How To Treat Dog Allergies
Dog allergies are one of the most common conditions affecting dogs. Dog
allergies can be very frustrating for both yourself and your dog. The constant
itching and scratching, paw licking and chewing, skin rashes or chronic ear
infections can make life very unpleasant.
Dogs allergies become noticeable when your dog's immune system reacts
excessively to substances (called allergens or antigens) to which she has been
exposed. Generally, allergies show up in three ways. The most common is with the
skin – your dog will itch and scratch either in one area or all over, or you
will see skin sores or lesions. Another way involves the respiratory system and
your dog may cough, sneeze, and/or wheeze, and there may be an associated nasal
or eye discharge. A third type of allergic reaction involves the digestive
system, when your dog vomits or has diarrhea.
There are several types of dog allergies. Conventionally, Veterinarians focus on
five different types, but I have grouped them into three areas – these are the
most common allergies you will see with your dog. The first is external
allergies, and these include flea allergies; the second allergy group is with
food; and the third is environmental, and this includes inhalant, from allergens
such as pollens and house dust mites.
Dog allergies can be difficult to diagnose. Many of the symptoms you may see can
be a result of allergies or of another illness. It is best to get your pet
examined by your Veterinarian first, before trying any home or alternative
treatments.
If you know or suspect your dog has an allergy, you do have options. There are
conventional ways to treat allergies that your Veterinarian will discuss, but I
would like to focus on alternative methods in this article. In my book,
Veterinary Secrets Revealed (available at veterinarysecretsrevealed . com), I
focus on alternative home treatments for dogs and cats. Here are a few of the
solutions you can try at home that I recommend for dog allergies.
For Fleas - here is an obvious solution: eliminate the Fleas! Practice regular
flea-control. Two natural ways to battle fleas include using aromatic herbs,
such as Pennyroyal and Catnip, and Chinchilla Dust ("diatomaceous earth" – but
make sure this is the type meant for pets).
If you suspect that your pet is allergic to something in their diet, the first
step is to stop all traditional treats (i.e. - milk bones) and table scraps. If
your dog is still reacting after 3 weeks, then she may be allergic to her
regular food. At this point, try the elimination diet. This means chancing your
dog’s food to an entirely different type which she has never eaten before.
The most important part is a unique protein source. There are a number of
commercially available allergy diets for pets - one that I prefer for dogs is
Fish and Potato. For cats, it can be more difficult, but one I have had luck
with has duck as the protein source. The difficulty is that your dog can be
allergic to anything in the food. Regardless, I highly advocate a more natural,
simple diet that is naturally preserved, or a home-made diet. See my book or
join my membership site, theonlinevet . com, for a choice of allergy diets.
Whatever food you choose, it must be fed for 12 weeks. If after 12 weeks your
pet it still scratching, then she probably doesn't have a food allergy.
With environmental allergies, dogs can react in a way that is very similar way
that we as humans do. One way to help deal with an allergy to pollen and/or
house dust mites is to purchase an air purifier for your home.
For itchy skin, try an oatmeal shampoo bath with cool water - this can ease the
itchiest skin. Leave the shampoo on for 10 minutes then rinse well. With the
most severe allergies, bathe your pet twice weekly. Also, Calendula ointment
(herbal medication) has been successfully used to relieve the itch. Apply a thin
coat twice daily to affected areas.
There are many herbal solutions for allergies. Phytopica, a combination of 10
different Chinese herbs, has been shown to be effective in scientific studies in
decreasing the severity of itching. Xiao Feng San is a common Chinese herbal
combination useful for atopic dermatitis (allergy to inhalants). The dose is 1/8
of a teaspoon per 10lbs of body weight daily.
I hope you have found this article helpful. If you would like natural, holistic
solutions for many common dog or cat health problems, visit my site at
Veterinary Secrets Revealed.
To your pet’s good health…
About Author
Dr. Andrew Jones, a practicing Veterinarian, has a special
interest in alternative, natural pet remedies. Visit his sites: http://www.veterinarysecretsrevealed.com
and http://www.theonlinevet.com.
Source:
ArticleTrader.com
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