Remedies For Dog Allergies

Suffering from dog allergies can make your pet extremely uncomfortable, some worse than others. Every allergic reaction is different and range from mild to severe. Some dogs may only have a mild reaction to a food allergy. Others may end up with a severe skin allergy that results in an infection, taking a long time to heal.

If you decide to take your dog to the vet, they should be able to diagnose your dog’s allergies effectively and will work with you to determine the best course for treating and relieving the symptoms of dog allergies. Your dog may be prescribed medication, and you should follow your veterinarian’s instructions for proper use.

However, there are many other remedies for dog allergies that can help your dog, especially if their symptoms are milder. You will be treating your dog in a more natural way, not to mention the cost savings since those vet bills can add up pretty quickly.

Remedies For Dog Allergies

Here are a variety of natural and common household remedies to help relieve the symptoms of common dog allergies.

Common Sense Remedies

This will work best for dogs with milder allergic reactions. For example, changing your dog’s diet may be a quick solution to a food allergy in dogs. Removing an item from your dog’s environment may relieve a skin allergy. The important thing with common sense remedies is that it is really dependent on how much effort you are willing to put into trying different ideas until you find something that works.

Topical Oils

Oils can used to relieve some of the symptoms of dog skin allergies, like itching and scratching. They are usually in the form of a shampoo or cream. However, they tend to offer only short-term relief, so frequent applications are usually needed to fight the symptoms over the long-term.

One formula that might work to relieve dry, irritated skin is to use 1 part neem oil and 1 part grape seed oil. Mix them together and massage the mixture into your dog’s skin.

Elizabethan Collars

These are those funny, cone shaped collars that are used around a dog’s head. They are great for preventing your dog from biting and chewing itchy areas. Most dogs hate them at first, but they usually come around after a while.

These collars are great for seasonal dog allergies, when scratching and biting can aggravate existing problems. Elizabethan collars are relatively inexpensive and can be reused whenever your dog is suffering from seasonal allergies, or is scratching too much as a result of a skin irritation.

Old Socks and T-Shirts

Like Elizabethan collars, using these items are meant to restrict your dog’s scratching and biting. They can be very effective and are usually less distracting to your dog. However, they have one major disadvantage.

Dogs who really want to scratch will find a way to get rid of the socks or t-shirts. Some dogs will chew the socks right off their feet and then scratch or bite through or under the t-shirt. You know your dog better than anyone, so decide if a pair of socks or a t-shirt would be better than a collar for your dog.

Diet Supplements

Many dog owners add a few things to their dog’s diet to help with her allergies, especially fish oil. Fish oils are believed to soften and moisturize the skin which relieves itching, scratching, and biting. Some dog owners like to give their dogs cod live oil tablets or capsules. Some dogs will chew it up, like a wonderful treat. Others may be more resistant, so you can simply break the capsule open, or crush the tablet, and add it to her food.

Another popular supplement is Biotin. This is a vitamin B supplement that can be added to your dog’s food. It is believed to soothe and heal dry, itchy, and broken skin.

Dog Allergy Medication

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are inexpensive and usually available over-the-counter. Check with your vet for proper dosage for your dog. Unfortunately, many experts estimate that using antihistamines are only effective in about 15 – 30% of dogs suffering from seasonal allergies. So it might not be the most effective method of treating your dog’s allergies.

When they work, they can be good at treating itching, hot spots, inflammation, and eye infections. So it might be worth a try. You can pick up a  bottle at: http://dogcarejourney.com/cb-allergy-tablets.

Steroids

Steroids can be extremely effective in dealing with more several allergic reactions. They can also help in relieving symptoms of dog allergies such as itching and inflammation. However, they have been known to have side effects such as dehydration, diarrhea, and weight loss. So just be aware of the potential side effects. Talk to your vet about any concerns you may have. You will have to visit them for a prescription for steroids anyway.

In the end, it is up to you to decide which one of these remedies for dog allergies you want to try.

Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Move on the the next article, Prevent Dog Allergies, or go back to the previous article, How to Diagnose a Food Allergy in Dogs.

Best,

Omar Reyes

For additional home remedies to treat dog allergies and other conditions, check out Rover’s Recipes. They have helpful recipes for natural dog shampoos and soaps and other helpful ideas. Get your copy at http://dogcarejourney.com/rovers-recipes.