Food Allergies in Dogs

It has only recently been discovered that canines, in a similar manner to us, can experience allergies to a certain food or foods from a certain food class. Food allergies in dogs are among the five most often found types of canine allergies, and though the dog is usually born with the illness, food allergies in canines may occur anytime during the remainder of their life.

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The Symptoms and Causes of Food Allergies in Dogs

Dogs will occasionally suffer reactions to the diverse forms of foods they feed upon. Quite often, they just have indigestion that can effectuate diarrhea and vomiting. A food allergy is not the same as that though, rather than simply bringing about a stomach ache, it will incite scratching in canines in addition to the previously cited warning signs of food allergies: vomiting, swelling and diarrhea in dogs. A dog's itching may bring about peeling skin, eczema, hot spots and possibly loss of hair. In a few dogs, additional indications of food allergies might involve a drop in weight, hyperactivity and quite possibly anger.

In a canine with food allergies, the immune system overreacts to a specific element that it usually accepts inciting an allergic response. Food allergies in dogs are typically brought on by proteins found in dairy foods, wheat and sugars after being fed scraps from the table. Although proteins are the most likely cause of a dog's food allergy, any kind of food or food ingredient can incite an allergic reaction.

How to Identify Food Allergies in Dogs

Only a few years ago, an elimination diet was the sole means available to figure out whether or not a dog was inflicted with a food allergy. The animal would be fed a diet of hypoallergenic dog food that didn't contain the same substances found in the preceding diet for roughly 2 or 3 months. Nowadays, diagnosis can be completed by a veterinarian utilizing a simple food allergy test that involves laboratory work done on a sample of blood extracted from the dog.

Remedies for Food Allergies in Dogs

The lone cure is by avoiding the food or food component that is causing the food allergy. The suggested kind of food for canines coping with an allergy to food is hypoallergenic dog food that is made up of all-natural ingredients. This type of dog food can be served to your pet for the remainder of his life with no fear of the canine's food allergy reappearing.

Due to the canine's itching, you will probably need to treat skin conditions as well. A vet will generally propose getting skin lotion and antihistamines. Since the use of antihistamines for canine allergies can cause negative side effects, a holistic cure for food allergies in dogs is preferable. There are numerous herbal and homeopathic treatments being sold that have been evidenced by canine owners to provide great results.

Post Resources

• The Symptoms of Food Allergies in Canines and Forms of Treatment
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• The Signs Of Food Allergies In Dogs And Ways Of Treating It

Dog Itching

The actual health-related terminology often mentioned by vets for extreme dog itching is pruritus. Itching in dogs generally isn't cause for alarm, however, if it gets to be extreme it may perhaps be a sign pointing to a far more severe condition. There are several diverse skin problems in dogs that can perhaps be the reason for the scratching and itching. If a canine's itchy skin is contributing to the occurrence of additional skin issues such as soreness and reddening of the skin, skin abrasions and hair loss, or you observe the dog chewing at his or her paws, then the canine should be taken to a veterinary clinic for an examination for these are all signs of a more severe skin condition. If it isn't treated, the animal's scratching could lead to infections. Even though any breed of dog may develop pruritus, Westies, Poodles, Cocker Spaniels and Golden Retrievers appear to have a greater frequency of occurrences than most other breeds of canine.

The Reasons Behind Dog Itching

Itchy skin in canines takes place as a result of a chemical response that takes place at or just below the surface of the skin. In the event it is extreme, it's typically a clue that the canine is coping with at least one of several skin problems of a more significant nature.

Intense dog itching could be an indication of these skin problems in dogs:

• Flea allergies are the most popular cause of dog allergies. As a flea bites your pet, it drops a minute amount of saliva beneath the skin which causes a chemical reaction that causes scratching and itching in dogs.
• Seasonal allergy is also a typical cause of itching in canines. These allergies are like asthma and hay fever in humans. As the canine breathes in allergens like dust, pollen and molds, it brings about an allergic reaction from the animal's immune system. This form of allergy can also lead to respiratory troubles as well as triggering a canine's itching and scratching.
• Another kind of allergy that is less common but is a source of scratching and itching in canines is a food allergy. A food allergy is triggered by the animal consuming food or a food ingredient that it's allergic to.
• We can also add dog mange to our list of skin conditions in dogs that can cause itching. Scabies, medically known as sarcoptic mange, is triggered by a mite digging directly under the surface of the skin. The mite feeds on materials at or beneath the canine's skin producing uncontrollable and ceaseless itching.
• Bacteria and yeast infections might also be causing a dog's itching and scratching problems. Infections are normally brought on by lesions and cuts which are not adequately taken care of. Ear mites often bring about this form of skin problem in dogs.

