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  • How to Deal with Dog Allergies

    Just like humans, dogs are also prone to having dog allergies.  The symptoms that dogs experience with dog allergies are also oddly enough very similar to human symptoms.  If you think that your dog may be suffering from dog allergies but you aren’t quite sure of the signs, here are some of the most common dog allergies and how you can spot them.

    Dog Food Allergies

    The unfortunate part about dog food allergies is that the ingredients that are in most popular brands of dog food are usually the cause of the allergy itself!  Some of the primary foods that cause dog allergies include:

    Milk
    Corn
    Wheat
    Whey
    Beef
    Pork
    Lamb
    Fish
    Chicken
    Eggs

    Flip over any bag of even the best dog food and you will see that at least one of these ingredients, if not several from the list, are included in the food.  Dogs who have a dog food allergy will commonly display the following symptoms:

    Coughing
    Sneezing
    Nose and eye discharge
    Hair loss
    Vomiting
    Diarrhea
    Itching
    Breathing difficulties

    Trying to narrow down what is causing the dog food allergy is really more of a trial and error process.  You need to try different foods with your dog and monitor his reaction to them over a 24 period of time.  This will help you isolate the ingredient that is causing the problem.

    Atopy

    Atopy refers to your dog having an allergic reaction to something that he has inhaled, such as dust, mold, pollens, and yes, human dander.  One of the easily recognized signs of atopy are excessive licking, chewing, and scratching of the face, paws, armpits, genitals, and abdomen.  These areas will have a red-brown color to them due to the large amount of chewing and licking that has been happening at the site.  You can visit your vet to try and determine the cause of the atopy, at which point you can then begin treatments such as cool baths with a medicated shampoo, allergy shots, antihistamines, and including omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids to your dog’s diet.

    Contact Allergies

    These sorts of dog allergies are related to your dog coming in physical contact with something that doesn’t agree with his immune system.  This may be by putting a dog sweater made of a certain fiber on your dog, your dog coming in contact with particular plants, wool bedding, flea collars or even using plastic food bowls.  To help treat this dog allergy, it’s important to deduce what is causing the problem through the process of elimination, and then remove that item from your dog’s environment.

     

    To know more on dog allergies, dog food 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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  • 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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