Friday, November 30, 2007
Dog Allergies
Yes, allergies are as real for dogs as they are for you and me. In fact, allergies are one of the most common health problems among pets, and similar to humans, it is caused by the immune system having an overly intense reaction to something the body has come into contact with. Things like food, pollen, chemicals, bug bites, and more can set off a reaction of hormones and histamines flooding the bloodstream and causing various allergic symptoms. For dogs, these might include itchy or swollen skin, wheezing or difficulty breathing, or even a digestive problem resulting in diarrhea or vomiting.
As you might imagine, dogs that are suffering from allergy symptoms are pretty unhappy pets, and though there is no actual cure for allergic reactions, there are some things you can do to help your dog feel much better. Start by figuring out what it is your dog is allergic to. Sometimes simply removing that particular material from their environment can solve the problem. In order to figure out what your pet is allergic to, consider the four main categories of allergies. A food allergy might be the first option to consider. Though it seems like simply changing your dogs diet might be an easy solution, food allergies are actually on of the most difficult to determine. For one thing, food allergies symptoms usually do not leave the body for up to eight weeks, which means that you will need to keep them on a hypoallergenic diet for at least 8-12 weeks to decide if their food is the problem. You might also have to try several different foods to find one that does not cause an adverse reaction. Food allergies can manifest themselves in itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory problems.
A much simpler type of allergy to determine is the contact allergy. These types of allergies are caused by your pet’s skin actually coming into contact with a material they are allergic to. In this case, you can figure out what your pet is allergic to through careful observation. If the area around your dog’s neck becomes irritated, thick, or discolored, and your dog wears a flea collar, you can quickly deduce the problem as being the flea collar. Contact allergies usually give themselves away by the area of the dog’s body that is effected, and a little detective work will help you find the allergy and remove it from your pet’s environment. Another category that is very similar to contact allergies, but worthy of division, is the flea allergy. Fleas are an extremely common problem for pets and can cause extreme itching, especially for those pets with intense flea allergies. The allergic reaction is caused by the saliva that the flea secretes when it bites the host, and a single bite for hyper allergic animals can keep them itching for days. It is important to give your pet regular baths and perhaps use prescription flea applications or pills.
The last allergy category, and the one people are most familiar with, is the inhalant allergy. This reaction is caused by particles of things like pollen and mold that fill the outside are as the seasons change. However, allergies can also come from dust, mildew, and more. The most common symptom of an inhalant allergy is severe itching, often with a concentration around the ears, feet, armpits, or groin, but it can spread to the rest of the body, and dogs can even develop bald spots due to the constant scratching and chewing. If you notice that your pet’s allergies are seasonal, this means it is most likely an outdoor allergy, and you can help lesson their reaction by keeping them indoors as much as possible during that part of the year. However, if it is not seasonal, it very well may be an indoor inhalant allergy as well, and unfortunately, there is little you can do to prevent this.
The most difficult part of treating your dog’s allergies is determining what it is they are allergic to. Once determined, you have won most of the battle. Then you simply proceed by trying to keep that material out of contact of your animal. Your veterinarian can also prescribe medication that can alleviate the symptoms in order to help your dog cope when an allergic reaction is occurring.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of online petfinder services. You can find a variety of dogs for sale that will make an excellent addition to the family. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
As you might imagine, dogs that are suffering from allergy symptoms are pretty unhappy pets, and though there is no actual cure for allergic reactions, there are some things you can do to help your dog feel much better. Start by figuring out what it is your dog is allergic to. Sometimes simply removing that particular material from their environment can solve the problem. In order to figure out what your pet is allergic to, consider the four main categories of allergies. A food allergy might be the first option to consider. Though it seems like simply changing your dogs diet might be an easy solution, food allergies are actually on of the most difficult to determine. For one thing, food allergies symptoms usually do not leave the body for up to eight weeks, which means that you will need to keep them on a hypoallergenic diet for at least 8-12 weeks to decide if their food is the problem. You might also have to try several different foods to find one that does not cause an adverse reaction. Food allergies can manifest themselves in itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory problems.
A much simpler type of allergy to determine is the contact allergy. These types of allergies are caused by your pet’s skin actually coming into contact with a material they are allergic to. In this case, you can figure out what your pet is allergic to through careful observation. If the area around your dog’s neck becomes irritated, thick, or discolored, and your dog wears a flea collar, you can quickly deduce the problem as being the flea collar. Contact allergies usually give themselves away by the area of the dog’s body that is effected, and a little detective work will help you find the allergy and remove it from your pet’s environment. Another category that is very similar to contact allergies, but worthy of division, is the flea allergy. Fleas are an extremely common problem for pets and can cause extreme itching, especially for those pets with intense flea allergies. The allergic reaction is caused by the saliva that the flea secretes when it bites the host, and a single bite for hyper allergic animals can keep them itching for days. It is important to give your pet regular baths and perhaps use prescription flea applications or pills.
The last allergy category, and the one people are most familiar with, is the inhalant allergy. This reaction is caused by particles of things like pollen and mold that fill the outside are as the seasons change. However, allergies can also come from dust, mildew, and more. The most common symptom of an inhalant allergy is severe itching, often with a concentration around the ears, feet, armpits, or groin, but it can spread to the rest of the body, and dogs can even develop bald spots due to the constant scratching and chewing. If you notice that your pet’s allergies are seasonal, this means it is most likely an outdoor allergy, and you can help lesson their reaction by keeping them indoors as much as possible during that part of the year. However, if it is not seasonal, it very well may be an indoor inhalant allergy as well, and unfortunately, there is little you can do to prevent this.
The most difficult part of treating your dog’s allergies is determining what it is they are allergic to. Once determined, you have won most of the battle. Then you simply proceed by trying to keep that material out of contact of your animal. Your veterinarian can also prescribe medication that can alleviate the symptoms in order to help your dog cope when an allergic reaction is occurring.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of online petfinder services. You can find a variety of dogs for sale that will make an excellent addition to the family. For more information, please visit MyDreamPuppy.com.
Labels: adopt a pet, dog allergies, dogs for sale, pet allergies, petfinder
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