How to Treat Poodle Allergies

More than 20 percent of dogs suffer from an allergy of some description. Allergies typically fall into five broad categories: contact allergies; those that are diet related; allergies caused by parasites, such as fleas; allergies induced by inhalation; and allergies caused by bacteria. Contact allergies are more common after a poodle's coat has been cut for show or other purposes. Show cuts such as the continental or English saddle expose a fair amount of skin, which predisposes allergic dogs to skin outbreaks.

Things You'll Need

  • Steam cleaner
  • Hypoallergenic laundry detergent
  • Hypoallergenic dog shampoo and conditioner
  • Vitamin E cream or oil
  • Flea powder
  • Fogger
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Instructions

    • 1

      Discontinue using your regular brand of carpet cleaner if your poodle has developed a contact allergy from lying on the carpets. Have the carpets water steamed cleaned instead.

    • 2

      Discontinue using your regular laundry detergent if your poodle has developed a contact allergy from lying or sleeping on its dog bedding. Switch to a hypoallergenic brand that does not have a fragrance.

    • 3

      Purchase only hypoallergenic dog shampoos and conditioners for your poodle. Always clean the bath to remove any residue of human shampoos, soaps, bath salts or oils before washing your poodle.

    • 4

      Rub Vitamin E into your poodle's skin after it has developed any type of contact skin allergy.

    • 5

      Eradicate fleas in your home and garden by applying an appropriate powder or using a fogger.

    • 6

      Bathe your poodle with a flea shampoo or apply flea preparations to the poodle, unless these cause an allergic reaction.

    • 7

      Approach your veterinarian to administer a steroid injection to the poodle, to relieve the intense itching and to reduce any swelling that has occurred from flea bites.

    • 8

      Stop feeding a commercial diet if your poodle develops a food allergy.

    • 9

      Offer a bland, but balanced, diet by giving your poodle the boiled white meat of chicken. Remove the skin and de-bone. Add boiled rice and a sprinkling of salt to the chicken.

    • 10

      Add a new food item to the chicken diet every two weeks. Remove the item from the diet if the poodle has an allergic reaction it.

    • 11

      Approach your veterinarian for anti-inflammatory medications if your poodle develops allergies to secondary cigarette smoke or pollen.

    • 12

      Approach your veterinarian for an antibiotic if your poodle develops an allergy to normal skin bacteria. Staphylococcus bacteria are found on the skin of dogs and do not cause a problem in animals with a healthy immune system, but can become a problem to individual poodles that are hyper-allergic.