What Can We Do For Our Dogs With Allergies?
by Sam Hardliman
Filed under Dogs
Sometimes, as we go about our lives, we fail to see the onset of allergies in our canine friends. We keep our busy schedules without knowing that our best friend is miserable at home. Our canine companions do not have the ability to treat themselves with Benadryl or other over the counter medications like so many of us humans take for granted. We need to keep an eye on them and know when they need help.
Inhalants (like dust, molds, pollens, grasses), flea saliva allergies, and even allergic reactions to the foods we feed our dogs can cause them to have allergic reactions which sometimes last weeks or even go year-round.
Scratching, licking, and gnawing to relieve their itches are usually the first signs of dog allergies. Your friend may also rub their itchy parts on almost any corner or rough surface available. I’ve seen dogs rub parts of their bodies on table legs, door jams, to name a few.
In some cases, the continuous scratching and licking can lead to large, red, inflamed areas called hot spots where the dog will chew and chew until they lose some, if not all, of the hair in that area. These hot spots can spread and it is important to get the dog to a vet as soon as possible.
Hair loss around the eyes was the first indicator of an allergy with my Chocolate Lab. When this occurred, he spent a great deal of time rubbing around his eyes with his paws or anything else. This made way to him losing hair around his muzzle as well.
Dog ear infections can also occur with the symptoms typically being the dog scratching and rubbing their ears with their paws and possibly making a moaning noise while doing so. We had a Golden Retriever with chronic ear infections. Our vet said there was a genetic issue that made her more likely to get ear infections over and over. These ear infections with some dogs can cause them to shake their heads violently which can lead to ear hematomas. This occurs after the ear flaps separate and fluid is allowed to build up between them.
If you think your dog has allergies, it is best to get them to the vet for a proper diagnosis. There are some conditions that have symptoms like dog allergies, but are actually something different. Your vet can give you suggestions on how to determine what type of things your dog is allergic to. In some cases, an allergy test may be needed as well.
Sam Hardliman helps educate people about how to help dogs with allergies and also learn about excellent remedies for dog allergies.
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