Dealing With Dog Skin Allergies

Dog skin allergies can be highly frustrating to live with. While your dog is miserable, so are you. He scratches and makes a production of licking himself and his human world becomes irritated with his attempts to feel better. The rashes and hives that develop, crack, and bleed just add to overall miserable existence.

So often the easy solution becomes to move the dog into another area of the house where he is confined to a small, usually less valued room than he was originally sitting in. Bathrooms, offices, and even large closets end up being dedicated space for dog that itches and scratches for the entire night.

When you put a dog into a situation that is both physically and emotionally uncomfortable the results can actually be tragic. The typical allergic reaction that a pup will experience will be a lot like the ones their favorite human feels. The most common cause of allergies in canines is dog food.

Low quality food tends to be loaded with grains and fillers that can either be the cause of or exacerbate the allergies. Even mid to upper quality foods can have just enough grain in them to create allergy attacks of the area. One of the first things to look into is the quality of the meals he has been eating. Try a raw diet for him or offer him a top quality premium brand food. The food should be totally grain free.

Allergic reactions are technically a faulty response of the airway. Allergies cause the immune system to over saturate itself and release the chemicals in the body that will inspire hives, itching, and other common allergy symptoms. The histamine is released and the skin begins to itch. The subsequent scratching is actually helping to spread the suffering around, as it moves the hormones produced by the bite or sting. Part of treated badly affected skin is to have the ability to help calm and sooth the irritation while also building trust and a real relationship with your pal.

While a raw food diet or a premium brand will not contain grains there is often a chance that your dog is allergic to certain meats. Usually the white meats like pork and chicken are the likely suspects if there is an additional food allergen. Because allergies can be difficult to cope with and can even be deadly it is important that you receive all the necessary information that you need in order to keep your pup as healthy and safe as possible.

Allergy testing should be done if the skin condition does not clear up upon the food change. Airborne allergens can be just as problematic for both you and your companion. Remember that while you might be annoyed listening to him scratch and lick, he is opening up potential wound areas that could become inflamed or infected.

Ensuring a happy, healthy dog is not an easy task. Yet the dog skin allergies that are the most common can be tested. This way you are free to come and have the testing done while also trying to determine what he needs to get through his fear of seeing the vet.