Best Food For Dogs

Tag: Allergen

  • Does Your Dog Need Hypoallergenic Dog Food?

    Would you be able to tell if your dog needed hypoallergenic dog food? The main reason to feed hypoallergenic food is when your dog is showing symptoms of allergies. Some of the most common symptoms of allergies caused by foods are loss of appetite, sneezing, runny nose, watery eyes, upset stomach, irritated skin, breathing problems and gastrointestinal difficulties.  Foods that are the most frequent offenders include dairy products, yeast, wheat, soy, chicken, beef and eggs. Less common but worth mention is lactose intolerance as an allergen.  

    If your dog is showing signs of allergic symptoms such as throwing up, diarrhea or constant scratching and inflamed red skin, it is recommended that you quickly start them on a diet of hypoallergenic dog food.

    How to Isolate the Allergen

    If your dog was showing allergic symptoms and you put them on a hypoallergenic food, did the symptoms improve?  Note: It can take up to 8-12 weeks for symptoms to disappear so be patient and give the hypoallergenic food a good trail period. If the symptoms disappear you can be certain there is an allergy involved and you will need to isolate it in order to avoid it in the future.

    Isolating an allergen is easier said than done. After all, man’s best friend doesn’t talk much and thus, it is hard sometimes to ascertain how they are feeling. However, though it may not be immediate to find the offending allergen, it is not really all that difficult.

    The method most commonly recommended is an “add-back” approach to your pet’s diet.
    After changing your dog’s diet to hypoallergenic food and eliminating all allergic symptoms, one at a time add back one ingredient of the allergy causing food.  For example, add corn, wheat or a specific type of meat. Then you simply wait and see if any allergic symptoms return. If so, you are safe in assuming that the allergen is in the food you returned to the diet.

    Never Ignore Altered Behavior

    Whenever your dog shows new behaviors such as obsessive scratching and licking or digging at their ears, pay attention! This type of behavior change is often indicative that your dog is under some form of stress and is very uncomfortable; commonly the source of the stress is an allergy. Just like people, dogs can “grow into” an allergy by becoming sensitized to an allergen over time. Just because your Goldendoodle puppy does not have an allergy now does not necessarily mean they will live their entire life allergy free. Always be in tune to your dogs behavior so that if it changes, you will notice it sooner rather than later.

    Testing for Allergies

    Your vet can run allergy tests and determine what your dog is allergic to. However, it is an expensive alternative for making the determination, especially when compared to simply changing their food.

    If your dog shows any of the classic symptoms of allergies, hypoallergenic dog food is the most highly recommended method to alleviate the problem.

    John Bolt, his wife and their much loved Goldendoodle, live in Ontario, Canada where John works retail by day and maintains his website by night. When not on the golf course with his golf range finder, he’s doing his dog training to learn how to stop barking dogs including his beloved Daly.

    Article from articlesbase.com

  • Dog Allergies Treatment and Causes

    Any dog owner has probably heard about dog allergies. The truth is, there are a lot of dog allergens in the environment and they can affect canines through the air, water, food, or environment. Because canines are very adventurous animals, it is almost impossible for them to keep away from possible allergens, and every dog owner has to face the problem of finding the best cure for their dogs’ allergies.

    Dog allergies come in many forms. There are allergies which can be triggered by the simple skin contact of a dog to an allergen, by ingestion, and even by inhalation. A lot of everyday objects found in the environment can cause allergies to dogs, and dog owners need to be careful about exposing their pets to these possible allergens.

    Allergies caused by simple contact on the skin are called contact allergies. These may be caused by grass, plants, and toxic chemicals. Food allergies are acquired from the ingestion of allergens like soy, wheat, yeast, beef, and other foods not meant for canine consumption. Inhalant allergies can be developed from airborne substances like smoke, pollution, and even air fresheners.

    One form of contact allergy that has been classified as a form of allergy itself is flea allergy. This is the most prevalent form of allergy in dogs, thus the major classification. Fleas are tiny parasitic creatures that suck blood from bigger animals. What causes the allergic reaction is the saliva of the flea, and not the bite itself.

    Whatever type of allergy a dog may acquire, when a dog is afflicted by it, the skin is always affected. Itchiness and inflammation develop on certain areas of the dog’s skin, and like any living thing, its instinct is to scratch the itchy area. After regularly gnawing, chewing, scratching, and licking on the itchy part, the tendency of the skin is to develop allergic dermatitis.

    This condition is feared by many dog owners because allergic dermatitis is very hard to cure. It may even infect a dog its entire lifetime. However, there are some treatment options that veterinarians prescribe to dog owners to use on their dogs. These options include topical creams, soothing baths, ointments, sprays, oral antihistamines, and steroids.

    Although they have been prescribed by veterinarians, steroids are not really effective in treating allergic dermatitis. In fact, they can even worsen the condition. When the allergies persist, it may be caused by a secondary bacterial infection. Because steroids have cortisone which can inhibit the production of lymphocytes, the natural defense system of the immune system of dogs will not be able to fight against the bacteria. Thus, steroids cannot help but only worsen the skin problem of dogs.

    Allergies have no real cure. However, there are treatments that can help soothe the itching and swelling of the skin. DERMagic Natural Skin Care products are effective products that can eliminate the itchiness and inflammation of dogs’ skin. They can also fight against bacteria and help in the healing process of the infected area. Every dog owner should have the proper knowledge about the needs and sensitivities of their dogs so they may be able to prevent the development of allergies.

