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Understanding the common issues that can arise in your dog might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be.
There are a lot of resources, tools and supplements that you can use to keep your dog healthy.
Having a healthy dog is very rewarding, for you and the dog, and also saves you money on vet bills.
Common Skin Allergies in Dogs
There are common skin allergies that happen to a lot of dogs, and it’s good to be a responsible pet owner and understand them before they happen.
You can take proactive action to help keep these allergies and skin issues from harming your dog’s skin and coat.
Dog’s allergies can be caused by allergens found in pollen, animal dander from other pets, plants, and insects.
Dogs can also be allergic to food and medication as well. It’s important to carefully observe your dog’s skin health if you make any dietary changes or spend a lot of time in a new environment.
These allergies can cause a variety of symptoms: excessive itching, scratching, and grooming; rashes; sneezing; watery eyes; paw chewing; and skin inflammation.
We want to help you know how to understand and potentially treat skin allergies in your four-legged friend to avoid these uncomfortable symptoms.
Dermatitis
Dermatitis is a skin reaction to a variety of environmental or nutritional factors affecting your dog.
Keep an eye out for excessive licking or irritation because your dog will lick in an effort to soothe their own itchiness, but this will only cause more issues for them.
If you see your dog licking their paws for a long time, or furiously scratching and licking any area of their body, check for skin irritation.
Make sure that you keep your dog away from triggers of this skin irritation and consult your vet about incorporating a supplement for skin and coat health into your doggies routine.
Food Allergies
Food allergies can result in itching, redness, dry patches or even small sores.
The main thing to remember when it comes to feeding your dog is that they are a carnivore, so meat should be the top ingredient in their food.
Oftentimes the filler ingredients in certain dog foods can cause some allergies because they are not natural ingredients.
If you feel like there is a food allergy you can’t identify on your own at home, consult your vet for an allergy test.
This is something that is a very attainable switch to make to improve the health of your dog
Hives
Hives are another skin allergy your dog may face at one time or another.
For the most part, hives are a reaction to something very specific, and should fade after approximately 24 hours.
If your dog has a hives reaction, call your vet because they may need a dose of antihistamine.
The good news, hives don’t last forever!
Flea Allergies
Some dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas, so when they get bitten, it makes the reaction even worse than usual.
Keep an eye out for risen red bumps near the base of the tail.
You should be checking your dog for fleas regularly, but especially if you see them giving their skin extra attention.
Flea allergy reactions can lead to other infections, so it’s important to stay on top of it.
Treat your dog with preventative flea medication to avoid this problem.
Treating Common Skin Allergies in Dogs
The first step to treating these allergies listed above is avoidance and trying your best to prevent them.
That isn’t always possible though, and that’s okay.
Your faithful canine friend deserves healthy skin and a good-looking coat of fur, free of irritation or any sense of discomfort.
Treating a skin reaction to a food allergy: make dietary changes as necessary to avoid continued ingestion of the allergen.
Treating a dermatitis skin condition: finding a skin and coat supplement to promote healthy skin and a shiny coat with extra-strength Vitamin E, Zinc, and Biotin.
Treating flea allergies and hives: using flea medicine and shampoo, and removing the cause of the inflammation from the dogs environment.
Things like leave-in conditioner, coconut oil, and skin and coat supplements will help you have a healthy dog.
Coconut oil can be good for dogs, may improve their coats, and may help prevent infection and alleviate skin irritation that can be caused by these allergies.
