As we know how humans are allergic to pollen, peanuts and many other things. Dogs are like us too! Yes they might be allergic to certain things such as certain kinds of food, parasites and many similar factors. As per vet recommendation if you notice any unusual allergic symptoms in your dog then you must consult a veterinarian for immediate medical help.
This post will help you understand allergic reactions in dog and ways to help a dog with allergies.
What Are the Symptoms of Dog Allergic Reactions?
As in general it is little difficult to find out what your dog is allergic to but you can easily identify the allergy by noticing and discomfort in your dog. Usually if you have a young pup then you will be able to identify allergic signs between 1 and 3 years of age. Like humans, in dogs also allergy symptoms can occur at any time of the year, there is not any fix season.
Following will give you details about mild to moderate symptoms
Unusual paw licking
Face rubbing with paws or any surface.
Skin irritation and infections.
Ear infections.
Hives.
Facial swelling
Hair loss
Severe allergic symptoms
Severe allergic reactions shows up within few seconds or minutes after the exposure. Following list will help you understand some of the common severe allergic symptoms in dog.
Unusual drooling
Seizures
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Pale gums
What Causes Dog Allergies?
Following certain factors causes dog allergies.
Food allergies: Your dog might be allergic to certain foods. You must notice any discomfort in your dog, especially if you have changed your dog's food brand or diet. Most common food that cause dog allergies are raw beef, chicken, wheat and lamb.
Environmental allergies: Your dog may experience environmental allergies due to pollen, mold, grass and/or dust mites.
Insects bites allergies: insect bites from bees, ants or wasps can cause allergic reaction in your dog. Chances are high during spring season especially if you are walking your dog outdoor. You may also like my post on what to do if your dog is stung by a bee?
Flea bites: Some dogs get very bad reaction due to flea bites.
Medications: If your dog is prescribed any medication then you must check to make sure your dog is not allergic to any of them. Most common medication allergies in dogs are caused by pain meds, vaccines or antibiotics.
Chemical allergies: Like humans, dogs might have allergic reactions to household chemicals such as floor cleaner or even their shampoo or soap.
How Do Vets Diagnose Allergic Reactions?
Veterinarian usually performs blood test or skin biopsy to narrow down the root cause of allergies. For example for food allergy vets might eliminate diet or certain food for few weeks. To identify the environmental allergies usually vets will perform blood and skin tests.
Is there any Dog Allergy Treatments?
Well, like humans it all depends on the severity of the allergic reactions in dogs. But as in general following common treatments are used.
Medications: Your dog's vet might prescribe any medication to prevent allergic reactions. Flea control: if your dog is allergic to flea bites then by implementing flea prevention and removal treatment it can be cured. Topical treatment: By using special shampoos to avoid and manage skin allergies. Hyposensitization injections: Vets might prescribe hyposensitization injections to help with allergies caused by environment.
Can you give human allergy medicine to dog?
Whether medicine is meant for dog or human, before taking any kind of decision about giving medication to your dog, you must consult vets. According to vets, Benadryl can be safe for dogs but it is always recommended to check with your dog's vet.
Can You Prevent Dog Allergic Reactions?
As we know, sometimes allergies are not easy to treat or prevent but by avoiding certain factors we can reduce the risk of allergic reactions. Same way in dogs, by avoiding allergy causing certain things you can reduce the risk of dog allergic reactions.
Again, I would say it is not easy to avoid everything but at least following certain precautions you can avoid the exposure.
For example, following are few common precautions can help reduce the risk of allergic reactions in dogs:
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