Having dogs with an allergy can be a challenge for a lot of pet owners. Knowing the causes and the symptoms can help identifying dog allergies. There are a few treatment options that can manage the allergic symptoms and make the dog feel more comfortable.
What Causes Dog Allergies?
Dog allergies may be caused by a number of allergens, including pollens, smoke, chemicals, mold, dust, foods such as chicken, turkey or wheat or different materials such as plastic or wool. Dogs may be allergic to one or several of these allergens.
What Are the Symptoms of Allergies?
The common symptoms displayed by allergic dogs include sneezing, itchiness, scratching, biting and chewing the skin and the paws, watery and irritated eyes, frequent skin and ear infections.
What Are Antihistamines?
The antihistamines are the most commonly used drugs to reduce the symptoms of the allergies in dogs. The immune system of the dog responds negatively to the allergens in the dog’s environment and starts producing histamines in excess; the histamines cause the allergy symptoms. The antihistamines will regulate the amount of histamines, reducing the symptoms.
Can My Dog Take Antihistamines for Allergies?
A vet should establish if your dog can take antihistamines. The type of antihistamines will be determined by the vet. If you are considering over the counter antihistamines, you should know that you may administer the same type of antihistamines for only 3 months, as after this period your dog may be immune to the components of the drug and will start developing allergy symptoms again.
Antihistamines should be rotated every 3 months.
Are Steroids Recommended for Allergies?
Steroids can be taken for allergies; just as antihistamines, steroids can relieve the allergy symptoms. The steroids may have a number of severe side effects that may include kidney and liver disease, so the long term administration of steroids should be avoided.
However, in dogs, steroids have fewer side effects than in humans.
Can Allergy Shots Cure Allergies?
Presently, allergy shots are the only treatment option that may cure dog allergies. The immunotherapy can be applied in dogs as periodical shots of the allergen (which needs to be detected before the allergy shots are prescribed); this shot should strengthen the immune system and make it more resistant or immune to the allergen. The results will start showing after a few months of administering the shot. Until the effects of the shots are visible, the dog should get an alternative medication to control the allergies.
However, this treatment cannot be applied in dogs that are allergic to foods.
The allergy shots work only in 75% of dogs. In some cases, a complete cure is not possible, but the allergy symptoms will be visibly reduced.
Are There Alternative Remedies?
The dog displays allergic reactions as his immune system responds negatively to different factors in the environment, foods or materials. If you manage to boost your pet’s immune system, you will be able to reduce his allergy symptoms.
There are numerous alternative remedies available; for example, licorice root extract is considered a natural allergy medicine, having the same effects as cortisone, without having the side effects of steroids.