It can be very hard for humans to know when they have allergies, and that translates to pets too. Most of the time it’s extremely difficult to figure out when and why dogs have allergies. It’s important to know the causes and symptoms behind dog allergies, as that will make it easier to find a solution. Here are some of the things to keep in mind.
What type of dog allergies are there?
There are multiple types of dog allergies, not jut one. Skin allergies, food allergies, flea allergies, and some dogs even have problems with environmental allergens. Skin allergies are very common, and they can arrive as a response to fleas for example. You dog’s skin will be very itchy and inflamed. You will see various signs of fleas when that happens, like flea dirt. Even food allergies can lead to itchy skin problems. Pollen, mold, dust and environmental compounds can make your dog allergic too.
Symptoms
Normally when a dog has allergies, you will notice things like constant licking, runny eyes, chronic ear infections, itchy ears, sneezing and vomiting, diarrhea, inflamed or itchy skin, hives and swelling on the eyelids, face or ears. Things will differ from one dog to the other, but these are some of the most common dog allergy symptoms that can appear.
Dog allergy diagnosis
How can you diagnose the dog allergies? That depends on the situation, but the bet thing you can do is to go to the vet. They will tell you if your dog has an allergy or if your pet is prone to any type of allergies, which can be very challenging and tricky to deal with. Food allergies are diagnosed via an elimination diet or a food trial created by the vet. This will see how your pet reacts to a variety of foods, and then you will know what to avoid. Flea allergy dermatitis is the easiest one to diagnose because you just need to check for fleas, and if they are on your pet’s body you need to try and eliminate them as quickly as possible. It certainly helps to know how to handle this adequately, and if you do it right the results will be pretty impressive.
How can you treat dog allergies?
It can be hard to deal with some dog allergies. But the most important thing is to keep your dog away from the allergen. In the case of flea allergies, try to kill fleas. Food allergies are easy to deal with if you remove that compound leading to the allergy. A vet will help you identify any potential allergies before they appear, so regular checkups are indeed mandatory if you want to keep your dog away from allergies. Go to the vet often and remember, once you identify an allergen you must keep your pet far away from it!