Dog Allergies
Allergies in Dogs
In humans allergic reactions are usually expressed with nasal, or respiratory problems, such as a runny nose, sneezing and wheezing. Dogs, on the other hand, often manifest their allergies dermatologicallly - with skin rashes and irritations that often prompt chronic chewing, licking or scratching, or hair loss. Chronic ear infections, runny eyes and digestive problems such as vomiting and diarrhea are also symptoms of allergies.
When treating allergies, the first step should be to rule out other possible underlying causes. Your veterinarian should check for skin disorders such as mange or metabolic diseases such as hypothyroidism. These disorders produce symptoms similar to allergies.
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Flea allergies are very common in dogs. Normally dogs will experience only minor irritation in response to flea bites. A dog who is flea allergic will have severe, itch-producing reactions when the flea’s saliva is deposited in the skin. It is not the flea, but the protein in the flea’s saliva, that triggers an allergic reaction. Just one bite will cause intense itching and the dog may severely scratch or chew itself, removing large amounts of hair. Often the itching will cause open sores or scabs on the skin, allowing for secondary bacterial infection to set in. The most common area involved is over the rump, just in front of the tail.
Strict flea control is the most important practice to help combat flea allergies. Unfortunately, this is not always easy in warm and humid climates, where a new population of fleas can hatch out every 14-21 days. When strict flea control is difficult, corticosteroids can be use to block the allergic reaction and give some relief to symptoms such as inflamation and itching. Depending on the dose given, long-term use of steroids can cause serious heath problems. If a secondary bacterial infection occurs, treatment must include appropriate antibiotics.
Adding fresh grated garlic in small quantities to your dog’s food can help repel fleas by making the animal taste unpleasant to fleas. One vet suggests one crushed clove of garlic (not a whole bulb, a clove is one chamber) per every 30 pounds. Some holistic health practitioners recommend heating the garlic for easier digestion and not to give your dog garlic every day.
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Bacterial Allergy: Staphylococcus (Staph) is a bacterium found on normal dog skin. If the dog’s immune system is normal and there is no problem with his skin, the Staph causes no problems to its host. Unfortunately, some dogs develop an allergy to this bacterium. When this occurs, a dog will develop areas of hair loss that look very similar to ringworm. The patches are often ½ to 2 inches in diameter. These same lesions develop in true Staph infections and are easily treated with certain antibiotics. In a Staph-allergic dog, the infections are recurrent. The lesions usually clear when treated with antibiotics but soon return when the antibiotics are discontinued. After a while, some dogs become resistant to treatment with antibiotics.
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Inhalant allergies are the most common types of allergies in dogs. Dogs may be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens that affect humans. These allergens include: tree pollens, weed pollens, grass pollens, molds, mildew and house dust mites. Many of these are seasonal allergies, such as ragweed, cedar and grass pollens. Other types of allergens are constant, such as molds, mildew, and dust mites. The most common reaction in dogs suffering from inhalant allergies is severe, generalized itching.
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Food allergies usually develop in dogs to food products they have eaten for a long time. The allergy usually occurs as a response to the protein component of the food; for example, beef, chicken, pork or turkey. A food allergy can produce itching, digestive disorders and respiratory distress. Food testing is done with a special hypoallergenic diet that is fed to the dog exclusively for 8-12 weeks.
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Contact allergies are the least common of the five types of allergies. They result in a local reaction of the skin. Examples of contact allergies include reactions to flea collars or to types of bedding such as wool. The allergen causes skin irritation and itching at the point of contact. Removing the contact irritant eliminates the problem.
Apple cider vinegar can be used in a number of ways to help treat allergies. Use apple cider vinegar as a pet bath to treat skin irritation and fleas. After washing your pet with a mild shampoo, rinse with equal parts apple cider vinegar and water. When finished rinse off with cool water and repeat the bath as needed to treat fleas and skin allergies. Using a plastic spray bottle, mix equal parts of apple cider vinegar and fresh water.
Spray your dog daily to treat fleas, heal hot spots, stop itching and increase the health and luster of your dog’s coat. Adding a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar to your dog’s water or food daily can also help treat allergic conditions. Many dogs with skin allergies are helped considerably by frequent bathing with hypoallergenic shampoo.
Some allergens may be absorbed through the skin. Frequent bathing helps reduce the amount of antigen exposed through this route. In addition to removing surface antigen, bathing will give temporary relief from itching and might reduce the dose of steriods needed to control the sympotoms.
I personally have had good luck with a shampoo that I used on my bulldog. He had alot of itching problems and would get hot spots. If I caught it early this helped alot. Here is a list of many Pet Shampoos
