Three Most Common Dog Allergies
June 24, 2011 by Zyana Sheen · Comments Off
Has your dog lost his appetite? Is he no longer full of joy and energy? Is he reluctant to eat his food? Is he chewing and licking his skin off? Then he might be having an allergy. Allergies make dogs apathetic and cause vomiting and continuous scratching. This article presents the 3 most common dog allergies and their potential treatment. These are: food allergies, flea allergies and atopy or inhalant allergies.
Allergies caused by food are very common probably because the most popular allergens are ingredients used in almost all products on the market. Food allergies develop over long periods and sometimes the dog might not show any sign for years. The most allergenic foods are beef, dairy, corn, soy, chicken and raw fish. The symptoms are: excessive scratching, redness, skin infections, vomiting, more poops than usually, hair loss and hot, itchy points. Changing your dog’s diet is the only treatment that you can give to your dog. Hypoallergenic foods can be found on the market and they should be something like venison and potatoes or duck and rice. The basic idea is to feed your dog foods that are less common and he hasn’t eaten before. I would also recommend paying a visit to your veterinarian just to make sure you’re making the right choice.
Flea allergies are caused by fleas that suck the blood of the dog just like mosquitoes do. Dogs are allergic to the fleas’ saliva which irritates their skin. The symptoms are similar to those caused by a food allergy, including redness, itchy spots and extreme scratching and chewing. The first thing you can do if you suspect your dog of having a flea allergy is to give him a bath and shampoo him with a special, anti-flea solution. If the situation is more serious than that, you should consult your veterinarian.
The inhalant allergies can be caused by an item or agent that your dog interacts with. It can be a chemical compound, a cleaning product, house dust, mites, molds and even pollens. The symptoms include hair loss, skin infections, itching and chewing spots. The problem with this type of allergy is that it requires a long-term treatment, if not lifetime. You see, if your dog is allergic to grass, the treatment might be avoiding exposure to grass, but you can’t really do this if you live in a house with a garden, unless you’re moving out. So, the solutions in this case are creams, omega-3 fatty acids, steroids and immunotherapy.
Please remember that your dog’s health is important and the less exposed, the lower number of problems. Avoid unhealthy, full of preservatives food and also don’t let your dog to eat rubbish he finds on the streets. Keep a special room for dangerous substances you have around the house and don’t allow access to your dog.
Find out more information about dog food allergies and perhaps about puppy food!
Learn About Dog Food Allergies
June 22, 2011 by Pamela Kazmierczak · Comments Off
Dog food allergies are often extremely difficult to decide because there are several possible allergens. Widespread dog food irritants are wheat, corn and soy. Diverse kinds of proteins also give their share of allergens in certain dogs. But how do we differentiate it from other illnesses? Manifestations usually seem the exact same, until dog food comes into the limelight.
Should you notice your dog is excessively itchy and scratching, you may need to supplement his diet with Omega three, 6 and 9 to help nourish you dog’s dry skin and coat. If scratching persists without delay, and you noticed that your dog excessively and compulsively licks their foot, or chews and bites other parts of the body, it is a sign that allergies are already present. You may desire to establish what causes this dog food allergies early ahead of significant complications happen.
If we were to assume its dog food allergies and not because of environmental aspects, veterinarians will suggest substituting a protein source that your dog has in no way eaten just before. Lamb is generally suggested due to the fact it is not normally given to dogs for food. Lamb’s less prevalent than chicken and beef so it is something new on your dog’s diet plan.
The principal concept of introducing a different protein source to test your dog’s tolerance to an ingredient that is extremely suspected to be the main trigger of dog food allergies; therefore eliciting allergic response on your dog. Proteins are extremely regarded as an allergen because of its chemical properties.
Dog food allergies are typically blamed on protein, but for those who notice there’s no alter inside the state of your poor pooch, it is time to point fingers at carbohydrates. Start with items with neutral, grain-free formulas; then, try adding chicken for a week. If that goes effectively, then your dog is probably in terms with chicken. And that would mean a carbohydrate from your prior diet plan could be the culprit. Like what you did in protein, shift the carbohydrates inside your dog’s diet plan to determine what dog food allergies he has developed.
