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| Dealing with Dog Allergies |
Dealing with Dog Allergies
By Nancy Settecasi
Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies and also produce the
same symptoms as human allergies. There are 5 types of dog allergies:
food allergy, flea allergy, bacteria allergy, contact allergy and atopy. Here
are some basic facts about each of these allergies.
Food Allergies
The most common symptom of food allergies is scratching, due to skin
irritation. Dog foods contain a host of ingredients which can cause an
allergic reaction to your dog. Some of these ingredients are:
Meats: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish, Eggs
Diary products (Milk)
Grains (Wheat, Whey)
Corn
Most dog owners often scold their dog for scratching too much. Any
obsessive behavior your dog demonstrates, such as constant scratching,
chewing, licking, requires immediate attention. Never assume that this is
just a new habit your dog picked up. Dog allergies can make your dog very
uncomfortable.
Aside from scratching, some of the other symptoms dogs can experience
are:
sneezing
coughing
eye and nose discharge
Itching around the anus
hair loss
loss of appetite
pawing at their ears or head shaking
vomiting
diarrhea
breathing problems
Isolating the allergen which causes the allergy is not easy because the dog
is usually allergic to one specific ingredient in the food. Therefore, it is a
matter of isolating that ingredient. You can try doing this with an elimination
diet, which most people don't have the time or energy for. The elimination
diet requires preparing specially-cooked meals consisting of a more exotic
meat, like rabbit or venison, mixed with rice or potato, which wouldn't
normally be found in dog food.
An easier and more modern approach to test for the presence of a food
allergy is to try a dog food which contains hydrolyzed proteins, such as
Purinas HA or Hills z/d. Hydrolyzed proteins are broken down into molecules
so small, they can't affect the immune system, which is what causes the
allergy. If the allergy goes away while your dog is on this diet (which would
take about 8 weeks), then he most likely is suffering from a food allergy. At
this point, you would start to re-introduce the possible allergens one by one
(individual meats, wheat, corn, milk, etc.) for a period of two weeks each. If
the symptoms return, it is most likely due to the ingredient being introduced
at that time. You should look out for that ingredient on dog food labels in
future purchases.
Atopy (inhalant allergy)
Atopy is the most common of all dog allergies, which is caused by
environmental factors, such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human
dander, feathers or pollen.
Signs of atopy include excessive chewing, licking and scratching at the
face, paws, abdomen, armpits and genital area. Evidence of this behavior
can be found in examining your dog's paws, armpits and genital area.
Reddish-brown stains develop in these areas due to excessive licking. This
may not be evident in dogs with dark coats.
Atopy is not easy to diagnose due to other dog allergies having the same
symptoms. Once these other dog allergies (food, flea and contact) have
been ruled out, your vet can proceed with testing for the root cause of the
atopy. The most accurate method of testing for atopy is Intradermal Skin
Testing.
There are many different treatment options for atopy. The best treatment
would be avoiding the allergen altogether. If this is not feasible, other
treatments include cool water baths with medicated shampoo,
antihistamines, allergy shots, corticosteriods or a diet rich in Omega-3 and
Omega-6 fatty acids.
Flea Allergies
Dog allergies to fleas are not caused by the flea itself, but rather the flea's
saliva. A common symptom of flea allergies is scratching at the tail area
which causes hair loss, scabs and sores. Your vet can easily diagnose a
flea allergy by checking for the presence of fleas in the coat. Fleas can be
seen by the naked eye. Intradermal Skin Testing can also be used to test for
this type of allergy. The most effective products for eliminating fleas are:
Advantage - Flea control for your Dog & CatFrontLine - Flea & Tick
Medication for your Dog & Cat
Capstar- Flea infestation on Dog and Cat
K9 Advantix Flea and Tick Medication (based on dog's weight)
Bacterial Allergies
A dog's skin normally harbors Staph bacteria. Usually, this bacteria does
not have any affect on your dog but some dogs develop a sensitivity to it
causing an allergic reaction. Your dog may develop crusts on the skin and
patches of hair loss due to scratching, similar to ring worm. If these patches
become infected, your dog will need to be treated with antibiotics.
Contact Allergies
Contact allergies are the least common of all dog allergies. This type of
allergy produces swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. Common contact
allergens include flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants, grass
or wool bedding. The best way to diagnose this allergy is if the symptoms
continue after ruling out all other allergies. If this is the case, then you must
pinpoint the allergen and remove it from your dog's environment.
This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian,
dog trainer or pet care professional.
