Dog Allergies to Food

It has only recently been learned that dogs, similar to people, can incur allergies to a particular food or foods from a specific food class. Dog allergies to food are among the five most basic forms of canine allergies, though the animal is ordinarily born with the food allergy, a food allergy could occur at any time throughout the rest of their lifetime.

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Causes and Symptoms of Dog Allergies to Food

Your dog will oftentimes sustain reactions to the diverse sorts of foods they feed on. Most often, the reaction is just a stomach ache that may produce vomiting and diarrhea. Food allergies are not like that however, besides just suffering from indigestion, it'll produce itchy skin in canines and also the previously stated symptoms of allergies to food: dog diarrhea, vomiting and bloating. An animal's itching and scratching can lead to peeling skin, eczema, skin rashes and loss of fur. In some canines, more signs of a food allergy might consist of a loss in weight, hyperactivity and quite possibly hostility.

In an animal with an allergy to food, the immune system overreacts to a particular ingredient that it ordinarily tolerates producing an allergic response. Dog allergies to food are typically brought on by proteins found in dairy foods, sugars and wheat as a direct result of feeding on table scraps. Even though proteins are the most probable cause of a canine's food allergy, any sort of food or food substance can incite an allergic reaction.

Diagnosing Dog Allergies to Food

Only a few years ago, an elimination diet was the sole system that existed to find out if an animal was inflicted with a food allergy. The dog would have eaten a diet of hypoallergenic dog food that didn't include the same substances that were in the earlier diet for roughly 2 or 3 months. Today, the diagnosis can be achieved by a vet utilizing a quick dog allergy test that is comprised of laboratory work run on a small quantity of blood drawn from the dog.

How to Treat Dog Allergies to Food

The sole cure for dog allergies to food is avoidance of the food substance or food that's the root of the allergy. The healthiest kind of food for dogs that have a food allergy is hypoallergenic dog food that's comprised of all natural ingredients. This type of dog food can be given to your pet for the rest of his lifetime without any worry of your pet's allergy to food recurring.

Due to the dog itching, you'll more than likely need to take care of dog skin conditions as well. The veterinarian will generally advise the use of topical creams and antihistamines. Because the use of antihistamines for canine allergies could possibly produce negative side effects, a natural treatment for food allergies in dogs is preferable. There are many all-natural formulas being sold that have been shown by dog owners to offer outstanding results.

Additional Resources on Dog Allergies to Food

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Itchiness in Dogs

The actual health-related term often used by vets for extreme itchiness in dogs is pruritus. Itching in canines usually is not cause to worry, but if it becomes extreme it may possibly be a warning sign of a much more severe condition. There are some diverse canine skin problems that can be the cause of the itching and scratching. But if a canine's itching is contributing to the development of further skin conditions such as soreness and reddening of your pet's skin, skin abrasions and hair loss, or you observe the animal biting at his or her feet, then the dog really should be brought to an animal hospital for an examination for these are all indications of a far more severe skin problem. If it is not treated, the canine's scratching might give rise to infection. Though any breed of dog could develop pruritus, Cocker Spaniels, Westies, Poodles and Golden Retrievers tend to have a higher number of occurrences than most other canine breeds.

The Causes of Itchiness in Dogs

Itching in canines occurs as a result of a chemical response that occurs on or directly beneath the skin's surface. In the event it's extreme, it's generally a sign that the pet is stricken with one of several canine skin problems of a far more serious type.

Intense itchiness in dogs could perhaps be a symptom of the following canine skin problems:

• Flea allergies are the most common source of dog allergies. When a flea bites a dog, it deposits a minute amount of saliva beneath the skin producing a chemical response that causes canine itching.
• Seasonal dog allergiesare the second most common cause of itching and scratching in dogs. This form of allergy is comparable to hay fever and asthma in us. When the canine inhales substances such as dust, molds and pollen, it prompts an allergic reaction from the immune system of the animal. This form of allergy can also give rise to respiratory difficulties in addition to causing a dog's itchiness.
• Yet another kind of allergy that isn't as common but can trigger itching and scratching in dogs is an allergy to foods. Food Allergies are triggered when the animal consumes food or a food constituent that it is allergic to.
• Likewise add dog mange to our list of skin disorders in canines that brings about itchiness. Scabies, also known as sarcoptic mange, is caused by a mite burrowing right under the skin surface of the canine. The mite lives on substances at or beneath the skin of the canine causing intense and constant itching and scratching.
• Bacterial and fungal infections may likewise be the cause of an animal's itching problems. This is normally brought on by open sores and scratches which aren't suitably cleansed. Ear mites frequently bring on this sort of skin problem in canines.