The real allergy testing can begin by strict compliance with the new protein or carbohydrate source for a week and then watch out for the results on your dog’s behavior and physical state. Notice changes like shiny coats, diminished skin irritations, lessened scratching, and positive manners towards you. Gone are the days of no appetite, weight loss, vomiting and diarrhea. Say hello to improvement, weight gain, plus a happy dog!
There’s no one shot treatment or diagnosis to decide dog food allergies; nothing in this world of technologies that will miraculously solve your whole dog’s allergy troubles overnight. You must do away with the old meal strategy and in with the new, hypoallergenic dog food diet plan. Working with this gradual, prevalent sense method combined having a very good high quality dog food should have your dog on the road to a cheerful, itch-free life. If your precious friend has dog food allergies, take heart, it is going to get far better.
The Author owns Hypoallergenic Dog Food. Go there now to learn more about topics such as Dog Food Allergies and more.
How to Control Dog Allergies
March 13, 2009 by Victor · Comments Off
For many people, the discovery of the fact that they are allergic to dogs comes with their ownership of the first pet dog. The most common advice given by doctors is to give the dog away. Although this is no doubt the most convenient way to solve your allergy problem, it is almost impossible to do for many pet owners, as they would have already fallen in love with the dogs. There are also many people who are persistent in keeping pet dogs despite their allergy.
Fortunately, there are many ways to solve this predicament that does not involve giving your dog away. Here are several tips to help you control if not eliminate your dog allergy problem.
1. Some dogs tend to shed more hairs than others. If you are allergic to dogs, it is best to get a dog breed that does not shed hairs as much. These are known as low dander dogs. Poodles and Terries are some example of such dogs. Even if you own a low dander dog, it is important to wash and brush your dogs fur at least once a week. If this proves to be unbearable, you should get a dog groomer or someone else to do it for you.
2. You should also keep your house clean and vacuum the floor at least once a week to get rid of stray hairs. You should also get specialized air conditioners that filter out allergens for the air current.
3. There are certain food supplements and vitamins that can help reduce and control your allergic reactions to dogs. Consult your doctor or your local pharmacist to find out more about these supplements.
4. Although many of us love to let our pets go on the couch and bed, this is generally not a good idea for those who are allergic to dogs. You should keep your dogs off the couch and your bed at all times to prevent allergens from accumulating on its surfaces
5. If all of these tips dont work, you can take regular allergy shots as your final resort. These shots should keep your allergic reactions under control.
What Are The Perils of Dog Allergies
March 10, 2009 by Allan · Comments Off
Like human beings, dogs are susceptible to many forms of allergies. They symptoms suffered by dogs is similar to humans. When a dog is allergic to something it may sneeze, wheeze, itch and experience skin problems. Like humans, allergies on dogs can become very severe. When a dog experiences some form of allergy, its immune system is weakened. A weakened immune system can then lead to further health problems. In severe allergic reactions, dogs can suffer from respiratory arrest and sometimes even death.
Although the cause of allergies among humans and dogs are similar, it is very often much more difficult to treat dog allergies. Dogs are unable to communicate with us to inform us of the food it has consumed and other vital information. Treating allergies on dogs is very much like treating allergies on a baby. As caretakers of our beloved four-legged friends, we must take certain steps to treat, if not altogether prevent dog allergies.
Scratching is often the most common symptom when it comes to allergies among dogs. Excessive and incessant scratching of the ears, eyes, and belly may be signs of an allergy. When this occurs it is best to give your dogs a good bath using anti-flea shampoos. If the incessant scratching persists after the bath, you should bring your dog to the vet immediately.
Food allergy is another common form of allergy among dogs. Dogs are allergic to a many foods that are normally consumed by humans. For examples, chocolates and grapes are considered to be toxic to dogs. You should always pay attention to the ingredients that are used in making the dog food consumed by your pet. There are some dogs that are allergic to certain type of meat. If your dog is experiencing some allergic reactions, try switching to another type of dog food (one that contains a different type of meat).
There are a host of things that you can do to prevent allergies. For starters, keeping your dog and its environment clean at all times will keep a host of allergens at bay. You should give your dogs a good bath and the floors of your house a good scrub at least once a week. A good air purifier with HEPA filters would also be very effective in getting rid of airborne allergens.
