A dog who suffers from allergies typically scratches, gnaws its feet and has frequent ear infections. These allergy symptoms could be brought on by irritants in the environment, such as pollen or grass, or even components in your dog's food. Whatever the cause of the allergies, the outcome is always uncomfortable. Treating allergies is a question of trial and error and can take a while for the symptoms to fully resolve. However, the sooner you begin, the sooner your dog has a chance at feeling good again.
Things You'll Need
- Hypoallergenic or oatmeal shampoo
- Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
- Antihistamines
- Allergy serum
Instructions
Bathe your dog in shampoo designed for dogs with dry, itchy skin. Shampoos that are hypoallergenic and those that contain oatmeal, typically work the best. Use cool water when washing your dog and allow the shampoo to soak for about 10 minutes or whatever the directions on the bottle recommend. Washing your dog too often may actually dry its skin and cause even more discomfort; therefore, consult your veterinarian about how often to bathe your pooch, or follow the guidelines on the bottle.
Give your dog omega-3 fatty acid supplements. Fish oil supplements help dogs who are itchy by reducing the amount of histamines and other chemicals that are produced by the body in response to the allergens. Fatty acids also have anti-inflammatory properties and are generally good for a dog's skin and coat. Omega-3 fatty acid supplements derived from fish oil typically work best, whereas omega-6 fatty acids can actually make allergies worse.
Administer antihistamines to your dog. According to the veterinary website PetEducation.com, antihistamines are successful in treating allergies in about 30 percent of dogs. Human antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine and clemastine fumarate, are sometimes helpful, along with hydroxyzine and chlorpheniramine. Consult your veterinarian for dosage information, as it depends on the size of your dog and which medication is used.
Administer allergy injections to your dog. For dogs who have tried other forms of therapy with no luck, immunotherapy is typically warranted. While expensive, allergy injections are the gold-standard in treating allergies. Take your dog to a veterinarian to have blood tests performed, which will determine what your pooch is allergic to. The lab will then design a serum just for your dog that will help to prevent the allergy symptoms.