Dogs, like humans experience dog allergies. There are hundreds of possible causes it might be the food, dust mites or even human around him. In fact, dogs are vulnerable to a wide range of environmental irritants.
How does it all start? At first you will notice your dog will be scratching, fidgeting, sneezing, or rubbing unusually. The reality is that these behaviors though very common are not normal. They are often a response to an allergen. Our pets develop an inappropriate immune response to particular substances, which leads to uncomfortable symptoms.
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Like any illness, you have to know what’s causing the dog allergies for you to determine the most appropriate cure you will provide for your pet. Knowing and removing the source of the allergic reaction is the key to ensure the maximum enjoyment of what is, after all, a dog’s life.
Best treatment can be applied if we seek our vet’s professional advice. However, prevention is always better than cure, so let’s first learn the few causes of dog allergies, whether it’s year-round or seasonal allergies. And here are some:
Food. This is the first thing that many people think of as cause of allergies. However, it is also the most common misconception. In reality, food allergies are uncommon in dogs, with only about 15% of allergic dogs being allergic to food.
Test his food for 6 weeks and see if there’s any difference. If food does seem to be the source of the problem try to rotate different foods through your dog’s diet. Dog allergies develop after exposure to an ingredient, and the more exposure, the more likely an allergy will develop.
Mold. Another food-related cause may be mold. Molds grow on wheat, corn, and peanut hulls used in petfood. These produce toxic by-products called mycotoxins, which can suppress the immune system, leading to dog itching problems. Mold grows wherever and whenever there is moisture. Mold spores may be causing your dog allergies and itching.
What to do? Some you can do to prevent dog allergies is keep the humidity low in your house by running the air conditioner regularly. Fix any leaks. Use the exhaust fan in the bathroom after showering, and, when cooking, use the one over the stove.
Make sure the drain is unclogged, and pour a few tablespoons of bleach down the drain pipe every few months to keep it clean. Lastly, clean out molds wherever you find it: bathrooms, mini-blinds, bookshelves, ceiling fan paddles, electronics.
Other animals. Do you have other pets? Yes, your dog may be allergic to other animals like your cat! Cats produce allergen that is known as FelD1 and exists most commonly in cat saliva that cause dog allergies. When the cat licks himself, the saliva dries and flakes off, then floats away. It may be present in your walls, furniture, carpet and drapes.Cat allergen is very lightweight, and very sticky. It’ll stay active in a home environment for at least 10 years.
What would be the best solution? Bathe the cats regularly (monthly, if they’ll tolerate it). I take my cats into the shower stall with me, and use a handheld shower. There are products which can seal the allergen to the body, but nothing beats a bath.
People. Believe it or not, your dog may be allergic to you or other family members. Like cats, humans also put out allergens that also cause dog allergies. It is in our skin which flakes off. (i.e. dandruff). Based on studies, 40% of dogs’ blood tested on allergy testing lab indicated a probable allergy to human allergen.
In cases like this you can resort to allergy shots. (For quite some time now, due to government concern about injecting human cells to other human in the form of allergy shots, these are banned. However, it is available already with regulation.
What else can you do relieve your dog allergies?
Use antihistamine. Remember, don’t use it with pregnant animals. Side effects include sleepiness and sometimes, constipation, and occasionally, hyperexcitability (especially with chlor-pheneriamine). But it has been said that antihistamine work for less than 20% of allergic dogs.
Shampoos and topical sprays (with steroids or tea tree oil) can offer a few minutes relief, although I’ve found that shampoos tend to irritate more than soothe.
Air filtration. Another effective treatment for dog allergies is Air filtration. Keep your doors and windows closed, and install a really good furnace/air conditioning filter. The best are “permanent” electrostatic filters. You can buy them at Home Depot or similar stores. By doing so, allergen risks will be lessen.
No concrete technology has been created to totally eradicate allergies but whatever causes your dog allergies, coupled your cure with support and encouragement. Preventive measures are always the best.
