If you are adopting an older dog then it will depend on if they were exposed to a grooming routine before you brought them home. If they weren’t, grooming may be a bit of a challenge, but you can still at least get to where they will tolerate being handled and groomed. It just requires effort and patience on your part.

If you have a young puppy, then the key will be to start teaching them about grooming as early as possible.

No One Size Fits All in Dog Grooming

There are so many factors that can make dog grooming different from dog to dog, such as size of the dog, the dog breed, their coat type, long coats versus short coats, and so on. But basic dog grooming remains pretty much the same for all dogs. No matter what type of dog you have they will need a bath, regular brushing and combing, ears cleaned, teeth brushed, and nails trimmed.

True, if you have a long-haired dog you will spend more time grooming, and getting your dog or puppy to enjoy grooming will be more of a challenge, but just remember that there are definite benefits to dog grooming. You will just need to practice more often .

Because there are tasks that you will have to perform on a regular basis, and because of the benefits, it is important that you introduce your puppy or your adult dog to grooming as soon as you can. The experience will be much more pleasant for both of you if you start early.

Groom Your Dog or Puppy Every Day

To create a positive grooming experience for both you and your dog or puppy, you must introduce her to the process slowly and often. Allow her to become familiar with all the different dog grooming tools by showing them to her one at a time.

For example, show her one of her brushes and let her sniff it for a couple seconds then reward her with a treat. Next, gently touch her with the brush and reward her with a treat again. Once she has fully accepted the brush, start by brushing her with just one stroke and then give her a treat. Repeat this process another two or three times.

She will soon realize that the brush creates a pleasant sensation for her, not to mention the treats she will be receiving. However, you will want to start phasing out the treats once you see she is allowing you to brush her without any fuss.

The key is to break down any grooming process into small steps and allow your dog or puppy to associate a positive experience with each step. Patience and repetition is important.

Another example would be bath time. Take her to where you will be grooming her and allow her to just get comfortable with being in that area before you begin.

Start a couple days before giving her a bath. Put her in a tub without water and throw in a couple toys and give her a favorite treat. Do the same thing again the following day, but this time add some water. Allow her to get used to the idea of getting wet. Then move on to getting her entire body wet and so on, and so on.

The same process can be applied to other grooming tasks. Follow the same ideas for the nail clipper, the toothbrush, and other grooming tools.

So, can your dog or puppy love dog grooming? They may not necessarily love the idea, but they can certainly learn to tolerate grooming and create a much more pleasant experience for both of you. Just spend the time getting them used to all the different tasks you will be routinely performing.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Dog Grooming Tools, or go back to the previous article, Why Groom Your Dog.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. Grooming your dog requires a good set of tools. Read the article on Chris Christensen products to see why I think you should invest in a couple of their dog grooming products.

Why Groom Your Dog

Grooming is not just about making your dog look nice and pretty by caring for their coats. There are also health, emotional, and physical benefits to good dog grooming.

Regular grooming can provide an opportunity for the following:

1. Strengthen the bond between you and your dog. The time you spend interacting with your dog as you go about your grooming tasks will serve to strengthen the bond between the two of you. As you calmly reassure her, she relaxes and you both become in tune with each other.

2. Understand your dog’s body. Many people don’t think about this, but as you groom your dog, you will become more familiar with her body. Over time you will be able tell if there is a lump that was not there before. Your dog will let you know if something is hurting her as you explore her body with your hands. You will be in a position to identify potential problems before they escalate into something more serious.

3. Remove dead hair and skin. Grooming allows you to remove dead hair and skin from your dog’s coat. This will not only improve the look of the coat, but will also improve air circulation to the skin. This is especially important during the hot months when it is hot and humid.

4. Increase blood flow to hair follicles. Grooming increases the blood flow to the dog’s hair follicles. This improves the overall health of the skin and coat.

5. Stimulates the lymphatic system. As you brush and comb your dog’s coat and inspect her body to make sure everything is fine, you are massaging the skin and coat as well. This stimulates the lymphatic system which provides additional health benefits for your dog.

