Millions of people share their homes with a furry friend or three. There is nothing like experiencing the unconditional love of a dog. A dog will love you on your worst days and make you feel like you’re the most important human on earth – it’s one of their special powers.
That is why your heart breaks when you discover that your furry angel has allergy issues. You want nothing more than to help them and relieve them of their persistent itching and scratching. Understanding your dog’s allergies is vital – once you have nailed down the cause, you will be better able to formulate ways around it.
Below are eight crucial tips for looking after your precious pup if they have allergies:
1. Reduce Exposure
No matter what we try, some dogs are prone to seasonal allergies, especially during the peak pollen seasons like summer. Pollen comes from flowers, trees, and grass – making it practically impossible to control completely.
To deal with your pup’s seasonal allergies, you must adapt your exercise and play routine to reduce their exposure. Avoid going outside in the early morning or late afternoon – when pollen levels are at their highest. Instead, go for an evening walk and avoid areas with too many plants.
2. Diet
The main thing to understand about allergies, especially the bad ones, is that they respond best to treatment from multiple angles. It may not be enough to give your pup an antihistamine alone. Instead, work out a way to control the allergies from all angles.
Diet is one of the elements to adjust when your dog has allergies. Feed your dog a hypo-allergenic diet, it can help their bodies fight inflammation from the inside, and out.
3. Weekly Baths
If your dog has been scratching a lot, give the poor little soul some relief by bathing them in oatmeal on the weekend. Oatmeal helps your dog’s skin form a protective barrier that retains moisture and slows the loss of moisture, meaning less itching and fewer flakes.
Blend a cup of whole oatmeal into a fine powder, then add it to a bath of lukewarm water – it should make the water milky looking. Let your furry friend soak in the tub for fifteen minutes while you massage the mixture in. Afterward, rinse and towel dry and you’ll be good to go!
Don’t use around the face or eye area, use the best eye wipes for dogs there instead.
4. Allergy Shots
Allergen-specific immunotherapy is the most effective method of treating dogs with frequent or severe allergies, which sometimes yields a more permanent result. This is a costly exercise, so discuss your options with your vet.
Allergy shots can take up to six months to get results, and in worst-case scenarios – up to a full year. These shots have low side effects, especially when compared to harsher treatments like steroids or cortisone.
5. Supplements
As a bonus, help control your dog’s allergies by supplementing its diet with fatty acids. Fish oils and vitamin E supplements work wonders when used in conjunction with other allergy-controlling elements.
These oil supplements help calm the dog’s inflammatory reaction and can improve its skin condition.
Dog allergies are increasingly prevalent, which can be triggered by several things. Consult your vet if you think your dog’s condition is getting worse. By implementing the methods discussed above, your caring canine can lead a far more comfortable life during allergy season.
If your dog is
6. Create A Vaccine Plan
showing signs of a more serious condition, such as an autoimmune disease, talk to your vet before getting your furry friend any shots. The chances of your dog developing diseases of this nature are rare, but pets with pre-existing conditions are at greater risk of developing vaccine reactions.
If that is the case, your dog should still receive the “core” vaccines, which include rabies, distemper, adenovirus, and parvovirus. The other vaccines are considered optional and are only recommended if your dog is exposed to those pathogens based on their lifestyle.
Environmental factors to consider include where to live, where to play, and how often they spend time outdoors.
7. Clean Air
Air-borne allergens are responsible for more damage than the naked eye can see. Clean air contains fewer allergy-causing proteins like pollen, dander, and dust mites.
Change the air filters around your home regularly to cut back on allergens entering the house through open doors and windows. Remove the moisture from inside your house, which will make it harder for mold to grow – reducing your dog’s likelihood of experiencing a flare-up.
8. Triggers
The best way to look after a dog with allergies is to get to know its triggers. Flare-ups come for multiple reasons, like – weather changes, diet changes, and even stress. Allergens come in several forms, including grasses, pollen, cigarette smoke, chemicals, and even feathers. By identifying the triggers for your dog, you can help them to navigate the world around them. The only way to know how to help your pet is if you know what is setting their immune system into overdrive.
The easiest way is to eliminate everything as much as possible, then slowly reintroduce elements one at a time until you have a list of what may be causing your pup to itch, gnaw, and chew himself silly.
To End
If your dog is predisposed to developing allergies because of inherited genes, there is even more reason to get an early handle on the situation. Even if your dog is susceptible to allergic reactions, you can minimize the effects on your lovely pup’s life.
Combating dog allergies is usually a team effort and requires help from everyone in your family unit. Be patient and understanding; dogs with allergies often lead miserable lives until their allergies are treated and controlled. Take the time to understand what is affecting your canine companion – that is the only way to know how to create an action plan to combat it.
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