Us humans are not the only ones who suffer from allergies, dog allergies are very common and can be very debilitating for your dog. Dogs can be allergic to many things including fleas, chemicals, food ingredients, pollutants in the air and even their own fur. Finding out what is causing the allergy is better than simply giving medication, which may have side effects. 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. So what causes allergies in dogs and how can we find and eliminate them?
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.
Food allergies are another very common occurrence. Dogs may become allergic to chemicals in dog food or to the actual ingredients themselves. 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.
Environmental allergies – your dog may even be allergic to his own coat, especially if he has thick or long hairs. Dogs can ingest a lot of hair when they clean themselves and this makes the allergy 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.
Your dog may even be allergic to the chemicals used to clean your home. Using chemical-free natural cleaners such as soda bicarbonate and lemon juice will improve the health of yourself and your dog and save money too. 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.
A natural way of providing fast relief from dog allergy symptoms such as itchy or flaky skin is to bathe your dog in water that has oatmeal dissolved in it. 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.
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. Always ask your vet for advice if you do not know where to start.
Tags: canine allergies, dog allergy symptoms, dog food allergies