Dogs Todays Information about dog breeds, food and training
There are many different factors that can cause a dog to develop an allergy.
Some of the most common allergens include pollen, grasses, insects and mites.
Dogs with allergies often suffer from itchy skin and irritated eyes which can lead to chronic ear infections. It is not uncommon for dogs to scratch so much they lose their hair or for them to chew incessantly on themselves in order to relieve some of the discomfort caused by their allergies. It is important that any dog who suffers from allergies have a veterinary exam done in order to detect what exactly has caused the allergic reaction as well as talk about possible treatments available for this type of ailment. The vet will want to know if your pet’s symptoms are seasonal, or if your dog’s allergies are constantly flaring up.
There are also many foods that can cause an allergic reaction in both dogs and humans alike. The most common food allergens include yeast, beef, chicken, soy, corn and dairy products.
If you think your pet might have a food allergy then it is recommended that you talk to your veterinarian about having them do an elimination diet trial where they only feed the animal one type of protein for three weeks before slowly adding different ingredients back into their diets until the allergen is discovered. It has been proven that fish oil is great for inflammatory skin conditions so for this reason it has become a popular addition to many holistic treatments recommended by veterinarians.
Holistic treatments involve using natural products and methods to treat ailments and diseases, rather than using medications.
The easiest way to get fish oil into your dog is by feeding them a few teaspoons of canned fish such as sardines or tuna. Another highly recommended treatment option for dogs with allergies is the use of supplements that contain omega-3 fatty acids such as evening primrose oils, borage seed oil, flaxseed oil and black currant seed oils. These can be added directly to your dog’s food each day.
Vets may also recommend antihistamine capsules or tablets which are designed to help control allergic reactions in dogs . Dogs with severe allergies may benefit from receiving injections of corticosteroids on a monthly basis in order to suppress the inflammatory response of the immune system.
If your vet feels that there is nothing they can do help your dog then you might want to consider having them put on a special diet that will cut out all allergy causing ingredients.
There are lots of hypoallergenic diets available online and at pet stores which use lamb or rice as their main ingredient.
Remember, if your dog’s allergies are caused by something inside the home such as dust mites, pollen or mold spores, then it may be necessary for you to get rid of this contaminants in order to treat these symptoms.
