Dog Allergy Treatment Methods

If you think your dog is alone in suffering from dog allergies, then you’ll be shocked to find out that nearly 1/3 of all dogs suffer from some form of dog allergy in their life.  Dog allergies may be seasonal, they may happen only once, or they may be a chronic issue.  No matter what or when the allergies may strike, the number one goal of any dog owner is to seek dog allergy treatment methods that are available so that they can make their pet as comfortable as possible.

What Causes Dog Allergies?

As with human beings, dog allergies are a result of our immune system having a “hypersensitivity” to a certain substance, also referred to as an “allergen” or an “antigen”.  While humans tend to have nasal symptoms when it comes to allergies, dogs tend to develop skin problems.  These dog skin allergies may include a loss of hair, itching, chewing, hot spots, and even wounds that are a result of your dog seeking comfort from the allergic reactions.

What Dog Allergy Treatment Methods are Available?

Depending on the type of allergy that your dog has, the treatment may vary.  Below are some of the more popular and effective dog allergy treatment methods that are available to you:

Immunotherapy: Immunotherapy involves your dog receiving vaccinations that will help your pet’s immune system stop overreacting to the allergens in the air.  The shots may take up to one whole year to be effective, but once that time passes, then most dogs (up to ¾ of dogs) are protected from allergies.  Prior to going in for immunotherapy, your pet must have no steroids in his or her system.

Corticosteroids: The goal of using corticosteroids is to reduce the body’s inflammatory response.  Though these are effective, they should be thought of to be a last-ditch effort to try and offer your pet some relief from the allergy symptoms he or she is dealing with.

Symptomatic Therapy:  Of all the dog allergy treatment methods, this is the most homeopathic.  Treating your dog’s allergy symptoms symptomatically involves providing your dog with cool baths that may include the use of medicated shampoos, Epsom salts, or colloidal oatmeal.

Antihistamines:  Antihistamines are a popular choice amongst the dog allergy treatment methods as they are less expensive and are generally effective.  Approximately 1/3 of all dog owners report that antihistamines have a positive effect on their pet, though this number is skewed by the fact that owners tend to give their pet far too low of a dose for it to be truly effective.  Some antihistamines that you may want to consider giving your dog includes Benadryl, Antarax, Seldane, and Tavist.

Related Dog Allergies Articles