Your Dog Will Thank You For This
January 28, 2009 by Gabriel · Comments Off
Do you own a pet dog? If you do the following article will be helpful to you. As you might already know dogs actually do suffer from allergies just like we do. There are a lot of remedies for such dog allergies. One of the remedies is to use honey.
But a note in advance: The use of honey to treat dog allergies usually works only for seasonal-induced or environmental allergies. Meaning allergies that are triggered during certain times of the year ” like winter or summer or caused by the environment like fleas or dust mites.
Ok so why is honey so effective in treating certain classes of dog allergies? Firstly, honey contains local pollen which in small doses allows your pet dogs to consume it without risk. This is akin to how antibodies work in vaccines. Small exposures of pollen to the dogs immune system will help to build up resistance against seasonal/environmental induced factors.
Secondly, honey by itself has the ability to heal. For us, when we have a sore throat, what do we do? Thats right; we drink a warm glass of honey. Many people have also used honey to recover from wounds and various skin problems, either by consuming it or applying on the affected areas.
Of course it is not so simple as to just buy honey off the market-shelf, start to feed your affected dog and volia the allergies disappear. It is a little more complicated than that. The key factor that makes the use of honey effective against these kinds of dog allergies is to let your pet consume honey produced from your area. Let me repeat that again: Get honey that is grown and produce from where you live. The simple reason being that honey grown locally has the pollens which is native to your dogs environment. This will then really build up resistance against allergic agents where your dog lives. It makes little sense to feed your dog honey made from the other side of the globe. Unless you are planning to bring your dog for a vacation there that is.
Some more tips for feeding your dogs honey: remember that if your dog is larger in size they may need greater quantities of honey for it to work. General rule of thumb is one tablespoon for large dogs and less than one tablespoon for small dogs. You can even mix the honey into your pets food if they dont like licking off a spoon!
Give it about a months time and the effects of the honey should start to work. Hope that helps.
Should You Be Worried About Your Pet?
January 12, 2009 by Gabriel · Comments Off
Do you know that dog allergies happen quite more often than many people might suspect? Problems that can arise from these kinds of allergies include the internal organs and also the skin areas. The digestive system is also known to suffer as well.
These allergies develop due to their dogs consuming the usual diet for a prolonged window of time. Data has proven that dogs who have eaten the same type of food for more than 24 months often are the main causes of these dog allergies.
Yes this is not easy to distinguish initially as many pet owners are not aware what might be causing these allergies to their dogs. There are a few factors that can cause this besides food- induced allergens. One reason can be due to the change in seasons of the year.
Do not underestimate this factor as often the dust or weeds can wreak havoc on your dogs immune system. Take note that if you dog suffer from allergies only due certain times of the year then there is a good chance that this is due to seasonal factors. Or if your pet dog suffers from problems in their skin or ear during their puppy stages, then it is likely heredity and points to genetic factors.
Among the many ingredients found in dog food, your pet can react badly to any of them. Generally speaking milk products and dairy-related stuff will more often than not cause allergy problem among dogs. Look out for certain kinds of meats like beef or grain like products.
These food produce sometimes contains artificial flavorings that can create allergic reactions for your pooch. Lastly for food-related factors, take very careful note of fruits as they can also cause problems for your pet dog.
As always, the best advice is that if you think your pet dog is itching or showing any symptoms of dog allergies, take them immediately to the veterinarian. Get a full body checkup. These tests can usually spot right away what are the true issues that your dog is suffering from.
If you dont really like the idea of sending your beloved dog to the vet just yet, you could try to remedy it yourself if the conditions are not serious. One way is to first remove all the normal foods your dog normally eats. Then slowly introduce back each ingredient back into their diet. Once you see the allergy signs appearing after adding in enough food ingredients, you can isolate and guess what the allergic-causing agents are.
Try out this method for some time, say about a month or two. If you achieve good results with it than you may not need to visit the vet any longer. However if the situation persist, then its time to see the doctor.
As a side note, certain dog breeds are more prone to allergies than others. They are labrador retrievers, terriers and bull dogs.
