Natural Antihistamine for Dogs

Allergies can be extremely uncomfortable for your dog, so many owners who don't want to put their dogs on medication opt for natural antihistamines. These natural selections relieve allergy symptoms without placing additional chemicals in your dog's body.

Allergy Causes

Allergies can be caused by food, flea or environmental allergies, each of which requires different treatment options. However, antihistamines are usually recommended for environmental allergies.

When your dog comes in contact with an environmental allergen, it releases histamine in its body to treat the problem. It's the natural histamine that causes all the symptoms associated with allergies, including itchy or red skin, hives, rashes and excessive itchiness.

To reduce these symptoms, veterinarians often recommend steroids or antihistamines, which can cause additional symptoms in dogs as well as cause long-term damage, such as liver and kidney problems. To reduce these side effects, many owners look for natural alternatives.

Natural Antihistamines

Quercetin is a well-known antihistamine because it stabilizes cell membranes, blocking the release of histamines in your dog's system. It can be found in pill form, often mixed with another herb such as nettle or bromelain, which are also known for their anti-itching properties.

Another popular antihistamine is honey. Because honey consists of a lot of pollen, giving small amounts to your dog daily can desensitize him to the local pollen. However, you must buy honey local to the region in which you live for it to be effective.

Vitamin C is another natural antihistamine, popular because it has many other nutrients that can improve your dog's overall health, which also reduces allergy symptoms.

Dietary Supplements

Though not known as antihistamines, there are a couple of supplements you can add to your dog's food to reduce symptoms of allergies, such as the excessive itchiness.

Omega-3 fatty acids boost allergy immunity because they have skin soothing properties that can reduce inflammation, rashes and itchiness. They also boost overall health. You can give your dogs the same omega-3 capsules that you take yourself, just reducing the dosage based on your dog's size.

For additional relief, add a teaspoon of flax seed oil to your dog's food. This can also soothe itchy skin.

There are several immune boosters that can be added to your dog's diet to improve overall health, which can reduce allergy symptoms. Good examples are vitamins A, B12, E and grapeseed extract. Many of these can be found in a canine dietary supplement. Be careful not to overdo it with too many supplements.

Natural Itch Relief

Because supplements and natural antihistamines can sometimes take months to be effective, you may need a cream or shampoo to relieve immediate symptoms. There are many herbal or holistic sprays available that can relieve itching.

Golden jojoba oils and other essential oils can be placed directly on hot spots to reduce inflammation. Aloe and calendula are often combined for relief from a variety of skin problems, including sun burns, flea bites and inflammation caused by allergies. Yucca cream or spray is also effective.

Oatmeal shampoo is the most popular form of shampoo relief because it draws out and soothes irritants. For best results, leave the shampoo on the skin for a few minutes before rinsing.

By combining many of these methods, you will be able to reduce your dog's allergy symptoms without the help of steroids or antihistamines.

 

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