Identifying Skin Problems in Canines

Identifying the reason for canine skin problems has frequently turned out to be quite a challenge for most pet owners and veterinarians. To diagnose the cause of the difficulty, a variety of exams and treatments might possibly have to be run and diagnosis could take anywhere between a few weeks to several months. Primarily based upon the dog's symptoms and health background, the veterinarian will perform a number of lab screens that could include extracting blood samples, skin scrapings, obtaining culture samples and doing a biopsy of the skin.

Remedies for Itchiness in Dogs

Even if the fundamental cause of itching and scratching in dogs isn't yet known, there are formulas out there to treat the canine's skin and put an end to the itchiness. The vet could propose the use of skin creams, antihistamines, shampoos or maybe immunotherapy in more moderate cases. In the more severe cases, he could suggest treatment using steroids. Steroids have been known to cause undesirable side effects such as frequent urination, extreme panting and dehydration, and prolonged use could bring about the emergence of diabetes or Cushing's disease, so if you do plan to try them, heed great care. Some canines may well have to have constant treatment for their skin problem.

Natural Remedies for Itchiness in Dogs

More and more vets are now advocating all-natural itching dog remedies as a safer and soothing kind of therapy. It's an option to giving your dog steroids and other types of medication that could bring about dangerous side effects. You can choose from quite a few safe and effective holistic remedies for itchiness in dogs that offer the pet much needed relief by revitalizing the fur in addition to clearing up and cleaning the skin.

Article Resources on Itchiness in Dogs

• Diagnosing Itching In Canines And Finding Treatment Options
• How To Cope With Itching In Dogs And Possible Treatments
• Dealing With Itchiness In Dogs And Possible Remedies
• The Likely Causes of Itching and Scratching in Dogs and Treatment Options
• Dealing With Itching In Canines And Possible Treatment Options

Flea Allergies

Flea allergy, otherwise referred to as flea dermatitis, is the most popular type of allergy seen in dogs and is brought on by a flea bite. It is the most common reason for itching in dogs, and it merely takes the bite of one flea to induce an allergic reaction on your pet's skin. Flea dermatitis might leave a dog itching and scratching for anywhere from a few hours to a number of days and can take three to seven days to surface after the first bite of a flea.

How Flea Allergies in Dogs Can Occur

Fleas can only be noticed on your pet when they feed. Just like a mosquito, the flea will bite your dog and suck in blood for nutrition. As fleas do this, they inject a wee amount of saliva under the dog's skin that may contain up to fifteen individual allergy inducing substances. If the animal is allergic to one of the allergens that were injected by the flea, it will prompt an allergic reaction which causes the canine itching. Nearly one half of all dogs will have to tolerate flea allergies, and while the allergies are more often seen in grown canines, puppies could also become afflicted with dermatitis.

Diagnosis of Flea Allergies and Recognition of Its Warning Signs

Dog owners often don't know that their pet has fleas because of their relatively minute size and because of how difficult fleas often are to exterminate. Making the task of diagnosing a dog flea allergy a lot more challenging is the fact that it merely takes one solitary flea to cause flea allergies and warning signs might not be detectable for up to 7 days after the bite from the flea happened. There doesn't have to be an infestation to induce allergies in your pet. The signs of flea allergies frequently include continual itching and scratching or chewing on the skin and fur, inflaming of the skin, hot spots, and skin reddening. Because of the constant scratching, hair loss over the animal's entire body, primarily near the area from the middle section along the spine to the stem of their tail and in the back legs region, is also a pretty sound indicator of flea dermatitis in your dog. The veterinarian can also find flea allergies in dogs utilizing advanced skin and blood tests to search for particular allergens and to eliminate other possibilities including fungal, yeast and bacterial infections.

Flea Treatment Should Start With a Solid Flea Extermination Program

The initial stage of any planned type of flea treatment takes into consideration dog flea control both on the dog as well as in your dog's local environment. Even if you have a perfect flea extermination plan installed, it is not uncommon for dog's to still experience an occasional flea bite. Animals that spend much of their outdoors may present an even harder challenge.

Traditional Medicines and Desensitization as Flea Allergy Treatments

A vet might suggest the use of desensitization as a type of dog dermatitis treatment. It requires giving the dog a shot with minor traces of flea antigen over a certain time period, perhaps even the rest of the dog's life. This type of treatment has been shown to be a success in close to half of the patients, and could become very costly in the end. Antihistamines and conventional treatments, like steroids, are also frequently recommended by veterinarians to relieve dermatitis. These treatments can often offer relief for flea allergies; with that said, it has been verified that there are harmful side effects associated with taking steroids. In the long run, this sort of treatment might be counterproductive.