Diagnosing Skin Problems in Dogs

Figuring out why a dog is scratching has typically turned out to be very difficult for a lot of dog owners and veterinarians. To diagnose the cause of the difficulty, several examinations and treatments might possibly need to be performed meaning the diagnosis might take anywhere from a couple of weeks to a number of months. Based mostly upon the canine's symptoms and medical history, a vet will run a number of laboratory exams which typically include drawing samples of blood, skin scrapings, taking culture samples and performing a biopsy of the skin.

How to Treat Dog Itching

Even if the rudimentary source of an animal's itchy skin is still not known, there are remedies offered to restore the dog's skin and put an end to the itchiness. A vet might possibly propose the use of antihistamines, shampoos, skin creams or possibly even immunotherapy in less serious instances. In the more severe circumstances, he may possibly advocate treatment utilizing steroids. Steroids are known to cause undesirable side effects like urinary incontinence, excessive panting and dehydration, and sustained use may perhaps bring about the development of Cushing's disease or diabetes, so if you do decide to try them, heed extreme care. Most canines may well need constant help for their skin problem.

All-natural Dog Itching Remedies

A lof of small animal clinics are currently recommending natural itching dog remedies as a safe and soothing type of therapy. It's an alternative to using corticosteroids and other sorts of medicines that might cause adverse side effects. You can choose from a number of safe and successful holistic canine skin treatments that offer patients some needed relief by revitalizing the dog's coat as well as purging and treating the dog's skin.

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• Diagnosing Itching And Scratching In Canines And Locating Remedies
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Flea Dermatitis in Dogs

Flea allergy, otherwise called flea dermatitis in dogs, is the most popular sort of allergy seen in canines and is caused by the bite of a flea. It is the leading reason for itching in dogs, and it just takes the bite of a single flea to induce an allergic reaction on the dog's skin. Flea allergies in dogs may leave the animal scratching for anywhere between a couple of hours to a number of days and could take as long as 3 days to a week to surface after the first flea bite.

The Causes of Flea Dermatitis in Dogs

Fleas are only observed on a dog when they feed. Just like a mosquito, fleas will bite your pet and draw in blood for nourishment. When fleas do this, they inject a wee amount of saliva under the animal's skin which could be comprised of roughly 15 different allergy causing substances. If the canine is sensitive to any one of the allergens that have been injected by the flea, it will cause an allergic response which causes the dog scratching and itching. About 50% of all dogs will come down with flea allergies, and even though it is more often found in older dogs, puppies could likewise become afflicted with flea dermatitis.

Diagnosing Flea Dermatitis in Dogs and Recognizing Its Signs

Dog owners generally do not realize that their dog has fleas because of their relatively tiny size and considering how hard fleas can be to control. Making the task of diagnosing flea allergies a lot more difficult is the fact that it merely takes one individual flea to induce a flea allergy and signs might not be seen for nearly a week later than when the bite of the flea occurred. It doesn't take an infestation of fleas to bring about flea allergies in your pet. Signs of flea bites in dogs frequently include continuous scratching and itching or biting of the coat and skin, inflaming of the skin, rashes, and reddening of the skin. As a consequence of the continual scratching, hair loss across the animal's posterior, primarily in the region from the middle section along the backbone to the start of the tail and in their hind legs region, is also a pretty sound indication of dermatitis. A veterinarian can also detect flea allergies employing modern blood and skin tests to look for specific allergy causing substances and to eliminate other possibilities including fungal, yeast and bacterial infections.

Flea Treatment Starts With a Sound Flea Control Program

The initial step to any successful sort of flea treatment involves getting rid of dog fleas both on your pet and in his local environment. Even with a perfect flea extermination program established, it is not unusual for canine's to still experience an occasional bite from a flea. Dogs that spend a lot of time outside could be a harder challenge.

