How You Can Help to Control Your Dog’s Allergies

Any animal can become allergic to certain substances within the environment, and through eating food. This can be for many different reasons. It is also not uncommon for dogs to become allergic to certain allergens, but what we have to remember here is that dogs can react aggressively to them, and can exhibit extreme reactions. Allergens can affect a dog’s airway, skin, and digestive tract. Symptoms may include those of itching; red and scaly skin; runny nose; vomiting, sneezing, diarrhea, and swollen paws.

It is important to remember that if you believe your dog has an allergy, to pay a visit to your local vet to get them checked out. They may need an anti-allergic or histamine However there are things that you can do to help relieve symptoms and to even stop the source of the allergen while at home.

There are 3 really common dog allergies that you can help to control, but you must also get an assessment from your vet. These are allergies related to fleas, food, and the environment.

One of the most common causes of allergies in dogs is FAD (flea allergy dermatitis) which is actually a reaction to the saliva of fleas, and it only takes one or two to set off the allergy. The common misconception is that if your dog isn’t crawling with fleas then it can’t have FAD, but this is simply not the case. If you believe that your dog has an allergy to fleas, then medical advice should be sought. But you can also do a few things to help. Combing your dog’s fur daily can help to get rid of any fleas and flea dirt. You can also bathe your dog daily to help get rid of any fleas and to help soothe the skin. This will also prevent fleas from nesting on your dog, as they prefer ‘dirty’ skin. Using a non-oatmeal dog shampoo can also help. Pest repellent treatments are also useful.

There are many food allergies that a dog can be susceptible to. Symptoms can include: itchy skin; oozing from eyes; nasal discharge and coughing and sneezing. It can also present itself with an upset in the digestive tract leading to diarrhea and passing of gas. There can be a number of reasons why your dog has a food allergy, but one of the most common reasons is because they have been eating the same food for many years. Without a diverse diet, allergies can occur. This is when you need to work with your vet in order to find out what particular food is causing your dog’s allergy so that it can be removed from their diet. Other foods then have to be slowly introduced. There is also a list of the best dog food for allergies.

Environmental allergies that a dog can be susceptible to can include tree and grass pollens: mold spores; dust mites; cigarette smoke and household cleaning products. The basic rule here, if you believe your dog has an environmental allergy, is to try and find the source and eliminate it. For example, if you believe dust mites are the problem, then clean your dog’s bedding once a week and vacuum every other day. Give you’re a dog a weekly bath in order to get rid of any dust or particles that may have become trapped in their fur.

It can be really difficult when trying to find out what is causing your dog’s allergy. Do a little detective work yourself, but also make an appointment with your vet. That way your dog will get treated as quickly as possible and you can make the necessary arrangements and changes to give them an allergy-free life.

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