Human beings are not the only species that can suffer from allergies. Dogs can also have allergic reactions to objects in the home, chemicals and pollutants in the air, dog food, and their own hair and dander. Finding the source of these allergies can be difficult especially if the dog is allergic to a few things. If you have a dog that suffers from allergies, you may notice that they sneeze when around harmful chemicals, vomit after eating, have skin rashes, patches of fur missing, runny nose and eyes, or they may show signs of fatigue or restlessness.

Noticing these signs is the first step to helping your dog lead a normal, healthy life. You should monitor your dog for a month to see how it reacts to its environment, its food, and its own hair and dander. Since dogs need to keep themselves clean, they may be swallowing allergens that can cause an allergic reaction. The best way to combat a hair and dander allergy is to bathe your dog once a month and brushing the dog once a day.

Dog Allergies

If your dog has a thick undercoating, it will trap allergens and dander and keep it from falling off the body. After a while the dander will build up and fall off or be swallowed. If you have allergies, this could be one of the causes. Brushing the undercoating every day will help remove excess hair before it is swallowed or falls on the floor or carpeting. This will reduce your allergy problems as well.

Sometimes chemicals in dog food can lead to food allergies. If your dog vomits at least once a day, then they may be allergic to the food they are eating. Hypoallergenic dog food is available. The food contains fewer chemicals while providing your dog with enough nutrition. Try this dog food to see if it will reduce the vomiting. Wet dog food may also help your dog digest their foods easily. If the vomiting does not stop, you should visit the vet to see if your dog has other health problems.

Dogs that are allergic to cleaning supplies, mold, and shampoo may be more difficult to treat. You can switch to natural cleaning supplies that do not contain bleach and other harmful chemicals. This may help your dog breathe a little better. You can also have your home tested for mold, which could be causing your own allergies, and you can switch dog shampoos and try one for hypoallergenic dogs. You should not wash your dog more than twice a month as you could make the dog’s skin dry and flaky, which is why they are scratching and pulling more often than usual.

Taking care of a dog with allergies is easy once you have identified the problem. Asking a vet for advice is a good idea if you do not know where to begin. They will be able to ask the right questions and help you find the answers so you will be able to administer the proper treatments.

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Dogs that have allergies show many signs including watery eyes, coughing and sneezing, excessive scratching and biting, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and moodiness. When your dog is suffering from allergies, you may notice one or more of these symptoms. Learning what causes these allergies is the first step toward treating your dog and preventing further attacks.

Many allergies that dogs suffer from are caused by insects such as fleas and ticks, or by parasites. When you bring your dog home from a breeder or from a shelter or pet store, schedule an appointment with a vet as soon as possible. Make sure the dog has all of its shots and that is has been dewormed. This will prevent parasites from causing an allergic reaction in your dog. While you may have to do this more than once during their lifetime, getting rid of the parasites will help your dog’s temperament and keep them healthy.

Dog Allergies Signs

If you noticed small red bites on your dog or if the dog has been scratching the same area until bald spots appear, then they may have fleas, ticks, or mites. This allergic reaction is caused by insect saliva. If your dog has open wounds, you should wait until the wounds heal before spraying or bathing them with medicine that kills the insects and their eggs. Take your dog to the vet if this is the first occurrence. The vet may be able to prescribe an ingestible pill that will protect them from future infestation. You may also want to keep your dog indoors during flea and tick season.

When your dog vomits more than once a week or has diarrhea for more than one or two days, they may have an allergy to dog food. Switching to another brand or feeding the dog softer food may solve this problem. You should take the dog to the vet anyway so that they can make sure the dog is healthy. Extreme diarrhea will lead to dehydration, so make sure you have plenty of water for your dog to drink.

If your dog’s mood changes suddenly or you notice that they are not as playful as they once were, then you should take the dog to the vet. If the dog has eaten something it shouldn’t or if it is suffering from allergies, it will not want to play as much as it used to. Finding out the cause of their allergy may be difficult because, much like human beings, your dog may be allergic to more than one thing.

Research your dog’s breed to see if there are specific items it could be allergic to and see if they are present in your home. Monitor your dog to see how it behaves and what it is eating. Sometimes eating too much grass can cause an allergy attack. Once you find the causes of the allergy, take the steps necessary to reduce the dog’s exposure what is causing the allergy as much as possible.

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Are you sensitive? Do you easily get allergic to things around you like dirt, dust and some types of food? Did you know that your dog is likewise prone to allergies? Dog allergies, just like in humans come from many sources. If you can then make your home allergy free, your dog will benefit on this as well.

Please note that allergies in dogs may cause infections that will definitely hurt your dog. This is the reason why you need to know what is causing allergic reactions.

Symptoms of Dog Allergies

Below are some useful tips on how to help your dog cope with allergens.

Symptoms of dog allergies

• Sneezing
• Coughing
• Watery eyes
• Itching
• Chewing
• Biting
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

This is only a short list of possible symptoms. They are however the most common manifestation of a dog allergy. It is always best to consult your veterinarian if you notice your dog having some sort of difficulty due to allergies.

Causes of dog allergies

• Inhalation of household chemicals, i.e., carpet cleaner, detergent, air freshener
• Inhalation of dust from the air or his own beddings
• Pollen, during the spring and fall season your dog may catch many types of allergens
• Fleas, they cause extreme discomfort
• Dog Food i.e., beef, dairy products, wheat, corn and soy beans

You may not easily detect what may be causing your dog to become allergic. Thus, if you suspect that your dog is having discomforts because of allergy, immediately bring him to the veterinarian. Tests will determine what is causing your dog’s allergy.

If you have recently offered a new dog food, or a new dog bed or even a new dog shampoo and notice allergy symptoms, they may be the cause. In that case, stop the use of anything new and see how the allergy reacts. If the itching or red skin disappears, it is more than likely an allergic reaction.

Tips to help avoid dog allergies in your home

• Bathe your dog at least once a week. Cool bath with oatmeal may help soothe itching if fleas and mites are the problem.
• Vacuum and dust your home as frequently as possible. Please note that summer season is flea season. Spring and fall on the other hand may cause inhalation allergies.
• Plastic eating bowl may likewise cause allergies, if you can convert your dog to steel, glass, or ceramic bowl. This could be helpful.
• Wash dog beddings frequently. If he is sensitive, avoid bring him out until you know what is causing his allergies.

Treatment for dog allergies

• For an all natural dog allergy treatment, you may introduce a dog vitamin supplement.
• Veterinarians may advice antihistamines or other drugs such as benadryl.
• Medicated shampoos and sprays may also help lessen the itching. Oatmeal works well.
• Flea products may also be helpful. You may however need to avoid putting topical flea product on broken skin.

After series of tests, your veterinarian may advice avoidance of particular food or giving your dog nutritional supplement that will help increase his resistance to allergens.

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