furry friend doesn’t seem to be feeling well due to the predators they happen to be a host for at the time. Keeping in mind that fleas themselves will cause a dog to scratch and itch, insistent scratching is a strong sign that your dog is allergic to fleas.
Itching can sometimes be accompanied by pink skin that seems irritated, scabs and even open wounds due to scratching the surface for so long without relief. Using a flea treatment may irritate the skin even more so you may need to have your veterinarian give the dog a steroid shot in order to relieve the allergy so the skin can heal in order to treat them with flea medication.
Food Allergies
Dogs can display reactions to the food they eat, especially when they’re fed certain proteins such as dairy products, beef and chicken. Dog allergies that stem from food can be tricky to diagnose since there are so many variables, but enlisting the help of a veterinarian should help you be able to narrow down the culprit so it can be eliminated from your dog’s diet.
To avoid dog allergies due to food you can eliminate all table craps, junk food and canned food as much as possible. Unfortunately without knowing the exact food that’s causing allergy, it can be hard to narrow down. So the more streamlined your dog’s diet is, the easier it is to treat this kind of allergy.
Other Allergies
Dogs can inhale allergens that end up resulting in some serious symptoms. For example, a dog who inhales too much mold or even pollen can display serious signs of distress like trouble breathing, lethargy and even hair loss. These kinds of allergies can be seasonal in which a form of protection should be concocted with your veterinarian. However there is no specific age when a dog might develop allergies due to toxins and particles in the air so just because your dog wasn’t allergic to pollen last year doesn’t mean that they won’t be this year. In other words, you can’t rule anything out just upon simple observation. More than likely tests and other procedures will need to be done in order to determine the particular cause of a dog allergy.
Watery eyes, itchy skin, lethargy and a dry coat are all signs of air allergies. Female dogs seem to be more afflicted by these allergies than male dogs, and certain breeds are more susceptible as well including but not limited to boxers, Irish setters and Boston terriers. Dogs can even be allergic to grass during certain times of year so being able to keep track of everything they do and eat is really crucial to identifying an allergen and effectively treating it.
If you suspect your dog has allergies but you aren’t sure how to begin a healing process, make a note of everything you dog does and eats for a period of three days and then bring the information along with your dog to your veterinarian for a check up. The information you provide will prove crucial to the time it takes to properly have your dog treated. However if your dog experiences serious symptoms, don’t worry about gathering information before taking them to see a doctor.
