What You Need To Know About Dog Allergies
Many people suffer from allergies ranging from seasonal allergies to food allergies, but did you know that dogs can suffer from allergies too? Just as allergies can make our lives miserable, your dog will feel miserable too if he is suffering from an allergy. Allergies may manifest themselves as hives, also known as urticaria. Another symptom that your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction is angioedema, this results in a swollen face. Excessive itching and scratching is also a sign of allergies. The problem with allergies is that they can be caused by a myriad of reasons.
If your dog is scratching more than normal, you should inspect his skin to see if there are any hives. Hives are little bumps on the skin, a bit like mosquito bites and it may be hard to find them initially because they may have fur growing on them. Be sure to part your dog’s hair or fur carefully and take a good look. Dogs can sometimes scratch themselves so hard that they begin to bleed, needless to say if your dog is in this condition he’s suffering.
Anigioedema is easier to recognize as your dog will have a swollen face. If you feel your dog has an allergy inspect his face carefully, while sometimes the swelling can be very severe and hard to miss, it can oftentimes be very subtle and you may miss noticing it. Dogs with severe anigioedema may find it hard to open their eyes. The muzzle may be affected and swollen or the whole face. A dog suffering from anigioedema will usually paw at his face and seem restless. A dangerous symptom of allergy is swelling in the throat. Your dog will find it very hard to breath and will refuse to eat. This symptom is common in cases where food has caused an allergic reaction and shouldn’t be ignored.
If you suspect your dog has an allergy you must take him to the vet immediately. If you’ve just fed your dog and he breaks out in hives within about 15 minutes of eating you’re most probably dealing with a food allergy and this can be easy to deal with, just stop feeding that particular brand of food or ingredient and he should be fine, but to be on the safe side consult with your vet.
Dogs sometimes have allergic reactions to vaccinations and medications such as flea treatments and these can be life threatening. You have to take your dog to the vet immediately and describe everything you did that may have caused the reaction.
Your vet will most probably treat your dog with antihistamines to provide fast relief. Treatment may be in the form of creams and ointments or pills, in extreme cases steroids may be prescribed, but you have to be aware that steroids involve unpleasant side effects and your vet should inform you about those side effects and proper dosage. If the allergy has affected your dog’s ability to breath, he may be given epinephrine.
Observing your dog and paying attention to any irregular behavior can go a long way in helping you to keep your dog happy, healthy and allergy free. Never delay seeking professional advice if your dog seems unwell.
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