6. Locate parasites. Fleas and other parasites can cause dog allergies. While grooming your dog keep an eye out for fleas and ticks and remove them right away. These parasites can cause other problems for your dog as well.

7. Check the feet. One of your grooming tasks will be to trim your dog’s nails. As you do so, inspect the pads of their feet for any potential problems.

8. Save money. Of course, if you are grooming your dog at home you will save a lot versus taking your dog to a professional groomer. But if you are not comfortable grooming your dog yourself, she will still get many of the other benefits of dog grooming.

As you can see, there are many rewards for both you and your dog when you make the time and put in the effort required to groom your dog.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Can Your Dog or Puppy Love Dog Grooming, or go back to the previous article, Basic Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. If you don’t have the essential grooming tools you can find all you need at a good online pet supply store. Click Here to check price and availability of the grooming tools you will need.

Basic Dog Grooming For Short-Haired Dogs

In general, grooming a short-haired dog will require less time and effort than grooming dogs with other types of coats. For most short-haired dogs all you have to do is brush them on a regular basis. Usually a weekly brushing with a good dog grooming brush is sufficient.

However, there are some short-haired dog breeds that are notorious shedders. For example, Labrador Retrievers are perhaps one of the worst culprits when it comes to shedding. During some parts of the year, you may have to brush their coats daily to keep all the loose hair from going all over your house.

Other short-haired breeds like the German Shorthaired Pointer and the Beagle also shed quite a lot. So do not think that just because you have a short-haired dog breed that you will escape your grooming chores.

Basic Dog Grooming For Long and Medium Coats

Dogs with long coats will require a great deal more attention when it comes to grooming them. Dogs such as the Maltese, Yorkshire Terrier, Afghan Hound, the Setters, and the Spaniels will need to be brushed several times weekly, or even daily.

Dogs like the Collie or the Sheltie that have a medium coat, may also have a thick double coat that needs frequent grooming to avoid matting and tangling.

If you are brushing a long coat or a medium coat, start with a good brush, such as a boar bristle brush like the IONIC Brass-Boar Bristle Palm Brush by Chris Christensen. You can also use a boar bristle and nylon bristle mixed brush. Boar bristles are good for spreading the natural oils in the dog’s coat.

Brush the coat in the direction that the hair grows. For dogs with a thick double coat, you can brush a second time. This time, brush in the opposite direction to how the hair grows, and then brush back in the way hair naturally grows.

If your dog has a long, flowing coat you can then use a good pin brush to separate out the dog’s furnishing and make sure that you remove any matted fur and tangles. The pin brush is made with metal pins that are good for separating the long hair. Do not use it on the dog’s body as the metal pins can be sharp and can scratch the skin.

Next you can use a dog comb to gently comb out the long hair.

Other Basic Dog Grooming Tasks

Besides brushing and combing your dog’s coat, you will also need to brush the teeth and trim the nails weekly.

You can use a good ear cleaner to clean the ears. There are also a variety of dental care products to help your brush your dog’s teeth and maintain proper dental health. Try to get a dog toothpaste that has chicken, beef, or peanut butter flavor. Your dog will love it and brushing the teeth will be a lot easier.

To trim your dog’s nails, you can use nail clipper or a rotary nail clipper. There are various products available to help you keep your dog’s nails in great shape.

These are the basic dog grooming tasks you will need to keep your dog looking and feeling great.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Why Groom Your Dog, or go back to the previous article, An Introduction to Good Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

p.s. Order your IONIC Brass-Boar Bristle Palm Brush by Chris Christensen today!

Some of the most common grooming tasks include:

• brushing the coat
• trimming the coat
• bathing the dog
• trimming the nails
• cleaning the ears
• brushing the teeth

The actual time and effort spent doing some of these tasks will depend largely on what type of dog you have. In general, the longer the coat, the more time you will spend on brushing the coat and and clipping the coat. Short-haired dogs will usually take less time to groom.

A dog that is groomed regularly tends to be radiant and full of energy and spunk. A dog whose grooming needs are neglected tend to look dull, dirty, and lethargic. How the dog’s coat is kept is a good indicator of the overall health and condition of a dog.

Note: A dull and dry coat with flaky skin may be a sign of potential long-term health problems and skin infections.

