Dog
Allergy Symptoms
© John Dow
Dogs
react to allergies differently than humans. Dog allergy
symptoms are itchy skin and other skin related problems. Mast
cells are where the allergy reactions occur. In humans they
are concentrated in the respiratory tract, but in dogs (and
cats) the majority are located in the skin areas. So itchy,
red, and inflamed areas can develop on your dog.
The
same type of irritants that affect humans can affect dogs.
Airborne or inhalant particles like household dust, plant
pollen, and molds can cause the same discomfort. Usually the
skin problems develop in the front areas around the face,
head, and front legs.
Dogs
are also susceptible to food allergies. Some food items that
are often used in commercial dog foods like dyes, by products,
and artificial chemical additives can cause allergy symptoms
too. These food irritants are worse since they are ingested.
Dogs
will rub their faces, start licking their paws and legs, and
often inflammation in the front portions of their body. Dogs
have often have a bigger reaction to these irritants since
dust, pollen, and mold particles can get attached to their
fur. If bad enough, they can even be absorbed through the
skin. Dog's
foot pad areas are also a key area where irritation can
develop. There are an abundance of small blood vessels near
the surface on the pad areas and between the toes.
One
of the quick fixes that is easy to do is give your dog a bath
with cool water (hot water can aggravate the itch). A good
soaking with cool water for about 15 to 20 minutes will offer
some quick relief from skin irritations and reduce inflammation.
You are treating the symptoms and not the cause but it does
offer some comfort to your pet.
You
can also use oatmeal in the bath to further sooth your dog's
skin. Take a sock and fill it halfway with oatmeal then attach
to the hose or water facet and turn the water on slow. As the
water travels through the sock and oatmeal it creates a
solutions that combined with the cool water will be very
effective for skin problems (that goes for you too).
You
can also give your dog essential fatty acid supplements. The
essential fatty acids will help your dog's skin and give his
coat a sheen in addition to the anti itch benefits. A natural
source of omega-3 is cold water fish, or fish oil. There are
many health benefits to Omega-3 fatty acids. You can buy fish
oil in capsule form and pour it over your dog's food once a
day.
The
best way to eliminate the allergies is to try and keep your
dog away from areas with high pollen and mold particles.
Spring and fall bring the biggest concentrations of these
airborne irritants for both dogs and humans alike. Keeping
your dog away from areas that have a lot of flowers and damp
areas that receive little sunlight can always help.
Dog
allergy symptoms are easy to spot and can be a big source of
discomfort. Proper treatment and avoidance of areas know to
have airborne pollutants can help a lot. If severe, you can
also ask your vet about allergy tests to determine exact cause
and a series of shots can often eliminate allergic reactions.
