Have you began to find your dog scratching and itching more than usual? Is the scratching causing exposed sores and disappearance of hair on your pet? If so, this is a sound warning sign that your pet might be stricken with dog allergies. Dogs don't get the standard reddened eyes and a watery nose like people do when we are dealing with an allergy. Additional indications may include excessive licking of a particular area, or chewing their paws to the point of bleeding.
What Causes Allergies in Dogs?
An allergy can occur when an animal's immune system excessively reacts to given substances. The body will then manufacture antibodies as a type of defense when the trigger of an allergy passes into the body. The antibodies will then attach to immune cells in the skin and other body organs. Therefore, while the allergens progressively invade tissue surfaces, the antibodies stimulate immune cells to exude powerful chemicals (known as histamines) into the nearby tissue. This then leads to inflammation and itching in your pet.
There are various points to examine when attempting to find the origin of dog allergies. An allergy which affects a pet's skin is usually caused by at least one of the following: food, airborne allergens, and fleas.
Flea Dermatitis also referred to as Flea Allergy is frequently brought about by the saliva of the flea. That is why it is especially significant to relieve your canine of fleas regularly.
An atopic allergy is triggered by the the breathing of airborne particles in the atmosphere, including pollen, dust, mold spores and cigarette smoke, instigate atopic allergies. If a pet has pollen allergies, the dog will display signs, even if kept in the house as the particles will migrate inside. Wheezing, coughing and sneezing frequently accompany this type of allergy.
Food allergy is the third most common form of dog allergy. The most probable reasons for food allergies in dogs consist of: milk, chicken, soy, corn,
eggs, beef and wheat. Diarrhea and Nausea often are warning signs of this sort of allergy in dogs.
Contact allergies are the least seen type of allergy in pets and is set off by contacting something. Triggers could include plastic, grass and wool. Some dogs could develop allergic reactions to particular chemicals in the house, however, it isn't very common.
Identifying Skin Allergies in Dogs
A veterinarian should be able to detect the problem, but it may take a system of elimination to uncover the cause of the dog's allergy and might perhaps refer the animal to a veterinarian who's a skin specialist. If fleas are ruled out, the dog might be put on an elimination food regimen for a couple months. Your pet is given food he or she hasn't eaten in the past, for instance, chicken, lamb, and potatoes, with the previous food being reintroduced progressively until the allergy resurfaces.
The allergen is considered to be one or more ingredients if the animals itching lessens by about half of what it was before. To test for contact and atopic skin allergies, veterinary dermatologists employ an intradermal allergy examination that operates by gently sedating the dog with small quantities of potential allergens that are injected into the shaved region of the skin. If the animal is allergic to a certain substance, the skin close to the area of the injection will become inflamed.
Treating Allergies in Dogs
Keeping your dog away from allergens and treating the symptoms of allergies in dogs are the most beneficial treatment methods. Drugs like steroids and antihistamines may be prescribed to alleviate consequences of itching and swelling in dogs, but like all medications they can be associated with harmful side effects and the lasting effects are unknown.
Prolonged use of steroids is not recommended because these treatments work by repressing the immune system. Prolonged steroid use over time could leave your dog defenseless against diabetes, infections and other conditions.
All Natural Treatments
Fortunately for pet lovers, there are many non-toxic and natural homeopathic and herbal cures for pets living with skin disorders.
Althaea officinalis root is an outstanding and commonly accepted treatment for repairing the skin while Melaleuca alternifolia commonly applied as a topical to encourage skin health and keeping your pet's skin clean. Homeopathic remedies including Ledum and Apis have great soothing characteristics and are remarkably helpful in soothing swollen and irritated skin, or minor irritations and sores.
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