Newletters
DOG FOOD ALLERGIES – ALL ABOUT FOOD ALLERGIES
Dog Food Allergies – If your dog shows signs of allergies and you are certain it is not from fleas in his coat, inhalants in the environment or other health problems, your dog could be suffering from dog food allergies. It can be difficult to determine food allergies and can also be a long process as you experiment with various types of foods to try to isolate the food causing the allergy.
The most obvious signs of dog food allergies are scratching, vomiting and diarhea. These food allergies can also cause your dog discomfort with severe intestinal and stomach problems.
Take your dog to the vet for an assessment if you suspect it may have a food allergy. Your vet may prescribe a new diet that is high in carbohydrates, protein and other nutrients that it may not have been receiving from it’s previous diet.
Some vets may recommend a home-cooked diet for dogs with food allergies, which could include protein combined with rice or potatoes. This is a healty, hypoallergenic meal. To do this, boil all the ingredients and serve the same amount as your dog’s normal diet. It is a good idea to package the meals in individual portions, freeze them and thaw when you need them.
Caution: This diet should only be fed for a short time – one or two months at the most because it is not a well balanced diet. It is only a test diet. The aim of the diet is to try and isolate the food allergen. So if you notice the symptons go away, you can then gradually bring new food into its diet until you identify which ingredient is the cause of the allergy.
If symptons do not go away within four weeks, you could try some dog food specially formulated for allergies or visit your vet who can run more tests so he can prescribe the best pet medication for your dog.
Reference: http://www.dogfooddangers.com/news/food-dog-allergies.php
Dog Allergies
DOG ALLERGIES – INHALANT ALLERGIES
CAUSES OF INHALANT ALLERGIES – Some reasons dogs get allergies can be from inhaling grass pollen or other pollens.
Your dog may show signs of pollen or dust allergies by scratching or biting themselves, licking paws, rubbing their face on the carpet or grass and shaking their head for relief.
Some of these inhalant allergies are only seasonal. Some dogs may deal with grass pollen only in the spring and summer. Whereas some other pollens could be a problem in late summer and autumn.
Other causes can be household dust, mold spores, and other irritants. In these situations, the inhalant allergy is not seasonal, rather year-around.
MEDICATIONS FOR INHALANT ALLERGIES
To help relieve the itching, you can treat your dog by giving him cool baths with shampoos or rinses with the ingredients aloe vera, oatmeal or eucalyptus. These ingredients are soothing to the dog’s skin. His skin will begin to heal as the allergen goes away.
You can alter your dog’s diet eg: including Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids, or by purchasing dog food for allergies. Always read the dog food’s packaging labels to ensure these are included. Giving your dog a healthy diet containing vitamins and minerals will help improve his overall health, coat and skin.
In more extreme cases of inhalant allergies, there are pet meds like, antibiotic and drug therapy treatments. Talk to your vet about what options are best for your dog. Be sure to keep your home, including the areas of the house where your dog spends most of his time very clean. Vacuum the floors, furniture and dust regularly.
Even by proceeding with this routine, it is important to point out that your dog’s allergies may not fully recover. Therefore, you may have to experiment to find the solution that works for your dog. If you find that nothing seems to work, a vet may recommend a pet medication called prednisone (or other type of steroid). This will interfere with the immune system so the dog’s body won’t consider the allergens as invaders.
Steroids should ONLY be used according to the Vet’s recommendations.
Excessive use of steroids can cause dog health problems like liver problems for the dog. For older dogs, it can create a form of Cushing’s disease. Other side effects of steroids are that it can cause the dog to have an increase in appetite and thirst. This can lead to frequent urination, which can cause more aggression for some dogs.
Consult your vet first before you try any pet meds or feed dog food for allergies. Dog allergies can be a serious problem for your dogs and can make his life very uncomfortable.
Reference: http://www.dogfooddangers.com/news/inhalant-dog-allergies.php