Good Dog Grooming Identifies Potential Problems

Dogs are prone to skin infections, cuts, sores, and scratches. They are also likely to be bothered by fleas, ticks, mites, and other pets, which can lead to dog allergies. When you maintain your dog’s coat through good dog grooming, it is easy to identify any signs of these common problems that can affect your dog. Once you know that something is wrong, you can address the issue before it leads to more serious health problems.

Younger dogs are less like to develop lesions, lumps, and tumors. However, with age these things may become more of a concern. That is why it is important to groom dogs both old and young alike.

Benefits of Good Dog Grooming

There are various benefits of regular dog grooming such as:

• a healthy coat and skin
• it creates a special bond between dog and owner
• prevents the occurrence of fleas and other parasites
• helps to eliminate doggy odors

How we groom our dogs says a lot about how we treat our pets in general. The overall health and condition or our four-legged friends depend a lot on what we choose to do. Spend the time grooming your dog and you will treasure a long and happy relationship with your pet.

Dog Grooming Advice is an in depth series of articles about proper dog grooming. Move on to the next article, Basic Dog Grooming.

Best,

Omar Reyes

This is the first article in an in depth series on good dog grooming. Follow along via our RSS feed or by filling out the form below to get updates.

It also depends a lot on what type of dog allergy your pet is suffering from. If your pet is suffering from seasonal allergies or an allergy caused by a flea bite, then choosing one dog food over another may not do much to relieve the symptoms of those types of allergies.

Choosing a food with ingredients designed for sensitive skin and to promote a healthy coat may help in reducing dry skin and the resulting itching and scratching that can be brought about by allergies.

Now if your dog is suffering from dog food allergies, then obviously the diet you feed her will determine if she will have an allergic reaction or not. We talked about diagnosing food allergy in dogs previously. Using a food trial you will probably know what ingredients are causing the allergic reaction in your dog. Avoid those ingredients and your dog should be fine.

As part of the food trial you probably selected a food with a protein source that your dog never had before. Some like duck, venison, or rabbit would be good. There are several manufacturers producing dog food with those ingredients.

I tried to find foods specifically made to address allergy issues. There were not many that claimed to be made especially for dogs with allergies. However, there was quite a variety of food made with all natural ingredients, limited ingredients, and interesting protein sources like:

• duck
• rabbit
• venison
• buffalo
• lamb
• sweet potato

So, with a small disclaimer…

Disclaimer: The foods below are based on claims by the manufacturers and not by Dog Care Journey.

Here is a small sample of allergy formula dog food.

Anergen™ (Wysong)

Anergen™ is a natural based dog food made from lamb and brown rice. It is a great choice for dogs that need a diet made with limited ingredients. Anergen™ is a healthy alternative for pets with allergy problems.

“…it has served as a lifeline to thousands of pets unable to consume traditional pet foods.” Source

Anergen™ is designed to be fed to either your dog or your cat. It does not have many of the protein sources and other whole ingredients that are common allergens found in other pet foods. Yet, it is nutritionally sound.

Anergen™ does not contain any beef, poultry, beef byproducts, wheat, or dairy products.

To check for price and sizes Click Here.

Natural Balance Potato and Duck Small Bite Dog Food

Natural Balance created the Potato and Duck Formula to help dogs with food allergies.

“Natural Balance Potato and Duck Formula is a proven formula for dogs with allergies based on a unique protein and carbohydrate blend.” Source

The Potato and Duck Formula combines fresh duck, and a source of carbohydrates not commonly found in dog foods, along with other natural ingredients designed to help rebuild your dog’s immune system.

Duck is a protein source not available in typical commercial dog foods, so many dogs have never been exposed to it. This is an important factor when dealing with food allergies.

It is designed to reduce allergy symptoms associated with food allergies. But it also reduces other symptoms such as skin irritations, irritable bowels, and upset stomachs.

The Potato and Duck Formula is made with fresh duck, fresh potatoes, canola oil, and salmon oil. No artificial preservatives, flavors, colors, or bleached ingredients are used.

Natural Balance also produces another variety, the Sweet Potato and Venison Dry Dog Food Formula. It is designed in the same way as the Potato and Duck Formula, but using sweet potatoes and venison instead.

