A Bit of Dog Training

Allergies don’t just affect people, dog allergies are more common than you might think and can severely impact on the health of your dog. Dogs may be allergic to food, fleas, airborne pollutants as well as their own fur. Rather than simply administering medication, such as steroids, it would be better to find what is causing the allergy and remove it. However this is easier said than done especially if your dog has more than one allergy.

The following are some dog allergy symptoms to watch for. Coughing, wheezing, a thin patchy coat, runny nose or eyes, lethargy and sneezing. How do we determine what is causing your particular dog’s allergy? And, more importantly, how do we det rid of it?

One of the main causes of allergies in dogs is fleas. However this is simple to eliminate. Simply buy one of the products on the market that eliminates fleas or ask your vet to recommend one. Make sure you apply it regularly as fleas can’t be eliminated by just one application.

Another common allergy in dogs can be found in their food. Dogs can be sensitive to chemicals in their food or to one or more of the ingredients. Some ingredients in dog food cause allergies more frequently than others. Among these are eggs, fish, beef, chicken, corn and wheat. Of all these corn is probably the worst and unfortunately is very common in cheaper brands of dog food. Ask your vet what he recommends, or there are also hypoallergenic do foods available.

Environmental allergies – your dog may even be allergic to his own coat, especially if he has thick or long hairs. When your dog cleans himself his swallows a lot of hair and this can make the situation worse. Giving your dog a good wash every couple of weeks will remove excess hair and dander. Grooming him with a stiff brush once a day helps too.

Do you use chemical cleaners in your home? Dogs may be quite sensitive to these. Use natural cleaning products or those without bleach or other harsh chemicals. Another cause of allergens in the home may be mold. This can be tested for and eliminated which will improve the health of your whole family.

A natural way of providing fast relief from dog allergy symptoms such as itchy or flaky skin is to bathe your dog in water that has oatmeal dissolved in it. Natural shampoos containing eucalyptus, tea tree oil or aloe vera can also provide quick, temporary relief.

Give your dog some omega 3 and/or primrose oils. These are known to improve most skin conditions in both humans and dogs.

For severe allergies, anti-histamines can provide immediate relief. However there may be side effects such as lethargy.

If your dog has allergy symptoms, it means that something in his environment is upsetting him. Discovering the cause can be a challenge, but caring for a hypoallergenic dog is easy once the problem has been identified. If in doubt where to begin, a call to your vet will start you in the right direction.