Top Three Dog Allergies and How to Treat Them

People always complement me on my wonderful little Boston Terrier. He really is a dream come true; polite and very mild-tempered, I can count how many times I've heard him bark on my fingers (and he's been with us for several years now). All in all, he is everything that I ever wanted in a dog, complete with a cute little squishy face.

However, I will admit, there is one thing that I do not love about my adorable little four-footed friend. In fact, it's a problem that makes me downright moody and tempermental at times. If you've ever owned a dog, you might just know what I'm talking about.

Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Licklicklick. Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.

Yes folks, my Boston Terrier has allergies. If your dog also suffers from allergies, you will nod along with me as I say it's the most maddening thing in the world. The constant licking, chewing, scratching and gnawing. I got hit with a few whammies, in fact, because my Boston Terrier is allergic to several different things. Fortunately, however, I've learned about treatments and a few tricks that you can use, which will help you make your canine companion feel better (and help you maintain your sanity).

Understanding Canine Allergies

Like people, dogs have various kinds of allergies. There are four main groups of allergies that your dog could be suffering from. The first step in treating your dog's allergy problem is finding out what kind of allergy he or she has. Here are some of the more common types of canine allergies:

Food allergies: Some people are allergic to things like shellfish, eggs or peanuts and our canine companions have similar conditions, where they are allergic to different products in their foods. It may be a filler, such as corn or gluten allergies, or your dog may be allergic to one of the proteins in his food like chicken, beef or pork.

Food allergies can cause advanced digestive problems, excessive itching, licking, or problems with their breathing. Fortunately, most food allergies can be treated by simply changing your dog's food. Your veterinarian can help you figure out what they're allergic to, by taking a few weeks and placing your dog on a special diet.

Contact allergies: These are the most common kinds of allergies that most dogs suffer from. When it comes to different contact allergens, the most often seen is an allergy to fleas. Mind you, the dog isn't allergic to the actual insect; while bothersome, a flea hopping a ride on your dog won't trigger the allergic reaction. It's actually the flea's saliva that most dogs have an allergic reaction to, after they've been bitten. This is most comperable to how some of us get big welts when we're bitten by mosquitos, where others show no symptoms at all.

Whether they're the result of flea allergies, various plants or some other agent that your dog has come in contact with, contact allergies can range from a very mild reaction to a very severe one that has you rushing to your local emergency pet hospital. It's very important not to overlook a possible allergic reaction. In our case, our Boston Terrier ended up being rushed into the doggy E.R. for injections and monitoring. It was not only a very frightening experience, but the vet bill was equally shocking.

Inhalant allergies: The two main triggers in inhalant allergies are pollens and tobacco smoke (Yes, even our dogs are joining the no-smoking kick). Fortunately, inhalant allergies are much easier to treat than the other kinds of allergies, simply because you can restrict your dog's level of contact with the allergens. By asking people to smoke outside and avoiding holding your dog when wearing clothes that may have tobacco smoke residue on them, you can help a dog that is allergic to smoke. Seperating a dog off from the plants that are triggering their allergies can be as simple as choosing to walk your dog in a different area of the yard or building them a special enclosed dog run that limits exposure to potential triggers.

Treating Canine Allergies

Quite a bit of study has gone into treating canine allergies over the past few years. Of course, the first step in treating a dog allergy is to discover what's causing it in the first place, but once that's done, how do you go about keeping their outbreaks to a minimum and giving them some relief?

Here are some of the great ways that I've found to give my Boston Terrier relief from the itching of allergies:

Hypoallergenic shampoos: When Rube is having bad itch days, particularly during the summertime, I will give him a bath with a good hypoallergenic shampoo. This serves to not only help your pet by removing some of the heat and itch from his skin, but it can also wash off any possible allergy triggers that may be on his coat or skin.

Oatmeal bath: This was something that my mother always prescribed for me when I had chicken pox, allergic reactions or bug bites. Oatmeal baths and oatmeal shampoos are a good way to help take some of the itch out of your pet's skin.

High quality flea medication: Everyone has their favorites, whether it's a flea powder or a spot-treatment like Frontline. Myself, I have had great luck with a product known as Comfortis, which is a monthly pill you give to your dog. With all the fleas we have in Florida, it's proven to be a lifesaver.

Hot spot sprays: I've had mixed results with these, but some of the newer products that contain tea tree oil and mint seem to be very helpful in treating some of the hot spots that crop up on my Boston Terrier's neck and belly. Just be very careful to ensure that the product is approved for pet use and be sure to keep it away from the eyes and nose - If it smells strong to you, imagine how it smells for your pet!

Veterinarian suggested antihistamines and anti-inflamatory medications: Note that I said veterinarian suggested, please. You don't want to self-medicate without consulting your veterinarian first. In many cases, however, they will suggest helpful products and will give you the correct dosage for your dog's age and weight.

If none of these options work or if your dog is having a severe allergic reaction, it's time to go in to the vet's office for a full checkup and to see what they suggest; leaving your dog to scratch and attempting to ignore the problem can lead to worse reactions and/or skin infections. Sometimes, steroid injections or desensitization therapy may be an option that you can try, but your veterinarian is sure to have some more ideas. Hopefully, together, you will be able to help to stop the endless itch.

Sources:

Personal experience as the proud owner of a Boston Terrier (who just happens to suffer from contact and food allergies)