Causes, Symptoms and Treatments for Allergies in Dogs

Allergies in dogs are a very common ailment.

Just like us, your pooches will have different reactions to environmental conditions that they are exposed to along with products that they ingest. Canine allergies can usually be dealt with without too much of a problem, although in some cases veterinary examination or medication will be necessary. Learn about some of the more common causes of allergies in dogs and the kinds of action you can take to help be as prepared as possible.

One of the most common allergies in dogs is actually a food allergy from a component of the kibble they are eating. Typically the problem is one of the protein sources, whether it's chicken, lamb, fish, soy, dairy, pork or whey. However wheat, corn and preservatives can also be to blame. These can be easily identifiable if you just changed foods, however food allergies in dogs can also develop gradually over time.

The best way to deal with this form of canine allergies is to find the exact ingredient that causes the allergic reaction and then to forego using any food products containing it. You can purchase hypo-allergenic foods from a vet or pet store and then begin working in new ingredients and foods one by one. As you test different ingredients and foods, be sure to refrain giving your animal any other food, any treats or anything else so you can really test to see what's to blame. Add one new ingredient or component per week until you can find what is to blame.

Other common canine allergies are what a lot of people suffer from also, airborne exposure to things like dust, dust mites, mildew, mold and pollen. Unlike us however your dog will be displaying symptoms on its body and its skin (Dog Skin Allergies or Skin Problems). You might find hot spots, patches with no hair and you may see your dog scratching, coughing, sneezing, biting or gnawing at certain spots repeatedly. He may also shake his head frequently or try to rub his head or body against the carpet.

"Treatment for Canine Allergies"

In the case of chronic canine allergies, steroids and other medications can be administered and prescribed by veterinarians. For the home remedy treatment, you can give your dog frequent oatmeal baths, wash him with hypo-allergenic shampoos and conditioners and more. This will help to keep him as clean and allergy free as possible. If he has very strong reactions in the pollen season you may also want to keep him indoors more, or at least prevent him for jumping into beds of flowers and weeds which can be potent allergens.

Topical ointments and creams may also prove to be helpful, particularly when there is one spot that has clearly gotten your dog worked up and if dog hot spots or other irritations have developed. Keep in mind however that this is only provides temporary relief and the source problem will still need to be dealt with as well. Even Benadryl and other anti-histamines can be used both orally and as creams.

Flea bites and sometimes other kinds of insect bites can also cause allergies in dogs. There are a variety of different flea medications or treatments that can be recommended by your vet. Keep in mind you also have to then treat your carpet, dog bed and other possibly infected areas as well to kill off the adult fleas and prevent a problem from reoccurring.

Some canine allergies can quickly turn into surprising emergency situations. These are not likely to be caused by something common such as flea bites (Dog Flea Control), dust or food as described above. Instead a likely cause here could be some kind of medication or vaccination (Puppy Vaccination), or a type of food your pet wasn't supposed to eat. If your dog has any visible swelling, has difficulty breathing, has a seizure or throws up there could be a severe allergic reaction and an immediate trip to an animal hospital is necessary.

Luckily most allergies in dogs are much more benign than this. It's on you as the owner to be attentive to your dog, pick up on new signs and symptoms and then go about narrowing down the sources. It could be a component of his food (Dog Food Poisoning), a seasonal change in pollen or ragweed in the air, a constant problem caused from dust mites or fleas or anything else. Once you know the source you'll be able to treat these canine allergies hopefully quickly and easily.

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