After one of the best summers on record, we have to face the fact that, in a few weeks, the Fall season will be upon us. This means we will be facing things such as fleas and ticks, allergies and dry skin just to name a few. We want to remind you that a little preparation before all this nasty stuff is upon us, goes a long way!
First, a bit about allergies:
Possibly. Believe it or not, dogs (and cats) can get allergies just as we human’s do. Dog allergies can be to;
- Tree, grass and weed pollens
- Mold spores
- Dust and house dust mites
- Feathers
- Food ingredients (e.g. beef, chicken, pork, corn, wheat or soy)
- Prescription drugs
- Fleas and flea-control products (The bite of a single flea can trigger intense itchiness for two to three weeks! It can also become a hot spot)
- Cleaning products
- Insecticidal shampoo
- Ticks (some dogs will scratch a tick bite until it becomes infected and causes a hot spot)
How do you know if your dog has allergies? He may be scratching excessively, panting heavily, has runny eyes or itchy and gooey ears. He can sneeze a lot or have diarrhea or he could be licking himself a lot. Most often, allergies show up on the skin as a red rash or just red skin all over.
If you think your dog has allergies, a trip to the vet is the first thing you should do. If, after the visit, the dogs condition persists, the vet may suggest allergy testing to try to narrow don what is causing your dogs discomfort. If your vet suspects a food allergy, most likely he will put your dog on prescription food for a period of weeks to see if the symptoms disappear. If so, you will probably be instructed to feed a specific type of food and watch to see if the symptoms reoccur. Once you have found a food that is non reactive, you should be good to go. There are many high quality foods that are made right here in North America that are grain free and sourced from local farms and waters.
If you dog is allergic to pests such as fleas and ticks, treatment is usually done after the bite much as it’s done for humans. If your dog is allergic to pollen, or mold spores or certain types of grass, your vet may suggest allergy injections which will help your dogs body develop a resistance to the allergen. Benedryl may be used as well, but make sure your vet is on board with this.
There are some fatty acid supplements that can be added to food for skin rashes as well as medicated shampoos. Again, it’s best to ask your vet or someone who is knowledgeable with these conditions.
You can also change the protein your dog is getting to help boost the immune system. If you’re feeding chicken based food, change to bison, or fish. As long as you stick with the same manufacturer there shouldn’t be any adjustment period.
Next week we will revisit fleas and ticks and dry skin. We’ll discuss what causes dry skin and what to do about it as well as how to reduce the risk of a flea infestation, how to get rid of it, and how to deal with ticks!