Have you ever noticed your pet scratching at non-existent fleas? Has she been wheezing and sneezing? Has there been discharge from her nose? Have her eyes been constantly teary? Has she been continuously unwell despite numerous trips to multiple veterinarians? It could very well be that your pet is suffering from a dog allergy.
Observation is […]
Have you ever noticed your pet scratching at non-existent fleas? Has she been wheezing and sneezing? Has there been discharge from her nose? Have her eyes been constantly teary? Has she been continuously unwell despite numerous trips to multiple veterinarians? It could very well be that your pet is suffering from a dog allergy.
Observation is key in determining the kind of dog allergy it is. If your dog is itching, get rid of possible causes one by one. A dog allergy could be inhalant, flea-induced, or food-oriented. It could even have been brought forth by a combination of two causes. It is important to know which factors have the potential to affect your dog in such a way, as well as what can aid in allergy elimination.
Inhalant allergy, which is the most common type of dog allergy, is also called atopy. There are elements in the air, such as pollens, molds, mildew, and household dust, which affect dogs the same way they do humans. There are breeds of dogs that are genetically more prone to inhalant allergy than others, such as some of the different kinds of terriers, schnauzers, and Irish setters. To help dogs which suffer from this type of allergy, always keep their surroundings free of mold and dust. A clean and fresh house can truly help in allergy elimination, for both human and dog allergy.
It is bad enough that fleas are parasitic, but what is worse is that some dogs actually have an allergic reaction to the flea’s saliva. Therefore, fleas in your pet could go beyond their ordinary nuisance value and actually cause dog allergy. A flea-infested dog will experience only a little itching from the bites. However, a flea allergic dog with exactly one flea bite will comparatively suffer more. You can prevent your dog from having this kind of discomfort by keeping the fleas away. Whether allergic to them or not, a dog should always be properly groomed and brushed. If you are dealing with an army of the biting things, you may have to use anti-flea medicine with pyrethrin, a natural insecticide which comes from flower extracts and has the capacity to penetrate the nervous system of fleas. It is best to purge the source for complete allergy elimination.
Food allergies in dogs usually stem from the constant consumption of particular proteins in their meat diet. It is true that the source could be something else as well, but the protein component in beef, chicken, lamb, and horse-meat is the most common culprit. You may have to change your pet’s diet around, waiting a couple of days to see if there are changes. It is also better to refrain from giving vitamins and treats as the allergen could possibly be coming from them as well. A dog allergy that is based on food may take longer to eliminate because it takes weeks for all the food elements to get flushed out the body.
It is very difficult to see your pet suffering. Being cognizant of dog health issues, such as causes of allergic reaction and allergy elimination can help you avoid episodes of sickness.