Dogs have allergies just like people do, and are often allergic to the same things as people, such as pollen and food. Some symptoms of your dog having allergies are itchy skin, hot spots, and smelly discharge from his ears. If your dog has these symptoms or others, he probably has allergies. Fortunately, there are things you can do to give your dog some allergy relief.
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Dog Food
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Commercial dog food contains preservatives and additives, and it is not uncommon for dogs to come up allergic to these ingredients. So, if your dog is showing allergy symptoms one of the first things you can do is to change his food. Consider purchasing a dog food that is preservative and additive free and see if that relieves your dog's allergy symptoms. If the idea of giving your pet any kind of commercial dog food concerns you, you can also consider making your own dog food from scratch. There are hundreds of homemade dog food recipes available online. Keep in mind though that dogs can also come up allergic to beef, chicken, eggs, corn, soy and dairy products as well. So, if your dog's symptoms don't improve you may have to begin eliminating these one by one until you figure out what his allergy is to.
Fleas
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Many dogs are allergic to fleas, so if your dog is exhibiting symptoms like itchy skin and hot spots where he's scratched himself raw, then your dog may be allergic to the saliva the fleas are leaving on his skin. In this case, in order to give him some relief, you will need to eliminate the fleas on him, as well as the ones in your home. This can be very difficult especially if you live in a humid climate and your dog spends time outdoors. In this case you will need to get together with your vet and see about medication to help control your dog's symptoms.
There are shampoos that can kill the fleas on your dog, and of course flea collars, but those won't necessarily end the problem if he goes outside and is re-exposed to fleas, and brings them back inside with him as well. This is why the medication to help control symptoms may be necessary.
Pollen, Dust and Mold
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If your dog exhibits symptoms like sneezing, wheezing, and coughing then he may be allergic to pollen, dust and or mold. Just like people, dogs can have these types of allergies as well. Also like people, the best way to help your dog is to eliminate his exposure to them as much as possible. In the case of dust and mold, you will need to keep your home as free of these two contaminants as possible by regular cleaning and dusting. This will help to relieve your dog's allergy symptoms. If pollen is the culprit then the good news is his allergies will probably be seasonal and can be helped with an allergy medication from a vet. Another option is to purchase an air purifier, which can take these contaminants out of the air in your home. The less exposure your dog has to pollen, dust or mold, the better he will feel.
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