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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.

     

    Article from articlesbase.com

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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.

     

    Article from articlesbase.com

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