Us humans are not the only ones who suffer from allergies, canine allergies are very common and can be very debilitating for your dog. Dogs may be allergic to food, fleas, airborne pollutants as well as their own fur. Finding out what is causing the allergy is better than simply doling out medication, which may have side effects. However this is easier said than done especially if your dog has more than one allergy.
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. Fortunately this is easy to control. There are several good products on the market to eliminate fleas on dogs. Make sure you buy one and use it according to the manufacturers recommendation.
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. Foods that most commonly trigger allergies are corn, fish, eggs, wheat, beef or chicken. Please note that corn is a serial offender and is often used in cheaper brands of dog food as a filler. Hypoallergenic dog food is available which omits most of the common allergens or you may choose to talk to your vet to see what he recommends.
Environmental allergies – your dog may even be allergic to his own coat, especially if he has thick or long hairs. When your dog cleans himself his swallows a lot of hair and this can make the situation worse. Giving your dog a good wash every couple of weeks will remove excess hair and dander. Grooming him with a stiff brush once a day helps too.
Your dog may even be allergic to the chemicals used to clean your home. Use natural cleaning products or those without bleach or other harsh chemicals. Another cause of allergens in the home may be mold. This can be tested for and eliminated which will improve the health of your whole family.
Dog allergy symptoms such as itchy skin can be relieved by washing your dog in water with some added oatmeal. Natural shampoos containing eucalyptus, tea tree oil or aloe vera can also provide quick, temporary relief.
Give your dog some omega 3 and/or primrose oils. These are known to improve most skin conditions in both humans and dogs.
Anti histamines are a rapid answer to most allergies if nothing else works. They may make you dog lethargic during the day, but are a safer option than steroids.
Dog allergy symptoms are a wake up call that all is not well with your dog’s health or environment. Discovering the cause can be a challenge, but caring for a hypoallergenic dog is easy once the problem has been identified. If in doubt where to begin, a call to your vet will start you in the right direction.
