How Do Dog Skin Allergies Affect You

If you have ever been around a dog skin allergies sufferer you already know that there is a lot of discomfort in the household for humans and canines alike. The licking, scratching, bleeding, cracking, and chewing are behaviors and finished products that are far from desirable in our human world.

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 to medium quality dog foods are essentially an allergy attack waiting to happen. The ingredients used in these foods are often of poor quality to begin with but when the companies add in different grain and the byproducts from meat sources there is almost always a link. Some dogs simply need a grain free food. Others will do very well on a higher quality of food that may still have some wheat and vegetables.

If your dog is allergic to an ingredient in the food he will most likely react by initially scratching. Of course, since humans often find this dog trait unpleasant, he's probably been asked to stop from time to time. Since he really wants to take care of his discomfort he may go off and try to sneak in a little extra "alone time." For every scratch he has there is certainly a sense of relief, but it's only temporary as the histamine responds quite quickly to being stimulated in such a manner. The body overproduces the histamine and the skin becomes intensely itchy at the site. It might take quite awhile to break the cycle.

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.

Dog skin allergies can be narrowed down in most cases by the breaking out, washing, scratching, and standard breathing rate if evaluated by a vet. However, many vets actually do prefer to to do skin testing only after changes have been made for her dog food. Living with this kind of problem is difficult, but it is much more difficult for your dog.