Canine Skin Allergies
- what you need to know!
Do you know the signs of canine skin allergies? Wondering whether it's dog skin allergies that are making your pup miserable? Is your pup or dog always scratching, biting and/or licking himself? Does he chew on his legs, paws or tail? These are all classic signs of dog allergies! Most people don't realize it, but these allergies are actually very common, and can be caused by several different things : - Flea allergy
- Inhalant allergy
- Dog food allergy
- Contact allergy
Although it's pretty easy to tell that there's a skin allergy problem in your dog if he's constantly scratching and licking himself, it's not so always so easy to find out what's causing the problem. To help you figure out exactly what's turning Fido into a compulsive scratcher, we've compiled a list of the causes, symptoms and treatments of the most common canine skin allergies.
Inhalant Allergy
This is one of the major causes of canine skin allergies, and the resulting irritation is generally known as Atopy or Atopic Dermatitis.
Symptoms
- Often appear when dog is between 3 and 5 years old.
- Often seasonal in nature to begin with, but can become constant over time.
- Mainly seen as itchy skin. Your dog will lick, scratch and even bite at himself (especially his feet and belly), and may paw at his face and/or ears.
Treatment
Flea Allergy
Flea allergy dermatitis is an extremely common cause of canine skin allergies, and is caused by your pup's allergic reaction to flea saliva. It's easier to diagnose than most canine allergies - just look for fleas! Luckily canine allergy relief is also pretty straightforward if fleas are the 'trigger'.
Symptoms
- Excessive/obsessive scratching, itching and biting at the area of the bite (often around the tail).
- Red, inflamed skin (hot spots), often accompanied by scaly, scabby patches and hair loss.
Treatment
- Treat your dog for fleas using a Frontline Plus for Dogs. Use it every month during flea season (year round if necessary!). If the flea infestation is particularly bad, schedule a flea bath/dip for your pooch - your veterinarian or groomer can do this for you. Or bathe him yourself, using a good Flea Shampoo. Be sure to do this BEFORE you apply the topical flea medication though!
- Rid your home and surroundings of fleas too! Use sprays and 'bombs' such as those in Virbac Knockout Flea and Tick Area Treatment. And don't forget to treat your yard with a product like Adams Plus Flea Tick Yard SprayIf the infestation is really bad, call in a professional pest control company. It's important to treat your dog and your home simultaneously to avoid re-infestation problems.
- Apply a Hydrocortisone Relief Spray or Zymox Cream with Hydrocortisone to the itchy areas to relieve discomfort and promote healing.
- If your dogs skin irritation is really severe, or you think it may be infected (seems red, oozing, swollen or hot), contact your veterinarian. He may want to treat your pooch with anti-histamines or cortisone shots.
Dog Food Allergy
Dog food allergies are becoming more and more common as the lists of additives, preservatives and chemicals increase, while the quality of the other ingredients decreases. Symptoms
- Itchy, irritated skin that isn't seasonal in nature, or seemingly related to his surroundings/environment.
- Recurrent ear infections or chronic head shaking are often seen.
- Occasionally vomiting or diarrhea can happen, or a loss of appetite
- Symptoms of dog food allergies can appear quite suddenly, at any age, and are often a reaction to a familiar food rather than to a new one.
- If your dog has a 'dog food intolerance' (meaning the food upsets his tummy, rather than a true allergic reaction), he may suffer from vomiting/diarrhea/excessive gas!
Treatment
- Prevention is better than cure in this particular cause of canine skin allergies. To help avoid the development of dog food allergies in your puppy, feed a high-quality, natural puppy food to help strengthen his immune system and decrease his exposure to food ingredients that could cause allergies.
- You can follow an elimination diet to isolate the ingredient/s your pup is allergic to. This is also sometimes called a 'novel food trial'. It involves feeding your pup a completely new diet (with ingredients he's never seen before such as Wellness Fish & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food 15 lb. Bag
 or Natural Balance Fish Sweet Potato Dry Dog 15 lb. Bag , for a 6 - 12 week period. If the symptoms of canine skin allergies clear up during this time, you can be fairly certain his canine skin allergies are due to a dog food allergy. You can then begin to reintroduce other ingredients, one at a time, to determine which one/s are causing a reaction. - Dog allergy medications or shots are generally ineffective against dog food allergies.
Contact Allergy
This is the least common cause of canine skin allergies.Symptoms - Symptoms can come on suddenly, and can be intermittent.
- Can occur at any age.
- Itching and skin irritation can be localized (due to a flea-collar allergy for example), or generalized (as in an allergic reaction to a shampoo, laundry detergent etc.).
- Itchiness may be accompanied by redness, a rash, swelling, hives, bumps or hair loss.
Treatment - You need to isolate the cause of the allergy. This can be simple (an itchy neck due to a new collar), or more challenging if, for example, your dog has broken out in an itchy rash and you forget that you washed his bedding with a new, nice-smelling detergent.
- Bathe your dog with an PNP Oatmeal Shampoo or an Epi-Soothe Shampoo for Pets. Bathing your dog this way will remove the allergens from his fur and skin and help to make him more comfortable.
- You can apply an Itch Relief Spraywith Aloe Vera or 8in1 Excel Hydrocortisone Lotion to the irritated area to relieve any further itching, and promote healing.
- If the itch persists, see your veterinarian. He may recommend other types of canine allergy treatment, such as cortisone shots or other dog allergy medications. If you want to try an antihistamine that's formulated especially for dogs, 8in1 Excel Allergy Relief Tablets for Pets can work well
Or could it be something else?
The symptoms seen in canine skin allergies can also be caused by a skin condition called Mange.This is a disease is caused by tiny mites which live on your dogs skin, and cause irritation which can range from slight to severe. There are two types of mange in dogs - Demodectic Mange (most common in puppies, and less severe in symptoms) and Sarcoptic Mange. Demodectic mange is one of the more common causes of Hair Loss in Puppies. If your pup is itching, has patches of thinning hair or bald spots (particularly on the muzzle or around the eyes), Mange (rather than canine skin allergies) could be the root of the problem. Your vet can make a diagnosis and prescribe treatment if necessary.
Interested in a natural, holistic approach to dealing with canine skin allergies and more?
Then you need to read this book!
Random House The Allergy Solution for Dogs
Great information and advice on taking the holistic approach to dealing with your dogs allergies. Written by a well known holistic veterinarian, this book looks at the pros and cons of convential canine allergy treatments, and gives you a step by step guide to holistic treatments for skin conditions. If your dog is suffering from allergies, this should definitely be on your bookshelf.
Whatever is causing your puppy to have allergy symptoms, there's a gentle and effective remedy called....
Canine Stimmune for Dog Allergies
This natural, herbal supplement effectively relieves many of the most common canine allergy symptoms - working from the inside out.
Itchin' For Relief
This gentle all natural anti-itch spray soothes sore, irritated skin and helps to reduce inflammation.Specially designed nozzle gets the product straight to the skin, no matter what sort of coat your dog has. A big plus for those of us with long or thick-coated dogs! Effective, fast acting and economical.
(Click on image to learn more)
Canine allergies are not generally dangerous, but..........If you ever notice severe swelling or puffiness on or around your pup's face, this could be a symptom of a dangerous allergic reaction. You need to seek emergency veterinary attention right away. This type of allergic reaction can occur due to an insect sting/bite, vaccinations, contact with certain plants or other substances. It can be life-threatening, so act quickly.
Hair Loss in Puppies
Dog Allergies
Dog Food Allergies
Organic Dog Food
Natural Dog Food and Products
Natural Health Products for Dogs
Mange in Dogs
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