How to Treat Allergies in Dogs
Allergies are one of most common problems seen in dogs and usually manifest as skin disease. Dogs with allergies can be very itchy, with red, raw, scabby skin. "Hot spots" are a common occurrence with canine allergies.
Instructions
-
-
1
Fleas are one of the most common causes of allergies in dogs. Fleas are often hard to find, especially if your dog has been grooming (i.e. licking at himself) frequently. This does not mean however that the fleas are not biting your dog. The rule of thumb is to assume that a dog with skin disease has fleas until proven otherwise by lack of response to effective flea control. See resources below for more information on effective flea control.
-
2
Bathing your dog with a mild hypoallergenic shampoo may help relieve some of the discomfort stemming from his allergies. Many shampoos are available at your local pet store or through an internet pharmacy. Examples include Allermyl, Allergroom, Oatmeal, Aloe and Oatmeal, Tea Tree Oil and Aloe Vera plus many others.
-
-
3
Topical medications which can be applied directly to any sore areas may help soothe your dog's skin also. Try hydrocortisone cream 1% or Neosporin ointment, available from your local pharmacy.
-
4
There are also numerous diets which may help to alleviate the allergy. For dogs, diets like potato and duck, potato and venison or potato and fish are possibilities. Try to choose a food containing ingredients, especially proteins (meat, poultry, fish, venison, etc.), that your dog has never eaten before.
-
5
Fatty acid supplements added to the diet can also help some dogs with allergies. These come in liquid, powder or capsule formulations. Examples are Diet Derm, Eicosaderm and Dermaform.
-
6
If your pet does not respond to the above steps, schedule an appointment with your dog's veterinarian. Your dog may suffer from something more than a skin allergy or may need additional medications which are not available over the counter.
-
1
Resources
- Photo Credit iStock photo
