Have you started noticing your dog itching and scratching more than usual? Is the scratching creating open wounds and loss of fur on your dog? If so, this is a possible sign that your pet may possibly be suffering from dog allergies. Dogs do not get the distinctive red eyes and a watery nose the way people do when we are dealing with an allergy. Other warning signs may involve excessive licking of a particular area, or chewing their paws until they bleed.

What Are The Causes of Dog Allergies?

An allergy can occur when an animal\’s immune system overreacts to certain substances. The body produces antibodies as a form of defense when the cause of the animal\’s allergy passes into the body. These antibodies then attach to immune cells in the skin and various body organs. Thus, when the allergens gradually seep into tissue surfaces, the antibodies stimulate immune cells to exude powerful chemicals (named histamines) into the surrounding tissue. This then invokes inflammation and itching in the dog.

There are several points to investigate when attempting to pinpoint the root of skin allergies in dogs. An allergy which affects a dog\’s skin is typically brought on by at least one of the following: airborne particles, fleas, and food.

Flea Allergy otherwise known as Flea Dermatitis is normally brought on by flea saliva. That is why it is so crucial to rid your dog of fleas on a regular basis.

An atopic allergy is triggered by the breathing in of airborne particles in the atmosphere, like dust, mold spores, cigarette smoke and pollen, activate atopic allergies. If a dog is allergic to pollen, it will display symptoms, even if you keep it in the house as the allergens will move inside. Sneezing, wheezing and coughing often are symptoms of this type of allergy.

Food allergies are the third most frequent sort of dog allergy. The most probable culprits for food allergies in dogs consist of: soy, corn, chicken, milk, eggs, beef and wheat. Nausea and diarrhea generally are indicators of this kind of allergy in dogs.

Contact allergies are the least diagnosed variety of allergy in dogs and is brought about by contacting with something. Triggers can include plastic, wool and grass. Some dogs may have allergic reactions to certain chemicals in the household, but this is not very common.

Identifying Dog Allergies

A vet might be able to detect the cause, though it may involve a procedure of elimination to find the cause of the dog’s allergy and could even refer the dog to a veterinarian that’s a skin expert. In the case where fleas are ruled out, your dog could be put on an elimination diet for ten weeks. The animal is fed food he or she has not eaten before, such as duck, veal, and potatoes, with the past food being introduced in stages until the allergy reappears.

The allergen is thought to be one or more ingredients if the dogs scratching is reduced by about 50 percent of what it was previously. When testing for atopic and contact allergies, dermatology specialists use an intradermal allergy examination that operates by gently anesthetizing the dog with minute amounts of probable allergens which are injected into the skin on the shaved area. If the dog is allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become inflamed close to the area of injection.

Treatments for Allergies in Dogs

Keeping the pet away from allergens and remedying the symptoms of dog allergies are the best treatment approaches. Medications that include antihistamines and steroids may be suggested to ease consequences of itching and inflammation in dogs, although like all medications they might be accompanied by unwanted side effects and the long-term effects are not known.

Extended usage steroids is not advocated since these treatments function by repressing the immune system. Extensive steroid use may eventually leave your pet defenseless against infections, diabetes and other ailments.

Homeopathic Remedies

Luckily for pet enthusiasts, there are a lot of nontoxic and all-natural homeopathic and herbal remedies for animals agonizing with skin conditions.

Althaea officinalis root is a great and well known remedy for repairing the skin while Melaleuca alternifolia is often used as a topical to advocate healthy skin and keeping your dog’s skin clean. Homeopathic remedies like Apis and Ledum have impressive healing properties and are remarkably effective in soothing reddened and chafed skin, or minute bites and wounds.

Author Bio: Check out this page on skin allergies in dogs to learn more about treatment options. Click here to find out how one distressed pet owner saved her dog\’s life using a natural remedy for allergies in dogs.

Category: Pets
Keywords: allergies in dogs,natural remedies,pet health,dog allergies,treatments for dog allergies,dog health