How to Treat My Dog Naturally for Skin Allergies
According to research performed at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Virginia Tech, approximately ten percent of all canines suffer from some form of allergy. Many canine allergies present themselves by affecting the dog's skin. While many medications can provide allergy relief for your pet, some people prefer to take a more natural approach to treatment. For those pet owners, there are many treatments that can provide safe, natural relief quickly.
Things You'll Need
- Flea medication
- Premium dog food
- Dietary supplement
- Hypoallergenic shampoo
Instructions
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Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to have an allergy test performed on your dog. Your vet may use a skin and/or blood test to properly diagnose what allergen is creating the problem so you can properly treat the allergic condition.
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Limit your dog's exposure to the irritant once you have determined what allergen is causing the problem. For example, if your dog suffers from a flea allergy, you will need to routinely use flea medication and treat your home for fleas. For skin allergies such as a grass allergy, you will need to limit exposure to tall grasses and weeds and vacuum your home frequently to remove grass pollens.
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Provide your pet with a premium dog food that contains hypoallergenic proteins and carbohydrates and few preservatives. Premium dog foods that contain venison, fish, potatoes, and brown rice often help to remove symptoms of skin allergies. You may also want to ask your veterinarian about the option of a prescription diet or home-cooked foods for your dog.
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Add a supplement to your dog's diet that is beneficial for their skin. Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil tablets, and olive oil all provide nutrients that help to improve the dog's skin and coat, which can help to reduce the severity of skin allergy symptoms.
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Use a hypoallergenic dog shampoo when bathing your pet to avoid further irritation to the skin. Many commercial dog shampoos contain harsh chemicals that strip away beneficial skin oils, which can aggravate a skin allergy condition.
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Tips & Warnings
If your dog is scratching and biting due to a skin allergy, use an Elizabethan collar and booties to stop their behavior. Excessive scratching and biting can lead to broken skin and infection.
Wash your dog's bedding often in hypoallergenic laundry detergent to remove any irritants that can build up in the bedding material.
Use of chemical cleansers, carpet cleaning powders, air fresheners, etc., can aggravate a dog's skin allergy.
Always take your dog to the vet if you notice a skin irritation that will not go away. What you may think is a skin allergy could be a condition called mange, a skin condition caused by parasitic mites that will require immediate veterinary treatment.
