Finding Help for Dogs with Allergies

Allergies in Dogs

www.naturaldogremedies.org

When most people think of dogs and
allergies, they think about what it is
like to be allergic to a dog.


They don't typically think about a dog
with allergies.


It does happen, however, more
frequently than many of us may
think.


Allergies in dogs are becoming much
more common than they used to be.


With the rising diagnoses of allergies
in dogs, many pet owners are
wondering what causes allergies in
dogs, and what are the possible
treatments?


The truth is, there are a variety of
causes of dog allergies, and just as
many different treatments for dog
allergies.


Causes of Allergies in Dogs


There are a number of possible
causes of allergies in your pets.


For many pets, allergens come in the
form of bites from parasites.


One of the most common canine
allergies is a dog allergy to fleas.


They can leave your dog chewing,
scratching, and chasing his tail to get
to the root of the itch.


Food is another extremely common
allergy in pets. Dog allergies to food
can also leave your pet scratching
himself bald in patches.


Seasonal allergies are not unique to
humans, either. Our four-legged
friends can also often suffer from
allergies like pollen, grass, mold, and
weeds depending on the time of
year.

Your dog may be suffering from
sneezing, much like we do, as well
as itchy skin and eyes.


Many dogs also suffer from contact
dermatitis, a type of allergy which
causes a reaction when your dog
comes in contact with a specific type
of material such as grass,
detergents, or cleaning chemicals.

Symptoms of Dog Allergies


The most obvious sign that your dog
is suffering from some sort of allergy
is a lot of scratching.


You may notice your dog itching and
scratching, licking, and biting himself
more than usual.


Dogs most often manifest allergies
through skin irritation.


Even many seasonal and food
allergies present themselves as a
type of skin disorder.


If your dog has an allergy, he may
look like he has dry skin.


He will often scratch until he is
bleeding or bald in some places, and
his constant scratching may drive
everybody in the family crazy.


Diagnosing a Dog with
Allergies


Allergies are extremely difficult to
diagnose in dogs.


In most cases, the most obvious
causes of allergies are flea bites and
food allergies.


You can check for flea bites yourself
by looking for the presence of fleas
on your dog.


If your dog has an allergy to fleas,
you will see a lot of tiny red bumps
near his tail and on his belly where
he is being bitten.


Eradicating the fleas will be the best
means of treating this allergy.


Food allergies can also be diagnosed
through an elimination diet.


The most common food allergy is
going to be corn or wheat.


Check the bag of dog food for the list
of ingredients.


In most store-bought dog foods the
number one ingredient is usually
corn.


You should try an all-meat diet for a
few weeks to get the reaction to stop,
and gradually add in potatoes or
grain for starch.


Potatoes are less likely to cause a
reaction than rice is, but watch your
dog carefully.


For most dogs, eliminating corn from
the diet is helpful and will keep your
dog happy and allergy free, but
sometimes there are other allergies
which are almost impossible to
determine.

Determining the cause of contact and
seasonal allergies in dogs will
typically involve a skin test procedure
known as an intradermal allergy test.


A veterinarian will inject trace
amounts of common allergens just
below the skin surface of the dog.


If a reaction occurs to a particular
allergen, it can be concluded that the
dog is allergic to that allergen.


Conventional Dog Allergy
Treatments


There is no guaranteed cure for dog
allergies other than to avoid the
allergen that is causing it.


Desensitization has been used to
cure allergies in dogs, but it is
expensive and requires frequent
visits to your veterinarian.


Desensitization involves injecting the
dog with a trace amount of the
allergen in an effort to gradually build
immunity toward it.


This can require weekly vet visits
lasting for anywhere to 6 months to a
few years.


Less than half of dogs will get any
benefit from desensitization, and very
few are completely cured.


Instead, veterinarians typically treat
the symptoms of dog allergies by
prescribing corticosteroids or
antihistamines.


These treatments for dog allergies
are used to provide pain relief and to
help eliminate the dog's need to itch.


When using these types of
treatments for allergies in dogs, their
usage should be carefully monitored
by a veterinarian as they have been
known to cause harmful side-effects.


These drugs work by suppressing
the immune system which will make
your dog vulnerable to infections,
diabetes and other conditions.


Natural Remedies for Allergies
in Dogs


Due to the potential side-effects
associated with steroids, many
veterinarians are now turning to
natural remedies for allergies in
dogs.


Homeopathic and herbal formulas
have been shown to be both safe
and effective.


These natural dog allergy remedies
contain herbs that are known to
promote skin health by soothing and
healing the dog's skin and restoring
the coat.


Natural dog shampoos that are
oatmeal-based are also frequently
recommended.


Using both a natural dog allergy
remedy and a natural dog shampoo
will ensure that your pet's itching will
stop, and the skin and coat will be
restored to normal before you know
it.

For more information about allergies
in dogs and the natural remedies
available to treat the condition, visit:
http://www.naturaldogremedies.org/allergies-in-dogs


Finding Help for Dogs with Allergies

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