Top 5 Articles: Allergic, Itchy Dogs
Dogs with Itchy Skin and Runny Eyes
This time of year, in Pinellas County and all over Florida, allergies make dogs itchy and sneezy. The #1 searched article on our website this week deals with dog allergies, and most of our appointments deal with itchy skin, break-outs, runny eyes, and even sneezing.
“I didn’t know dogs get allergies, too,” said one concerned dog dad.
“Not only do they get allergic reactions to pollens, grasses, dust mites and molds, researchers estimate up to 25% of our pet dogs suffer allergies,”says Doc Truli.
Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs
Do you know the symptoms of allergies in dogs? You know about a stuffy nose and itchy runny eyes in people? How do allergies look in a dog?
Is Your Dog in the Top Ten?
Certain breeds of dogs seem to suffer allergies more often than other dogs. For instance, if your Shih Tzu does not have fleas and itches, odds are, he or she has allergies. Check out which other breeds veterinarians see often for allergy diagnosis and treatment at Doc Truli’s Top Ten Allergic Dogs.
You Can Prepare for a Skin Check Up
Doc Truli created an allergy checklist to help guide you through allergy investigation and elimination. Check with the whole family and watch your dog for a few days to gather more information before your visit (unless your dog is super itchy, then come on in right away!) You will be surprised how we can focus your testing and treatments with the information you gather at home!
“Hot Spots” are a Common Symptom of Allergies
“Hot spots” are painful, super itchy red sore areas under the fur where infection sets in –sometimes within just hours — and your dog frantically scratches and whines and even might not eat because of the pain and discomfort. Most dogs need quick and aggressive treatment to prevent excoriations and further scratching damage to the skin. Read about an English Bulldog and his hot spot.
“I Know My Dog Has Allergies”
10% of dogs have food allergies. 90% suffer atopy, which is allergy to environmental factors such as grasses, pollens, trees, molds, dust mites, insects, dander, and weeds.
Food Allergies in Dogs
You can only diagnose food allergies through a food allergy trial; there are no accurate blood tests at this time for diagnosing food allergies in pets. Because most pet foods sold in the United States contain beef, chicken, corn, soy, and egg, they are the most likely food allergen offenders.
You probably need veterinarian guidance to be sure your food allergy trial works. You need legitimate hypoallergenic food in order to identify food allergies. These foods are only available through licensed veterinarians in the US because the system of how to perform a valid food allergy trial is difficult to understand without careful guidance.
Doc Truli can provide you with a personalized plan for your food allergy trial, including non-allergenic heart worm preventatives, training treats, and toys that will not trigger allergies.
Atopy in Dogs
Most allergic dogs have atopic disease. Their over-active immune system reacts to grass and tree pollen and even human dander! This hyperactive, destructive immune response can be modulated and brought to normal balance through diet, vitamins, nutritional additives, nutritional quality, emotional and stress behavior modification, allergy desensitization injections, and pharmaceutical intervention.
Don’t let your dog go through another year of “steroids and antibiotics!” Let us help you make your dog healthy once and for all!
*Click on the links above, or research our categories such as Allergies for many, many success stories to share with you how other people have handled their pet’s allergy care.
