Your furry friend also can become hypersensitive to the things around them. Leaving dog allergies untreated can lead to pain and discomfort.
Caring for a dog is like caring for another human being. As a pet owner, you have to pay extra attention to your dog’s environment, nutrition, and daily activities to ensure that they thrive. Disregarding any of these can decrease a dog’s susceptibility to illnesses and diseases.
But, are you aware that dogs can also suffer from allergies? Your furry friend can also become hypersensitive to the things around them. Leaving this condition, untreated, can lead to pain and discomfort. In some cases, severe dog allergies can cause your dog to display aggressive and destructive behaviors, and become unsociable around other pets and people.
Make sure that your dog doesn’t suffer from any allergies by following these tips:
1. Change Your Walking Routines
Walking the dog is always part of a dog owner’s daily routine. This activity allows your dog to exercise and socialize with other pets and human beings. Dog owners, like you, can also benefit from this activity as you’ll get to sweat more with your dog.
If you want your dog to stay fit and treat recurring allergies at the same time, avoid scheduling your walks early in the morning or late afternoon. These are the times of the day when pollen levels are highest, making your dog prone to allergic reactions. Your route should also exclude fields and parks so your dog won’t inhale pollen from the plants.
2. Keep The Paws And Body Clean
If your dog loves spending time outdoors, make sure that they’re not bringing any allergens inside your home by keeping their paws clean. After going for a walk or being out, wipe the body and the paws of your dog using a moist cloth or grooming wipe from your favorite pet store. This is an effective way of removing any excess pollen from the dog’s body and paws without taking them for a bath.
Exert more time and effort in cleaning your dog’s paws as it has more sensitive skin that’s usually affected by allergens. You can also mix two parts water and one part apple cider vinegar and soak your dog’s paws in the mixture. This is a safe and fast way of removing pollen and other allergens from your dog’s paws.
Another solution is to let your dog wear boots when going out. Aside from creating a fashion statement, boots can prevent your dog from stepping into any irritants and keep them safe from allergies.
3. Jump In The Bath
You can also help your dog treat allergies by giving them regular baths, especially if your dog has thick fur. Using a gentle and anti-itch shampoo made specifically for dogs can prevent dry and itchy skin. Shampoos that contain soothing ingredients, such as Aloe Vera and evening primrose oil, can also relieve any pain and discomfort caused by the allergy.
You can take it up a notch by soaking your dog for ten minutes using moisturizing oil. Not only will these baths make your dog smell good, but it can also wash off any allergens stuck in their fur and bodies.
Your dog can suffer from different types of allergies. While some allergies aren’t a cause for concern and go away on its own, others can be too severe that it can cause your dog to lick and scratch excessively.
4. Improve Your Dog’s Diet
Treatments applied topically are common in treating dog allergies, but it’s not the only solution to treat the problem. The food that your dog eats can also affect their susceptibility to allergies and how quickly they can get rid of it.
Adding natural dietary supplements, such as fish oil and omega-6 oil, to your dog’s diet, can keep them safe from allergies. The natural compounds found in these supplements can effectively reduce itchiness and improve your dog’s skin health. You can regularly feed these supplements to your dog even if they don’t have any allergies. This way, they’ll have protection against allergies.
Letting your dog take small amounts of coconut oil through their meals and drinks can also help suppress allergic reactions and improve their skin conditions. The fats found in coconut oil contain antibacterial and antifungal properties that can fight off allergens and viruses.
Aside from your dog’s meals, you should also make sure that your dog’s drinking water is free from any contaminants. You should change the water in their bowls every day and place them in locations that aren’t prone to dust, pollutants, and allergens.
5. Consider Using Medications
Your dog can suffer from different types of allergies. While some allergies aren’t a cause for concern and go away on its own, others can be too severe that it can cause your dog to lick and scratch excessively. Over time, these behaviors can lead to your dog’s hair loss and skin irritation.
If you don’t see any improvement from your dog’s allergies after following the tips above, it might be time to give them medications. Several products can help treat your dog’s allergies fast.
For recurring or severe dog allergies, you can consider using the following for your dog:
- Antihistamines: Antihistamines are one of the most common drugs used to treat dog allergies. However, since dogs’ bodies are different, they can also have different reactions to this drug; some dogs react positively to this drug, while others don’t.
- Steroids: Oral steroids are known to suppress allergy symptoms among dogs, but using these regularly can lessen its effectivity. If you’re looking for drugs that can provide long-term allergy protection, let your dog get steroid injections. This can keep them free from any allergy symptoms for six weeks.
- Immune modulators: Immune modulators work by improving our dog’s immune system. Taking this drug regularly can boost how their immune system functions and keep them safe from allergy reactions in the long run.
Consult The Experts
There are a lot of ways on how you can protect your dogs from allergies, but to stay on the safe side, it’s always best to consult your vet before using any. Dogs have unique health requirements. Using an allergy treatment that doesn’t suit this requirement can lead to serious health risks.
By talking to the vet the moment you notice that your dog has allergies, you can gain professional advice on how you can treat your dog’s allergies without compromising their health and safety.
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