Posts Tagged ‘Dog Allergies’

Dog Allergies: How to Deal with Them

David John Jordan | February 16th, 2010

We love dogs for a reason. Having a loyal friend and playmate that will love you forever and never run out of energy? Perfect. Getting close to a dog is harder for some people than others, however. Certain dog allergies can rear their ugly heads and cause unexpected problems. A significant minority of the population suffers from dog and pet allergies. Some are even forced to find a new home for their dog because of intensified allergies. This wouldn\’t be the most desired solution, of course, and it can be heartbreaking. Fortunately, there are other ways.

Dander (shed skin cells,) saliva, and urine; these are the main villains when discussing dog allergies. When people with sensitive immune systems come into contact with these allergens, reactions can occur. Don\’t worry about long haired dogs. It\’s a myth is that hairless dogs will not cause reactions anyway. Less allergens, in the case of skin cells, every dog with drool and urinate. And while annoying, it\’s good to know that most people will recognize dog allergy symptoms as normal allergy symptoms that they are used to anyway, such as red/itchy eyes, stopped up nose, shortness of breath, and rashes. Of course these are not any fun, but they are manageable.

A clean home is the best defense against dog allergies and allergens. Vacuuming every week or so, buy furniture that doesn\’t absorb allergens, avoiding clutter, and running air purifiers will reduce the amount of dander floating around in your house. Bathing your dog will also flush out anything festering in the fur. Just remember to also wash your dog\’s bedding as well, or else that bath won\’t do any good.

A much simpler way is to purchase allergen reduction products. Allerpet D for Dogs is an example of a shampoo that reduces the amount of dander in a dog without causing dryness of the skin. Decreasing dog allergies is as easy as adopting good management strategies!

An allergy specialist can give you additional advice as well. They can provide you with certain prescriptions and over the counter, that can mitigate the runny noses and itchy eyes. For reactions that are really bad, they can recommend and perform allergy shots, which are a good idea if you have bad allergies in general. Getting rid of your dog and sending it to another home should not be your first option.

More information can be found about dog foods that are hypoallergenic. You can also find out about brands of hypoallergenic dog food.

Tips For Dog Caring – Dog Allergies

Gillian Sanders | November 30th, 2009

Ok so what are dog allergies and why you should be concerned about them. For one, they can cause problems for your pets to the extent that they can be suffering quite a bit from it. This means you’ll have to take them to the vet and that costs money and time.

Usually these problems arise from the fact that dog owners do not take remedy actions in the early stages of dog allergies. By the time the dog allergies have become serious, it usually takes quite a bit more to solve the allergies. So take heed. Here i will share a few quick tips on how to spot early signs of dog allergies so you can do something about it right away.

Alright let’s look at food allergies. The most usual sign for dog food allergies is that your dog will scratch a lot. If you see your pet scratching, licking or even chewing themselves constantly, it is a pretty sure symptom of dog allergies. Some possible triggers for this kind of reactions can be the food they are eating. A quick way to test this out is to systematically remove each dog food ingredient until the symptoms disappears. This helps you to isolate the cause of the dog food allergies.

Another common type of dog allergies is something called Atopy. This is caused by allergy due to their surrounding environment. Certain dust mites, pollen or molds can trigger such kinds of allergies. Again, some of the symptoms are chewing and scratching themselves, specifically the paws and face. Some remedy actions you can take is to remove your dog from these environmental triggers.

If they are allergic to dust mites, be sure to take them out of that area where it is full of dust mites. Now, this may not be possible in some cases, where the allergens are in the house itself. For this situation, you can clean your dog by giving them more frequent baths with medically-approved shampoos. Boosting their immune system is also another feasible way to fight against the allergies. Feed your dog with an omega three rich diet.

Those are just a few quick tips and tricks you can utilize to help alleviate your dog of allergies. Remember the golden rule: Detect early and treat it when possible!

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