Steroids and Desensitization as Flea Dermatitis Treatments

A veterinarian might advise using desensitization as a technique of canine flea dermatitis treatment. It necessitates giving the dog a shot with limited measures of flea antigen over a certain period of time, maybe for the remainder of the dog's lifetime. This method of treatment is generally a success in about half of the cases, and might become really expensive over the long term. Antihistamines and traditional medication, such as corticosteroids, are also usually used by the vet to alleviate flea dermatitis. These drugs can often provide relief for flea allergies; but, it's been proven that there are significant side effects associated with taking corticosteroids. In the end, this variety of treatment may be more harmful than beneficial.

Holistic Relief for Flea Dermatitis in Dogs

Attributable to the side effects associated with the use of steroids, an increasing number of dog owners are turning to natural remedies for flea allergies in dogs. There are many all natural ingredients utilized in these holistic remedies that are not only safe for your pet, but effective. German Chamomile has been utilized to soothe and cleanse the skin for many centuries. A few other herbs have also been proven to contribute to enhancing total skin health and contribute restoration and soothing qualities to the skin, and include Witchhazel, Cleavers and Marigold.

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• Signs and Information for Treating Flea Bite Dermatitis in Dogs

Killing Fleas on Dogs

Fleas are a serious worry that all pet owners ultimately have to contend with. Anyone who has a dog has probably have faced the demoralizing job of having to get rid of fleas, a task which has time and again proved to be more trying than it appears.

Fleas are not simply a concern because they bite and incite hours of aggravating scratching for your pet, but they can also trigger more serious issues like flea allergies, tapeworm infestations and anemia in extreme situations.

Owing to their amazing resilience, fleas are inordinately tough to keep under control. A female flea might lay over 2,000 eggs during her lifecycle, this implies that infections may occur briskly and the eggs that she laid might exist for a number of months in nature while simply waiting for a timely host. So it's important to control both getting rid of fleas on canines in addition to the fleas inhabiting the pet's living space. The perfect areas to find fleas include rugs, sand, carpets and bed linens.

How to Exterminate Fleas

In order to totally terminate fleas on your dog and in his habitats, it's imperative to be familiar with the flea's lifespan. There are four stages that constitute the life cycle of the flea. As with most insects, the fleas originates from the egg stage, grows into larva, then progresses into the pupa phase before eventually reaching the adult stage.

The Flea's Egg Phase

The fleas eggs are pallid in color and are so tiny that they're tough to notice without using a magnifying glass. Though the eggs are initially laid on the pet's skin, a lot will ultimately drop onto the ground to continue their trek to adulthood. Approximately half of the total flea count is made up of eggs. Depending upon the environmental conditions, the eggs hatch in anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks. The greater the warmth and dampness in the environment, the quicker the eggs will hatch.

The Flea Larvae Phase

Once the flea egg hatches, it enters the larva stage where it flourishes to nearly 1/4 inch in length. The flea larva subsist on natural waste matter and in the feces of the adult flea. They do not care for strong light and are inclined to take cover deep within their present living space, if possible in a hot and humid area. Climate controlled homes are the idyllic surroundings for the life cycle of the flea to flourish. Outside, larvae development will only happen in damp, shaded areas.

The Flea Pupa Phase

Immediately upon crossing into the pupae stage, the flea pupa stem a silky and tacky protective shell. This layer swiftly structures a useful camouflage as it becomes coated by debris and dust. If stimulated by heat, carbon dioxide or by physical pressure, like that in a hot and wet environment, an adult flea could surface from its cocoon in as little as five to ten days. Once the adult flea comes out of its cocoon, it may survive for no more than a few days unless it's able to find a host. Pre-emerged adult fleas may subsist inside the cocoon for as many as 9 months. This is consequential because adult fleas still surviving within the cocoon are resilient to insect repellents applied to the environment and can appear a significant time after you apply insecticides in your home.

The Flea Adulthood Phase

After the adult flea surfaces from the chrysalis, it must swiftly locate a host since it needs blood in order to live on. Two days after discovering a suitable host, the female flea will begin laying just about 40 eggs per day. Adult fleas normally last up to three weeks. The full life cycle of a flea can be ended in as little as two to four weeks, or up to 10 months contingent to the surrounding climate.

How to Treat A Dog For Fleas

There are numerous powders, sprays, shampoos and spot on measures around to liberate your dog of fleas. Be certain to talk with your veterinarian to pick the truly effective and reliable flea products for your house and canine.

