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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.

     

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  • How to Treat Dog Allergies

    Dog allergies are one of the most common conditions affecting dogs. Dog allergies can be very frustrating for both yourself and your dog. The constant itching and scratching, paw licking and chewing, skin rashes or chronic ear infections can make life very unpleasant.

    Dogs allergies become noticeable when your dog’s immune system reacts excessively to substances (called allergens or antigens) to which she has been exposed. Generally, allergies show up in three ways. The most common is with the skin – your dog will itch and scratch either in one area or all over, or you will see skin sores or lesions. Another way involves the respiratory system and your dog may cough, sneeze, and/or wheeze, and there may be an associated nasal or eye discharge. A third type of allergic reaction involves the digestive system, when your dog vomits or has diarrhea.

    There are several types of dog allergies. Conventionally, Veterinarians focus on five different types, but I have grouped them into three areas – these are the most common allergies you will see with your dog. The first is external allergies, and these include flea allergies; the second allergy group is with food; and the third is environmental, and this includes inhalant, from allergens such as pollens and house dust mites.

    Dog allergies can be difficult to diagnose. Many of the symptoms you may see can be a result of allergies or of another illness. It is best to get your pet examined by your Veterinarian first, before trying any home or alternative treatments.

    If you know or suspect your dog has an allergy, you do have options. There are conventional ways to treat allergies that your Veterinarian will discuss, but I would like to focus on alternative methods in this article. In my book, Veterinary Secrets Revealed (available at veterinarysecretsrevealed . com), I focus on alternative home treatments for dogs and cats. Here are a few of the solutions you can try at home that I recommend for dog allergies.

    For Fleas – here is an obvious solution: eliminate the Fleas! Practice regular flea-control. Two natural ways to battle fleas include using aromatic herbs, such as Pennyroyal and Catnip, and Chinchilla Dust (“diatomaceous earth” – but make sure this is the type meant for pets).

    If you suspect that your pet is allergic to something in their diet, the first step is to stop all traditional treats (i.e. – milk bones) and table scraps. If your dog is still reacting after 3 weeks, then she may be allergic to her regular food. At this point, try the elimination diet. This means chancing your dog’s food to an entirely different type which she has never eaten before.

    The most important part is a unique protein source. There are a number of commercially available allergy diets for pets – one that I prefer for dogs is Fish and Potato. For cats, it can be more difficult, but one I have had luck with has duck as the protein source. The difficulty is that your dog can be allergic to anything in the food. Regardless, I highly advocate a more natural, simple diet that is naturally preserved, or a home-made diet. See my book or join my membership site, theonlinevet . com, for a choice of allergy diets.

    Whatever food you choose, it must be fed for 12 weeks. If after 12 weeks your pet it still scratching, then she probably doesn’t have a food allergy.

    With environmental allergies, dogs can react in a way that is very similar way that we as humans do. One way to help deal with an allergy to pollen and/or house dust mites is to purchase an air purifier for your home.

    For itchy skin, try an oatmeal shampoo bath with cool water – this can ease the itchiest skin. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes then rinse well. With the most severe allergies, bathe your pet twice weekly. Also, Calendula ointment (herbal medication) has been successfully used to relieve the itch. Apply a thin coat twice daily to affected areas.

    There are many herbal solutions for allergies. Phytopica, a combination of 10 different Chinese herbs, has been shown to be effective in scientific studies in decreasing the severity of itching. Xiao Feng San is a common Chinese herbal combination useful for atopic dermatitis (allergy to inhalants). The dose is 1/8 of a teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight daily.

    I hope you have found this article helpful. If you would like natural, holistic solutions for many common dog or cat health problems, visit my site at Veterinary Secrets Revealed.

    To your pet’s good health…

    Dr. Andrew Jones, a practicing Veterinarian, has a special interest in alternative, natural pet remedies. Visit his sites: http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com and http://www.theonlinevet.com.

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