Nancy Settecasi, Owner of Happy K-9 Dog Care
Proud Owner of Cookie and Skippy, Cocker Spaniels, Dog Lover
http://www.happyk-9.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Settecasi
By Nancy Settecasi
Dog allergies are very similar to human allergies and also produce the
same symptoms as human allergies. There are 5 types of dog allergies:
food allergy, flea allergy, bacteria allergy, contact allergy and atopy. Here
are some basic facts about each of these allergies.
Food Allergies
The most common symptom of food allergies is scratching, due to skin
irritation. Dog foods contain a host of ingredients which can cause an
allergic reaction to your dog. Some of these ingredients are:
Meats: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish, Eggs
Diary products (Milk)
Grains (Wheat, Whey)
Corn
Most dog owners often scold their dog for scratching too much. Any
obsessive behavior your dog demonstrates, such as constant scratching,
chewing, licking, requires immediate attention. Never assume that this is
just a new habit your dog picked up. Dog allergies can make your dog very
uncomfortable.
Aside from scratching, some of the other symptoms dogs can experience
are:
sneezing
coughing
eye and nose discharge
Itching around the anus
hair loss
loss of appetite
pawing at their ears or head shaking
vomiting
diarrhea
breathing problems
Isolating the allergen which causes the allergy is not easy because the dog
is usually allergic to one specific ingredient in the food. Therefore, it is a
matter of isolating that ingredient. You can try doing this with an elimination
diet, which most people don't have the time or energy for. The elimination
diet requires preparing specially-cooked meals consisting of a more exotic
meat, like rabbit or venison, mixed with rice or potato, which wouldn't
normally be found in dog food.
An easier and more modern approach to test for the presence of a food
allergy is to try a dog food which contains hydrolyzed proteins, such as
Purinas HA or Hills z/d. Hydrolyzed proteins are broken down into molecules
so small, they can't affect the immune system, which is what causes the
allergy. If the allergy goes away while your dog is on this diet (which would
take about 8 weeks), then he most likely is suffering from a food allergy. At
this point, you would start to re-introduce the possible allergens one by one
(individual meats, wheat, corn, milk, etc.) for a period of two weeks each. If
the symptoms return, it is most likely due to the ingredient being introduced
at that time. You should look out for that ingredient on dog food labels in
future purchases.
Atopy (inhalant allergy)
Atopy is the most common of all dog allergies, which is caused by
environmental factors, such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human
dander, feathers or pollen.
Signs of atopy include excessive chewing, licking and scratching at the
face, paws, abdomen, armpits and genital area. Evidence of this behavior
can be found in examining your dog's paws, armpits and genital area.
Reddish-brown stains develop in these areas due to excessive licking. This
may not be evident in dogs with dark coats.
Atopy is not easy to diagnose due to other dog allergies having the same
symptoms. Once these other dog allergies (food, flea and contact) have
been ruled out, your vet can proceed with testing for the root cause of the
atopy. The most accurate method of testing for atopy is Intradermal Skin
Testing.
There are many different treatment options for atopy. The best treatment
would be avoiding the allergen altogether. If this is not feasible, other
treatments include cool water baths with medicated shampoo,
antihistamines, allergy shots, corticosteriods or a diet rich in Omega-3 and
Omega-6 fatty acids.
Flea Allergies
Dog allergies to fleas are not caused by the flea itself, but rather the flea's
saliva. A common symptom of flea allergies is scratching at the tail area
which causes hair loss, scabs and sores. Your vet can easily diagnose a
flea allergy by checking for the presence of fleas in the coat. Fleas can be
seen by the naked eye. Intradermal Skin Testing can also be used to test for
this type of allergy. The most effective products for eliminating fleas are:
Advantage - Flea control for your Dog & CatFrontLine - Flea & Tick
Medication for your Dog & Cat
Capstar- Flea infestation on Dog and Cat
K9 Advantix Flea and Tick Medication (based on dog's weight)
Bacterial Allergies
A dog's skin normally harbors Staph bacteria. Usually, this bacteria does
not have any affect on your dog but some dogs develop a sensitivity to it
causing an allergic reaction. Your dog may develop crusts on the skin and
patches of hair loss due to scratching, similar to ring worm. If these patches
become infected, your dog will need to be treated with antibiotics.
Contact Allergies
Contact allergies are the least common of all dog allergies. This type of
allergy produces swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. Common contact
allergens include flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants, grass
or wool bedding. The best way to diagnose this allergy is if the symptoms
continue after ruling out all other allergies. If this is the case, then you must
pinpoint the allergen and remove it from your dog's environment.
This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian,
dog trainer or pet care professional.
Nancy Settecasi, Owner of Happy K-9 Dog Care
Proud Owner of Cookie and Skippy, Cocker Spaniels, Dog Lover
http://www.happyk-9.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nancy_Settecasi
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