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Archive for the ‘Dog Allergies Symptoms’ Category

Us humans are not the only ones who suffer from allergies, canine allergies are very common and can be very debilitating for your dog. Dogs can be allergic to many things including fleas, chemicals, food ingredients, pollutants in the air and even their own fur. Finding out what is causing the allergy is better than simply giving medication, which may have side effects. However this is easier said than done especially if your dog has more than one allergy.

Dog allergy symptoms include wheezing, coughing, sneezing, vomiting, a patchy coat, runny eyes or nose and tiredness or lethargy. So what causes allergies in dogs and how can we find and eliminate them?

A primary cause of canine allergies is fleas. Fortunately this is easy to control. There are several good products on the market to eliminate fleas on dogs. Make sure you buy one and use it according to the manufacturers recommendation.

Another common allergy in dogs can be found in their food. Dogs can be sensitive to chemicals in their food or to one or more of the ingredients. Some ingredients in dog food cause allergies more frequently than others. Among these are eggs, fish, beef, chicken, corn and wheat. Please note that corn is a serial offender and is often used in cheaper brands of dog food as a filler. Hypoallergenic dog food is available which omits most of the common allergens or you may choose to talk to your vet to see what he recommends.

Environmental allergies – your dog may even be allergic to his own coat, especially if he has thick or long hairs. Dogs can ingest a lot of hair when they clean themselves and this makes the allergy worse. Washing your dog once or twice a month and brushing him daily will go a long way to combat a hair and dander allergy.

Your dog may even be allergic to the chemicals used to clean your home. Using chemical-free natural cleaners such as soda bicarbonate and lemon juice will improve the health of yourself and your dog and save money too. Another cause of allergens in the home may be mold. This can be tested for and eliminated which will improve the health of your whole family.

A natural way of providing fast relief from dog allergy symptoms such as itchy or flaky skin is to bathe your dog in water that has oatmeal dissolved in it. Natural shampoos containing eucalyptus, tea tree oil or aloe vera can also provide quick, temporary relief.

Mixing some omega 3 fish oil in with your dog’s food can dramatically improve skin conditions in some dogs. Evening primrose oil can have the same effect.

For severe allergies, anti-histamines can provide immediate relief. However there may be side effects such as lethargy.

Dog allergy symptoms are a wake up call that all is not well with your dog’s health or environment. Finding the cause of the allergy is the hard part, but taking care of an allergic dog is relatively easy once you have identified the problem. If in doubt where to begin, a call to your vet will start you in the right direction.