Summer Allergies in Dogs
Along with sunny days, beautiful flowers and warm temperatures, summer also brings unpleasant symptoms to dogs that suffer from allergies. Just like humans, dogs can become allergic to allergens in the environment that come out only during the summer months. Unlike humans, though, dogs typically do not experience the typical runny nose, sneezing and coughing allergy symptoms. Fortunately, a dog's veterinarian can prescribe medication that help the pet get through this beautiful, but often uncomfortable, season.
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Facts
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Dogs are often allergic to many items, including fleas and elements in their food. About one in 10 dogs, however, gets some type of skin allergy from components in the air, states The Dog Health Guide website. Dogs typically develop allergies between 6 months and 3 years of age. Breeds that commonly suffer from allergies include Shar-Peis, English bulldogs, Labrador retrievers and boxers.
Causes
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One of the best ways to find what a dog is allergic to is to pay attention to what time of year the symptoms present themselves. If the allergies occur in May, June or July, the dog is typically allergic to grass pollen, suggests The Dog Health Guide. If the symptoms appear in late summer, weed pollen is probably the culprit.
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Symptoms
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While many of the symptoms of canine summer allergies are the same, they can vary from dog to dog. Dog allergies typically present themselves as issues with the ears and skin. Dogs that are suffering tend to chew and lick their feet excessively, as well as scratch their skin. Chronic ear problems are often attributed to summer allergies, and owners may find their dog scratching his ears or rubbing them against the floor, couch or any other surface.
Diagnosis
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A veterinarian may suggest performing allergy testing for a definitive diagnosis of what ails the pet. Allergy tests are typically performed through skin scrapings or blood work. If a dog's symptoms are indicative of allergies, however, the vet may elect to treat the dog with antihistamines and see if they help alleviate the symptoms. If treatment does not work, the doctor may then recommend testing or refer the dog to an allergy specialist.
Treatment
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Just like with humans, antihistamines are often effective in treating allergies in dogs. Antihistamines work well against allergies because when an allergen enters a dog's body, antibodies go after the culprit. This action causes specialized white blood cells to release substances, commonly histamines, that cause the allergic response in the dog, states Web Vet. The antihistamines help the body combat that response and alleviate the symptoms. In addition, veterinarians often prescribe omega-3 fatty acids to help allergy symptoms. If an allergy is severe, the doctor may suggest giving the dog special serum injections that are formulated for the specific allergy.
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References
- Photo Credit lead dogs image by John Sfondilias from Fotolia.com
