Dog Allergy - Treatment And Prevention

Tuesday, October 21st, 2008

by: Dermot Condell

We know enough to care for our skin and keep dermatitis at bay. Just as in humans a dog allergy can be very painful and uncomfortable. A dog allergy can be extremely trying for both dog and owner. Unlike dogs, we look after our allergies, mainly because we are able to.

It’s quite possible, when your dog has an allergy; it’s something he/she will have for life. While difficult to diagnose, it’s important to beware of your dog’s signs if you’re to provide effective relieve to your dog’s allergies. Rarely will dogs grow out of their allergies, plus, it’s also unlikely that dog allergies are one-off.

Generally, most dog allergies can be traced back to a dog’s diet. If the symptoms that your dog displays, leads to confusing diagnoses, it’s best to seek advice from your veterinarian. Your first priority when dealing with your dog’s allergies should be a visit to the vet.

The sooner one acts, and starts treating their dog’s allergies the easier and less stressful it will be in the long run. Properly treating the symptoms of your dog’s allergies will certainly bring relief to your dog, but dealing with the cause of your dog’s allergy should greatly reduce distress in your dog.

Some believe using natural diets and treatments offer less harmful side effects than conventional commercial based products. More and more dog owners are looking to natural solutions in the treatment of their dog’s allergies. While it’s always advised that you seek the advice of your Veterinarian when treating dog allergies, it can also be well worth looking to some alternative methods. In the book, “Veterinary Secrets Revealed” (available at http://veterinary-secrets-revealed.com), Dr. Andrew Jones focuses on alternative home treatments for dog allergies. According to Dr. Jones, allergies are one of the most common reasons that he sees pets.

A simple change in what your dog eats, plays with or sleeps on, could be all that is needed to put an end to your dog’s pain. The use of medicated shampoos or creams on your dog’s dry or itchy skin may play a key role in making your dog less susceptible to allergies. Without a doubt, preventing your dog’s allergies is by far, a much better option than constantly trying to cure what ails them. Treatment of dog allergies is an on-going process, while prevention is better in the long run.

Remember, it is essential that you be proficient in spotting the signs in order to correctly control and treat your dog’s allergies. So, if your dog is itching or scratching more than usual, shedding its skin, or suffer from unexplainable sores, then it is more than likely your dog has an allergy of some sort and a trip to the vet is advised.

About The Author
Visit Dermot Condell’s website at http://TrainingAndHealthForDogs.com/blog to learn more about caring for our four legged friends where he shares lots of free dog training and dog health tips and information.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Posted in Health & Fitness | No Comments »

Does Your Dog Suffer From Allergies?

Sunday, August 17th, 2008

by Rebecca Prescott

Dogs can get allergies for a variety of reasons, but there are a few culprits that lead to a state of a weakened immune system. Once a dog has a weakened immune system, he may start having allergic reactions to things that would not normally bother a healthy, strong dog. And he may develop a serious autoimmune problem like inflammatory bowel disease or hyperthyroidism.

According to Richard Pitcairn, these things may lead to a dog developing a weakened immune system:

* combination injections used a lot
* excessive use of cortisone drugs
* commercial dog food diets

The latter is an interesting point, as even in miler cases of allergy, dogs may be allergic to some of the commercial foods we feed them. He suggests switching to a special healing diet, made from food you prepare yourself, for about 2 or 3 months. If after this time there is no improvement, then it is safe to safe that food is not causing the allergy. Dr Pitcairn’s recommended allergy diet includes grains like brown rice, bone meal, meat, and vitamins.

Once the dog has been on this diet for a few months, you can start introducing foods that he used to eat, gradually. It’s best to introduce the foods one at a time, so you have a chance to see whether a reaction occurs after he eats it. Once a food, or ingredient has been identified, the option exists to find a good quality dog food that doesn’t contain those ingredients. There exist special foods that are formulated for dogs with skin conditions, and these might be more suitable.

Foods are not the only substances that can trigger an allergy however. Your dog may be allergic to:

* chlorine or other household chemical agents
* cleaning chemicals, either in your house or yard
* gases released from chemicals in our furniture or buildings
* synthetic carpets
* plastic food bowls
* some types of grass or plants
* regular dog care products like heartworm or flea products
* flea bites

The symptoms of a dog suffering from an allergy could be one or more of the following:

* itchy skin
* skin eruptions (especially at the base of the tail and on the lower part of his back)
* inflamed ears
* too much licking of the front feet
* problems in the digestive tract including gas, gurgling of the stomach, loose stools or diarrhea
* inflammation of the toes
* his rear end is irritated
* licking and dragging his rear end on the floor

References: Dr Pitcairn, Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs And Cats

If you’re interested in feeding your dog a natural diet, learn about dogs and carbohydrates here.

Lady Pens

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Posted in Health & Fitness | No Comments »