Treating allergies in dogs
Just like humans, dogs can easily suffer from allergies which can potentially make their life pretty miserable. With roughly 37% - 47% of American households owning a dog, it is important that if you notice your dog looks like they have an allergic response then it is vital you get them to a veterinarian as soon as possible. Being aware of the symptoms and various allergies your dog can suffer from is central to ensuring your dog lives their daily life in comfort.
Atopy
An extremely common allergy that dogs have to deal with is atopy, which is essentially chronic scratching causing your dog a lot of grief and problems in the process. This is a condition that tends to be seasonal for dogs, with spring months where tree pollen is at its highest, during the fall where you will see a higher level of ragweed and, over the winter months’ dust mites are prevalent. You will notice a number of different behaviors and symptoms if your dog is reacting to these different allergies. Such behavior include; chewing of the feet, rubbing their face, constantly licking the same spot and even redness or hot spots on the skin.
Food Allergies
Again, similar to humans, dogs can also suffer from food allergies. In fact, 10 – 15% of dogs will suffer from a food allergy. If your dog is suffering then the symptoms are generally pretty recognizable; most will exhibit digestive problems with gas, diarrhea, vomiting but there are also several other common symptoms such as itchy skin, inflamed ears, red eyes, coughing/sneezing, swollen paws and nasal discharge. If this is the case with your dog, it is best to take them to the vet and get them some antibiotics to first relieve them of their symptoms and then find out what the exact issue is.
Check out this comprehensive guide on how to choose the best dog food for allergies. Changing their diet can make a huge difference in managing your pets allergies and supporting their entire system.