    Jennifer is a dog and cat health expert specializing in dog skin problems. She suggests DERMagic all-natural products for dog allergy symptoms

    Article from articlesbase.com

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  • Spotting Dog Skin Allergies

    Dog allergies of all kinds are just as common in dogs as they are in humans.  Dog skin allergies are one of the most common forms of allergies that you may experience.  Dog skin allergies are characterized by having your dog chew, lick and paw at her itchy skin, her eyes and nose may have some sort of discharge (usually a clear discharge) and there may be digestive upsets involved.  Skin lesions are another sign that your dog is probably suffering dog skin allergies.

    What Causes Dog Skin Allergies?

    All allergies are a result of our immune system being hypersensitive to some sort of substance (which is referred to as an antigen or allergen).  Dog skin allergies can show up at any point of your dog’s life, though they tend to come about during the first five years of your dog’s life.

    The most common of the dog skin allergies involves dog fleas.  The saliva of dog fleas will often cause the area of skin where the bite occurred to become incredibly itchy and irritating.

    There are also atopic dog skin allergies, which is the result of your dog inhaling some sort of substance that does not agree with their immune system.  These allergens are similar to the inhaled allergens that bother humans, such as dust, mold, dander, and pollen.  This type of allergy usually is noticeable when your pet is quite young (under 6 months in age)  The best way to try and stop atopic dog skin allergies is to keep your home and the area that the dog lives in very clean and well ventilated.

    How are Dog Skin Allergies Diagnosed?

    Where the skin lesions are present on the body will often help the veterinarian decide if your dog has a dog skin allergy or not.  Your veterinarian may also put your dog on some sort of a flea medication, and different foods may be tried so as to rule out whether or not your dog is having a dog food allergy rather than a dog skin allergy.  Blood tests and allergy testing may also be involved in more complex cases.

    How do you Treat Dog Skin Allergies?

    Unfortunately, allergies are very rarely “cured”; it’s more a matter of trying to control them and to keep them in check.  Antihistamines as well as corticosteroids are popular ways to treat allergies, though some pet owners are also choosing “immunotherapy”.  This type of therapy is a bit controversial as it is not guaranteed to work, though if it does, it will take up to 12 months to work properly.

     

    To know more on dog skin allergies, dog allergies or other dog health related information you’re welcome to visit Nil’s blog at Dog-Health-24.info.

     

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  • Choosing the Right Dog Allergy Treatment

    If you have a dog with an allergy, choosing the right kind of treatment can be the difference between roaring success, and dismal failure. Of course, the first step is matching the type of dog allergy treatment to the type of allergy. Here is a breakdown of the types of allergy, and the recommended treatments.

    If Your Dog Is Allergic to Inhalants
    It may sound strange, but, like humans, dogs can be allergic to inhalants, like dust, pollen, and certain types of mold. Treatment for this kind of allergy could include avoidance, particularly in the case of dust or mold, where you keep your pet away from areas where they are likely to come into contact with the allergen.

    If the allergy has resulted in itching, as it is likely to do, using a topical treatment like a shampoo regularly will help. It’s also been proven that adding essential fatty acids to your dog’s diet is an efficient dog allergy treatment for inhalant allergic dogs too. More dramatic allergies may require anti histamines, steroids, or even immunotherapy may be required.
    Food Allergies

    Often very difficult to pinpoint, at least the dog allergy treatment for food allergies is simple – avoid the food stuff(s) the dog is allergic to. Place your dog on a hypoallergenic diet, or a home cooked diet with simple ingredients, and that should be the end of that. You could also use many of the treatments listed for the inhalant allergic dog above, however, those would be a temporary solution only, and as soon as the treatment stopped, the allergy would return.

    Contact Allergies
    These are probably the least common dog allergies – this is when your dog becomes allergic to an item, like a particular type of blanket, or a plant, grass, or another item in his environment. Dog allergy treatment for contact allergies is much the same as for food allergies – temporary relief will be gained by using a standard treatment, but for long term relief, simply remove the allergen.

    Flea Allergy
    Many dogs are allergic to fleas, and when bitten, they develop allergy symptoms. In this case, common dog allergy treatments may help, but the key is to keep the dog, and his environment, free from fleas.

    Remember, for every one flea you see on your dog, there are a hundred more in the environment, and even one flea can drive an allergic dog crazy with biting and scratching! Bathing, dipping and collars are the first line of defense, but remember to regularly treat his kennel or environment too, as there may be many fleas lurking there too.

    Whichever kind of allergy your dog has, finding an effective dog allergy treatment is crucial to his well being. If you’ve ever had hay fever or hives as an allergic reaction, you’ll know just how unpleasant suffering with an allergy can be. You wouldn’t want to grin and bear it, would you? You’d seek help. So do the same for your best friend – find him a dog allergy treatment that works.

    Your dog’s health means a lot to you, as well as your own. Keep yourself informed and learn more about dog allergies at CureDogAllergies.com, where you’ll find everything you need to know to keep your dog, your home and of course yourself free of allergies, and in tip top shape!

    Article from articlesbase.com

    Another very common dog health problem… dog allergies. Watch this video and learn what you can do at home!
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  • 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.

     

    To know more on dog allergies, dog allergy treatment or other dog health related information you’re welcome to visit Nil’s blog at Dog-Health-24.info.

     

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