Dogs with allergies normally scratch and bite their feet and sometimes can have hair loss. Allergies can be caused by seasonal factors, chemicals, flea bites, and certain foods. Dogs do not display allergic symptoms like people do with stuffy noses and sneezing. Allergies do, however, cause your dog to be very uncomfortable, Often, he will scratch or bite his feet until they are red or actually bleed.
Things You'll Need
- Flea shampoo
- All-natural dog food
- Flea repellent
- Hypooallergenic shampoo
Instructions
Examine your dog for fleas. Some dogs are allergic to the actual flea bites, so it is important to see if your dog is infested. Check at the base of the tail by moving the hair in the opposite direction and look for fleas or flea dirt, which will look like black specks of dirt. Another place to check is your dog's stomach, since fleas love this area (see Reference 1).
Address a flea problem quickly since fleas can multiply and can get in your house as well. Purchase an all-natural flea shampoo or you might simply try Frontline, which most dogs tolerate well (see Reference 1).
Switch to a grain-free dog food, which may stop the itching entirely if you find your dog does not have fleas. Some dogs are allergic to grains. Find several grain-free varieties at smaller pet food stores (see Reference 1).
Try dog food that has chicken or turkey, since beef tends to be a problem for many dogs. A hypoallergenic dog food is also a very good option since these normally contain fish and fish oils, which are very good for dog skin and allergies (see Reference 1).
Purchase hypoallergenic shampoo. Many dogs are very sensitive to dyes and perfumes found in many shampoos.