Dogs can suffer from allergies just as readily as humans can.
And there can be a variety of causes of dog allergies, just as there can with human allergies.
One thing your dog can’t tell you, though, is what he or she has come into contact with that could be causing the dog allergy.
There are, of course, dog food allergies, that may be easier to pinpoint, because you know what you’ve fed your dog.
And flea allergies are relatively easy to “diagnose”, because you’ll probably find the fleas if you take a good look as soon as your dog starts scratching.
But if your dog has come into contact with certain plants that are causing an allergic reaction, you may not know where to look for the culprits.
Your guide to diagnosing, treating and quickly curing
a variety of dog skin problems
Does Your Dog Suffer From Allergies?
Dogs can get allergies for a variety of reasons, but there are a few culprits that lead to a state of a weakened immune system. Once a dog has a weakened immune system, he may start having allergic reactions to things that would not normally bother a healthy, strong dog. And he may develop a serious autoimmune problem like inflammatory bowel disease or hyperthyroidism.
According to Richard Pitcairn, these things may lead to a dog developing a weakened immune system:
* combination injections used a lot
* excessive use of cortisone drugs
* commercial dog food diets
The latter is an interesting point, as even in miler cases of allergy, dogs may be allergic to some of the commercial foods we feed them. He suggests switching to a special healing diet, made from food you prepare yourself, for about 2 or 3 months. If after this time there is no improvement, then it is safe to safe that food is not causing the allergy.
Dr Pitcairn’s recommended allergy diet includes grains like brown rice, bone meal, meat, and vitamins. Once the dog has been on this diet for a few months, you can start introducing foods that he used to eat, gradually. It’s best to introduce the foods one at a time, so you have a chance to see whether a reaction occurs after he eats it. Once a food, or ingredient has been identified, the option exists to find a good quality dog food that doesn’t contain those ingredients. There exist special foods that are formulated for dogs with skin conditions, and these might be more suitable.
Foods are not the only substances that can trigger an allergy however. Your dog may be allergic to:
* chlorine or other household chemical agents
* cleaning chemicals, either in your house or yard
* gases released from chemicals in our furniture or buildings
* synthetic carpets
* plastic food bowls
* some types of grass or plants
* regular dog care products like heartworm or flea products
* flea bites
The symptoms of a dog suffering from an allergy could be one or more of the following:
* itchy skin
* skin eruptions (especially at the base of the tail and on the lower part of his back)
* inflamed ears
* too much licking of the front feet 
* problems in the digestive tract including gas, gurgling of the stomach, loose stools or diarrhea
* inflammation of the toes
* his rear end is irritated
* licking and dragging his rear end on the floor
References: Dr Pitcairn, Complete Guide To Natural Health For Dogs And Cats
If you’re interested in feeding your dog a natural diet, learn about dogs and carbohydrates. The author, Rebecca Prescott, presents dog tips and articles here.
It’s often a good strategy when your dog suffers from recurrent allergies, to detox your dog’s system. This will bring your dog’s system back to a healthier condition, and then if the allergies recur, they may be easier to treat.
Helpful links:
Natural worm prevention (heartworm prevention, as well as general worm prevention)
The links all contain helpful information relating to dog health questions, dog health problems, and/or dog care. Enjoy!
Or take a look at the interesting ebook below:
Your guide to diagnosing, treating and quickly curing
a variety of dog skin problems
A very informative article. There should be more like this on the site. Thank you!!!
Thanks for your feedback, Claire.
I appreciate it. And I’ll try to post more informative articles like this on specific dog health issues.
Regards,
Brigitte