To check for price and sizes Click Here.

Have you tried any of these foods to relieve allergy symptoms in your dogs? What other types of foods have you tried? Please share with us in the comments below.

Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Go back to the previous article, Dog Allergy Recipes.

Best,

Omar Reyes

For a wide selection of other natural dog foods visit the Cherrybrook dog food section.

To be honest with you, I haven’t tried them on Misha, but I thought I would share them with you anyway.

Recipes for Dog Flea Allergy

Here are a couple options if you’re interested in making your own natural flea repellant. This would be especially useful If your dog has an allergy to flea bites or other insect bites,

Homemade flea powder

Use dried herbs for this recipe.

• 1 cup Wormwood
• 1 cup Fennel
• 1 cup Peppermint
• 1 cup Rosemary
• 1 cup Rue

Mix all the ingredient together in a large bowl and grind. Make sure the mixture is ground into a fine powder, just as you would find in a commercial flea powder.

Sprinkle or shake the powder all over your dog as best as you can. One method that works really well is to buy a salt or pepper shaker, or a shaker that’s designed for powdered sugar.

Give your dog a good coating of the powder and then massage it into the dog’s fur with your hands.

It is best to do this outside since your dog will probably give a good shake when you are through and powder will go flying everywhere .

Pennyroyal flea powder

• 2 tbsp ground Rosemary
• 2 tbsp ground Wormwood
• 4 tbsp powdered Pennyroyal
• 2 tsp cayenne pepper

Mix ingredients together.

Dust this all over your dog and massage the powder into your dog’s fur with your hands. You can use gloves for the job, or make sure to carefully and thoroughly wash your hands after you do this.

Don’t touch your face, or especially your eyes, after using this powder. Be sure to wash your hands as quickly as you can. Remember, the powder contains cayenne pepper. You don’t want to be washing this out of your eyes.

Natural flea wash

• 1 cup fresh or dried rosemary
• 4 cups water

Boil the water.

Add the rosemary to the boiled water. Cover the pot and steep it until it is cool, or at least for an hour. Strain out the rosemary.

Give your dog a bath. If you used shampoo, be sure to rinse it all out.

Pour the rosemary wash all over your dog and allow your dog to air dry. Don’t rinse it out or dry your dog in a way that would remove any of the wash from your dog’s fur. You want it to dry on your dog.

Hot spots

If your dog’s allergies are causing her to scratch and chew at certain areas creating hot spots, you might want a remedy to reduce the itching and discomfort.

Here are some homemade remedies to keep your dog’s skin cool and comfortable.

Thyme Oil

Mix equal amounts of thyme oil and olive oil.

Using a cotton ball, apply the oil all over your dog’s hot spots. Using this will not only make the dog’s skin feel better, but will help to prevent future infections.

You can keep the oil mixture up to a month in the refrigerator.

Dog skin tonic

• 4 tbsp Cod-liver oil
• 2 tbsp Garlic powder
• 2 cups vinegar
• 4 tbsp Bone-meal powder
• 5 tbsp Desiccated liver powder

Mix all the ingredients together.

Add 3 tablespoons of the mixture to your dog’s food daily.

This helps to promote new hair growth and will keep your dog’s skin healthy and without irritation.

Store in the refrigerator or it will go rancid.

So there you have it, a few homemade dog allergy recipes for you to try.

If you have any recipes of your own that you have tried in the past, please fell free to share with us in the comments below. I would love to add your recipe to this page.

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

Best,

Omar Reyes

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

As humans we do what we can to avoid allergies because they can make us so uncomfortable and miserable. If we suffer from seasonal allergies, we keep up with our allergy shots during allergy season, or we stock up on antihistamines and other allergy medications. If we know that coming in contact with certain things can cause a skin irritation, we avoid those items vigilantly. And if we know that eating something will cause an allergic reaction you can bet we won’t be eating that type of food.

We have that luxury, the ability to proactively avoid situations that will cause us suffering and discomfort. However, our dogs are totally dependent on us to look out for their best interest, and to protect them from things that could bring them discomfort and suffering. Dog allergies are no different.