How to Rid the Inside Area of Fleas

Most products are just effective against the adult flea, but environmental insecticides are becoming more highly developed. A vet can offer you with flea products having insect growth regulators which will help terminate the flea eggs and larvae. Before spreading any indoor pesticide, it's a good idea vacuum your carpeting and rugs to coax the pre-adult fleas to emerge from their protective cocoon. Be sure to throw out the vacuum bag following its use. You should also clean the bedding the dog has lied on.

How to Clear the Outside Habitat of Fleas

Concentrate on dim, shady spots. Apply a product made of an insect growth regulator and do this again every two to three weeks for three to five treatments.

The latest skin and oral flea deterrents should significantly help you eliminate the flea troubles. With dedication and patience, you and your dog will be flea free in a flash!

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Diagnosing Skin Allergies in Dogs and Finding Remedies

Have you started to notice your dog scratching and itching too much? Is the scratching creating open sores and loss of hair on your pet? If so, this is a sound warning sign that your canine friend may possibly be suffering from dog allergies. Dogs don't show the distinctive reddened eyes and a runny nose similar to what people do when we are suffering with an allergy. Additional indications could consist of unordinary itching of a particular area, or chewing their paws to the point of bleeding.

What Causes Allergies in Dogs?

An allergic reaction can occur when an animal's immune system excessively reacts to individual substances. The body creates antibodies as a type of defense when the cause of the dog's allergy comes into the body. The antibodies will next stick to immune cells in the skin and different tissues. As a result, while the allergens progressively break through tissue surfaces, the antibodies incite immune cells to release virulent chemicals (named histamines) into the surrounding tissue. This then causes inflammation and itching in your pet.

There are some factors to think about when trying to discover the cause of a dog's allergies. An allergy that affects a pet's skin is typically triggered by at least one of these: airborne allergens, fleas, and food.

• Flea Allergy also known as Flea Dermatitis is typically caused by saliva from a flea. That is the reason it is very critical to rid your dog of fleas regularly.
• The atopic allergy is initiated by the the breathing of airborne particles in the ecosystem, like dust, mold spores, tobacco smoke and pollen, activate atopic allergies. If a dog has pollen allergies, the pet will show signs, even if you keep it indoors as the allergens will migrate into the home. Wheezing, coughing and sneezing often are signs of this type of allergy.
• Food allergy is the third most common type of dog allergy. The most likely causes for food allergies in dogs consist of: chicken, soy, corn, milk, wheat, eggs and beef. Vomiting and diarrhea often are warning signs of this form  of dog allergy.
• Contact allergy is the least frequently seen form of allergy in dogs and is triggered by contacting with something. Triggers could include wool, plastic and grass. Some pets might develop allergic reactions to some chemicals in the house, but it isn’t very common.

How to Diagnose Dog Allergies

A vet might be able to identify the problem, however,although it may require a procedure of elimination to identify the root of the skin allergy and may possibly refer the animal to a veterinarian who’s a skin specialist. In the case where fleas are ruled out, the animal might be put on an elimination diet for a couple months. The animal is fed food he or she hasn’t had before, for instance, chicken, mutton, and potatoes, with the past food being reintroduced gradually until the allergy reemerges.

The allergen is considered to be at least one ingredient if the animals scratching lessens by about 50% of what it was previously. When checking for contact and atopic skin allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test that functions by slightly anesthetizing the dog with small quantities of probable allergens that are injected into the shaved region of the skin. If the animal is allergic to a certain substance, the skin will become inflamed surrounding the area of injection.
 

Treatments for Allergies in Dogs



Keeping the dog away from allergens and curing the symptoms are the top methods of treatment for skin allergies in dogs. Medicines that include steroids and antihistamines are frequently advocated to ease effects of scratching and swelling in pets, although like all medications they can come with undesirable side effects and the lasting effects are unknown. Long term usage steroids is not recommended for these medications function by suppressing the immune system. Extensive steroid use might eventually leave your pet vulnerable to diabetes, infections and other disorders.

Homeopathic Remedies

Fortunately for pet enthusiasts, there are plenty of nontoxic and natural homeopathic and herbal remedies for dogs afflicted with skin illnesses. Melaleuca alternifolia commonly applied externally to stimulate skin health and keeping the dog’s skin sterile while Althaea officinalis root is a great and well known treatment for restoring the skin. Homeopathic remedies including Ledum and Apis have excellent healing attributes and are especially effective in healing inflamed and itchy skin, or minor irritations and lesions.

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