Canine Allergies
The similarities between humans and animals are sometimes uncanny. With allergies and their many affects, you may be surprised how signs and treatment sometimes align. With the change in seasons, many allergies become apparent, and I want to help you determine if your canine has allergies and how to appropriately treat them, if so.
Some of the symptoms that let us know our pets might be experiencing allergies include: scratching, chewing of their skin, runny eyes and nose, sneezing, coughing, and possibly an awkward discharge. There could also be a severe odor coming from the skin. If at night you hear licking and you know your pet can’t sleep…they may be suffering from allergies.
Of course, we want to prevent these allergic reactions if we can, but we must find the root cause in order to treat them properly. Once you determine which type of allergy your canine has, then you can begin effective ways to hopefully solve the problem.
Now, there are three types of main canine allergies:
Food -If your dog is allergic to a particular food, it may take several trials of removing foods currently in their diet to see what is causing the allergic upset. Switching to a novel protein— such as kangaroo or duck (or one they haven’t had before) could help with the solution.
Flea – With fleas, dogs are allergic to the saliva which gets into their blood stream after being bitten. So, effort must be made to prevent them from even getting bitten.
Environmental – Dogs could be allergic to a multitude of things in the environment including grass and trees. So, one of two things can occur. 1- You can test for potential allergens. It could be costly because blood must be drawn and sent to a lab for analysis. Then, immunotherapy (allergy shots) can be created and administered, so the dog is gradually introduced to what could be causing an allergic reaction, with hopes they’ll build a tolerance. 2- For cost preservation, allergies can be treated conservatively by giving them Zyrtec and/or Benadryl. It won’t treat their condition, but rather control it.
Most canines won’t die from allergies, it’s just a nuisance. However, there are secondary opportunistic diseases and issues that could arise such as skin infections from excessive scratching where the animal could create self-induced lesions, or even yeast infections that come from excessive moisture from continuous licking.
No matter the breed, any dog can have allergies. It just depends on their makeup. But, it’s essential to pay attention to what’s in their environment— including in the common household— because dogs can be allergic to dust mites, dander, cats… even humans. Remember, don’t fret. Just seek the advice of your vet if you have any questions about allergy symptoms and treatment options.