If your pet develops any type of dog allergies, it is very unlikely that it is an isolated incident and it will just go away on its own. In fact, once your dog develops allergies, chances are she will have them for the rest of her life. Remember, allergies cannot be cured, but must be actively managed. So you have to find what works and stick with those treatment methods for the long-term. Even better would be to learn what affects your dog and avoid those items and situations upfront to reduce the chances of any allergic reactions occurring.

Managing your dog’s allergy symptoms as they occur will work to relieve those symptoms, but your dog will still have to suffer through the itching, scratching, and biting while waiting for the treatment to take effect. However, by taking precautionary measures you may be able to prevent dog allergies from occurring in the first place. A change in her environment, or switching food in her diet may help to eliminate the problem that may cause an allergic reaction to develop.

Similarly, if you know your dog is vulnerable to frequent skin irritations like dry, itchy skin then you may want to use a medicated shampoo or some sort of topical cream that will reduce the chances of your dog developing those irritations. Taking an active approach like that will also reduce the effects on the skin should some type of allergy occur.

In my opinion, taking the steps necessary to prevent dog allergies is the responsible thing to do, and is definitely better than trying to treat the symptoms as they occur. Remember that allergies in dogs are a long-term problem that requires a long-term solution.

What Not To Do To Prevent Dog Allergies

While it is important to actively try to avoid situations that can cause allergies in your dogs, we can sometimes go a bit too far and make matters worse. There are some things you might be tempted to do as soon as you believe your dog has allergies. However, you might actually be aggravating the situation and making it more difficult for your dog to live with her allergies.

Frequent Baths

Giving your dog a bath too often can cause additional skin problems. Try to keep baths to once a month if possible. Use cool water instead of warm water. Cool water is more soothing to your dog.

Constant Shampooing

Constant shampooing can dry out your dog’s skin. Many people believe that frequent baths with oatmeal shampoos and other types of bath treatments can help to soothe their dogs allergies, but doing so too often can actually dry out the skin, which can only make things worse.

Avoiding Treatment

Do not leave any suspected dog allergies untreated. It is unfair to your dog, and untreated allergies can lead to serious health problems later on.

So, do what you can to prevent dog allergies, and take steps to relieve any symptoms and discomforts your dog may have if she does develop any type of dog allergies.

Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Move on to the next article, Dog Allergy Recipes, or go back to the previous article, Remedies For Dog Allergies.

Best,

Omar Reyes

If you have been enjoying this series on dog allergies, consider our free Dog Care Handbook. It contains 52 practical dog care tips. Just enter your name and email in the form below for instant access.

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.

You can look for certain clues to indicate a possible food allergy. For example, if your dog has been troubled by recurring ear infections, that may be one sign that she could be allergic to something that she is eating. If your dog is relatively young and suffers from moderate to severe skin problems, that could be another clue. And finally, if your dog is suffering from allergies but it is not allergy season, then it could be a sign of food allergies. However, there are more certain steps you can take to diagnose a food allergy.

Diagnosing Food Allergy in Dogs

The diagnosis for a food allergy in dogs is very straightforward, but it is very important that you identify all other potential problems, and treat those first before trying to diagnose food allergies. Once that is done, it is time to move on to testing.

The best way to determine the source of a food allergy is to follow an elimination diet or a food trial. This particular test requires you to eliminate all foods that your dog is currently eating for at least twelve weeks, long enough for the symptoms to go away, and then reintroducing her original food to see if the reaction develops again.

Once you remove the original diet, you would feed your dog a diet containing proteins and carbohydrates from a source she has never had before. For example, you could give her food containing ingredients like duck, rabbit, venison, or potato. These are usually not found in your typical commercial pet food. For your convenience, there are a number of such commercial dog foods available from manufacturers such as Innova dog food. There are also other allergy formula dog food that you can try.

Homemade diets are often used in the food trial since you have greater control over the ingredients used.

No matter which diet you choose to follow for the trial, the important thing to remember is that it must be the only thing your dog eats for the entire twelve weeks. This means no…

• treats
• animal parts (rawhide, pig ears, cow hooves)
• vitamins and supplements
• flavored medications (no heartworm preventatives either)
• toothpaste
• flavored chew toys

Nothing but the chosen diet and water!

