How To Cope With Dog Skin Allergies

Many dogs suffer from dog skin allergies. The symptoms can be mild, an extra sensitivity that causes the dog to rub his face or body against a rough surface. Severe cases may lead to skin biting, infections and can be a real source of misery for the afflicted dog.

Dogs, like people, have allergic reactions to various irritants. The irritants cause the body to produce histamines. It is the histamines that cause the itching and irritation.

Fleas are a major source of skin allergic responses. Their saliva carries an anti-coagulant which mixes with the dog's blood when he is bitten. This anti-coagulant causes the allergic response in many dogs. One bite is enough to cause minor to intense suffering depending on the individual dog's response.

If fleas are not present, then look at the ingredients in your dog's food. Check at your pet food store for the various sensitive food products they carry. You'll want to eliminate the common nutritional culprits like corn, wheat and grain. If that doesn't improve the situation, consider one of the single protein source formulations. Salmon and sweet potato dry food is extremely low in allergic food response, as are duck and turkey. You should be able to get the right food by trying small bags of each formulation in a process of elimination. Dogs with food allergies have swift reactions to the allergens so he will be telling you there's still a problem.

Veterinarians can recommend steroidal medications, lotions and baths to calm the irritation. If you are lucky enough to live near an ocean or other body of salt water and have a dog who swims, then a weekly trip to the beach is a fun and effective solution. If there are fleas, they'll not survive the water and salt. The salt helps heal the skin and the exercise will allay some of the dog's anxiety. Oatmeal baths are another aid. Aromatherapy with sweet orange oil and massages with an almond oil and sweet orange oil combination are calming and the orange oil is a natural pesticide.

It is important to keep the dog on a regular feeding regiment once you find a dog food that works for him. It is a wise precaution to buy a new bad when the old one is about two thirds finished and mix the two. Sometimes bags that are made in different batches or factories have some minor changes in the formulation. An abrupt change from the old to the new can provoke another reaction.

If fleas are the culprit, they must be eliminated from the house, yard and, of course, your dog. Orange oil products are remarkably effective and totally safe, plus the smell is cheery and quite wonderful. Dogs do not shy away from a massage with orange and almond oils. Take the essential orange oil and drip it onto the dog's collar for protection against any fleas outdoors. Buy borax and sprinkle it around your house. Fleas love carpets. Push the borax into your carpets with a stiff broom, wait a few minutes and then vacuum it up. Then sprinkle lavender and peppermint leaves around. They also repel fleas and make your house smell wonderful.

Dog skin allergies should be dealt with promptly to alleviate the discomfort and suffering of your dog. With the right information, you can easily take the steps to removing the allergens that cause these problems.

I'm a dog health professional who specializes in dog skin allergies treatment.