Healthy dog: How to determine if it’s dog allergies or hot spots

By Nancy Cope

Many canines suffer from dog allergies and hot spots each year. Owners often wonder how to tell if their dog is allergic to something.

Dogs have skin reactions when allergic on top of watery itchy eyes. So if your dog is scratching too much they could just have an allergy or a hot spot.

They could be scratching and licking their paws and other parts of their body all the time.

Their ears can even get infected, which is brought on at first by dog allergies. These allergies could be to a variety of things.

Dog allergy examples

One big allergy for dogs is fleas. Some dogs break out in a flaky rash immediately upon getting bit by fleas. When this happens a trip to the veterinarian is warranted. The vet can give the dog a shot that will calm the rash and reduce itching. If left untreated the dog could lose their coat. You will have to be doubly sure to protect your dog from flea attacks.

Your dog could be eating something they are allergic to. If you have ruled out the flea allergy then try some different foods to see if they do better. Change to a food that has different ingredients. Watch table scraps too, human food could have additives that the dog is reacting to.

Dogs can also be allergic to pollens, molds and other air born substances. To tell this you have to analyze which season the allergy occurs in. The spring is the biggest time for pollen while the fall can bring on the mold with the decaying leaves and such. If pollen, mold, or even plant oils are the dog’s problem then take some dishwashing detergent to wash it off the dog before washing them with their own shampoo.

Household chemicals can cause dog allergies, too. It is a good idea to us only organic cleaning agents in your house. These are hypoallergenic for the dogs as well as people.

Dog shampoos can also cause a reaction in your dog. If this happens try an oatmeal dog shampoo or a natural one. This is a trial and error thing. Keep changing products until the reaction goes away.

There have been occasions when various flea preventatives have caused reactions. Consult your vet when this happens. Many different preventatives are on the market today. They can simply recommend another one.

If it is just a skin reaction you have time to check with the vet the next day. But when allergies cause breathing or more severe reactions in the dogs then you need immediate care. This is an emergency, call your vet as quick as possible.

So pay attention to the signs of allergy in your dog. Remember there is itching and can be rashes too. Their eyes can water and itch. This is in minor allergies; in more severe allergies more serious reaction could include having difficulty breathing. Take care of your dog and consult with your vet.

Nancy Cope is the owner of four rescue dogs and Pampered Dog Gifts.

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