Where possible, try to keep the dog confined in an area where you can make sure that she does not accidentally eat something from the garbage or from somewhere else.

After the twelve weeks have passed, your dog’s symptoms should have disappeared, or at least significantly reduced. Now it is time to put her back on the original diet. It may seem a bit unreasonable to deliberately trigger the reactions that made your dog so uncomfortable, but remember, you are trying to determine the source of her allergies so that you can avoid them in the future.

If the symptoms return once she begins her original diet then that is a pretty good sign of a food allergy in dogs.

If there were no changes in her symptoms while she was on her new diet during the food trial, but you still firmly believe that she has a food allergy, then you need to start a new food trial with a different food source. So if you went with rabbit in the first trial, you would try duck this time.

Treating Food Allergy in Dogs

The food trial helped you to determine what ingredients caused an allergic reaction in your dog. But it also served to identify what type of food you can feed your dog to avoid allergies caused by her diet. Once you have determined what your dog can safely eat, stick to that diet until you notice any adverse effects.

Dogs and Allergies is a series of articles discussing the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of various types of dog allergies. Move on to the next article, Remedies for Dog Allergies, or go back to the previous article, Symptoms of Common Dog Food Allergies.

Best,

Omar Reyes

Remember, you can either buy a commercial dog food like Innova, or you can make your own food at home using recipes like those from Rover’s Recipes.

This type of allergy does not discriminate among dogs. They affect both male and female, puppies and seniors, neutered and intact. Food allergies can appear in puppies as young as five months, and in seniors as old as twelve years. Typically, the allergy develops sometime between two and six years. In general, pets who suffer from this allergy also suffer from inhalant allergies, like dust and mold, and from seasonal allergies.

Some allergic reactions related to your dog’s diet are so mild that you may never know your dog has common dog food allergies. Other dogs may suffer from chronic symptoms.

It is not quite understood why some dogs have a sensitivity to certain types of food while others don’t. What is known are some of the triggers of these allergies, the symptoms, how to diagnose it, and what to do about it.

Dog Food Allergies vs Dog Food Intolerance

There is a difference between having an intolerance to certain types of food and having a dog food allergy.

In food intolerance, it is not the food item itself that triggers an allergic reaction. Instead, the body simply cannot process or tolerate that particular food. If your pet has a food intolerance, they will often show signs associated with problems from eating certain foods. For example, they may have diarrhea, or vomiting after eating that particular food item. However, that does not mean that they have a food allergy.

If your pet has a food allergy, she may also have diarrhea and vomiting, but she will usually have some of the other common symptoms of dog allergies such as itching, scratching, and biting.

Causes of Common Dog Food Allergies

Dogs are generally allergic to the proteins present in pet food. The most common triggers are:

• chicken eggs
• chicken
• beef
• wheat
• soy
• corn
• dairy products

Of these, beef and dairy products are the most likely to cause an allergic reaction in your dog.

Unfortunately, most commercial dog foods are made with one or more of these ingredients. This is important because the most common ingredients in pet food are the same ones that are the most common sources of allergies. To avoid this, you may want to try an allergy formula dog food.

Symptoms of Common Dog Food Allergies

The symptoms of food allergies are similar to those that occur in other types of allergies. You will likely notice a variety of signs that can include:

• itchy skin
• excessive scratching
• licking
• hot spots
• anal itching
• face rubbing
• head shaking
• recurring skin infections
• recurring ear infections (especially yeast infections)
• hair loss

You may also notice a combination of any of these other signs:

• diarrhea
• vomiting
• flatulence (passing gas)
• sneezing
• wheezing
• seizures (in severe cases)

Sidenote: Some veterinarians believe that dogs with food allergies may have more daily bowel movements than pets without food allergies. There seems to be some evidence that dogs with food allergies may have three or more daily bowel movements while dogs with no food allergies potty an average of 1.5 times for the day. This is inconclusive however.

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

Best,

Omar Reyes

For even more information about dog food check out the book: Dog Food Dangers.