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.
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.