Holistic Forms of Treatment for Flea Dermatitis in Canines

Taking into consideration the side effects affiliated with the use of steroids, more of dog owners are now using natural remedies for flea allergies in dogs. There are numerous all-natural ingredients used in these herbal formulas that are both safe and effective for your pet. German Chamomile has been used for centuries to cleanse and soothe the skin. A few other herbs have also proven to give better total skin health and contribute restoration and soothing qualities to the skin, and include Marigold, Cleavers and Witchhazel.

Article Resources on Flea Allergies

• Clinical Symptoms And Remedies For Flea Allergies In Canines
• Symptoms and Assistance for Treating Flea Bite Allergies in Dogs
• Signs and Treatment Options For Flea Allergy in Dogs
• Symptoms and Effective Methods to Prevent Flea Bite Allergies in Dogs
• Clinical Signs And How To Stop Flea Bite Allergies In Canines

Dog Flea Control

Fleas are a major worry that all dog owners eventually have to deal with. Anybody who has a pet has probably experienced the daunting task of getting rid of fleas, a battle which has time and again been shown to be more trying than it appears.

Fleas aren't merely an issue because they bite and incite hours of aggravating itching and scratching for your pet, but they could also trigger additional major troubles that may include a flea allergy, tapeworm infestations and anemia in severe situations.

Because of their astounding resilience, fleas are incredibly difficult to control. A female flea can lay more than 2,000 eggs during the course of her lifetime, which suggests that infection can strike quickly and the eggs that were laid can subsist for quite a while in the natural environment while merely awaiting an acceptable target. Thus it's vital to eliminate both the fleas on the dog and the fleas inhabiting the pet's living area. The ideal places for fleas are bedding, sand, carpets and rugs.

Methods to Get Rid of Fleas

To successfully killing fleas on dogs and in their habitats, it's basic to be aware of the flea's life span. There are four stages which makeup the life span of the flea. As with the majority of insects, the fleas begins in the egg stage, transforms into larva, and then matures to the pupa stage until eventually reaching the adult phase.

The Flea's Egg Stage

The eggs of the flea are white in color and are so minute that they are hard to find without the help of a magnifying glass. Despite the fact that the eggs are first laid on the canine's skin, many will eventually drop onto the ground to perpetuate their expedition to an adult. About half of the total flea populace consists of eggs. Depending upon the living conditions, the eggs hatch in somewhere between 2 to 4 weeks. The higher the heat and dampness in the living area, the earlier the eggs will hatch.

The Flea's Larva Stage

When the flea egg hatches, it enters the larva phase where it expands to around 1/4 inch long. The flea larvae subsist on natural waste substances and on the adult flea's feces. They do not care for strong lighting and tend to hibernate deep inside their present surroundings, if at all possible in a warm and moist location. Climate controlled houses are the ideal surroundings for the life cycle of the flea to flourish. Outside, larva gestation will only occur in wet, shaded spots.

The Flea's Pupa Stage

When crossing into the pupae stage, the flea pupae develop a silken and sticky shielding cocoon. This chrysalis swiftly configures a convenient hiding place as it gets sheltered by debris and dust. If aroused by high temperature, carbon dioxide or by manual influence, like that in a balmy and humid location, an adult flea could surface from the chrysalis in as fast as 5 to 10 days. Once the adult flea surfaces from the cocoon, it will subsist for only a couple of days unless it's able to find a host. Pre-emerged adult fleas can last in the cocoon for as many as 9 months. This is meaningful because adult fleas still existing within the cocoon are resistant to insecticides sprayed in the environment and can surface a considerable time after you use insecticides in your house.

The Flea's Adult Phase

Once the adult flea comes out from its shell, it will need to immediately locate a host since it must have blood if it is to exist. Two days subsequent to obtaining a fitting host, the female flea will commence to laying around forty eggs every day. Adult fleas can live as long as three weeks. The entire lifecycle of the flea may possibly be finished in as short as 2 to 4 weeks, or up to 10 months contingent upon environmental climatic conditions.

How to Treat Your Dog For Fleas

There are many powders, shampoos, sprays and on the spot preparations out there to relieve your dog of fleas. Be certain to confer with your vet to opt for the truly powerful and safest flea insecticides for your household and pet.

Methods For Ridding the Indoor Environment of Fleas

The majority of products are simply useful against the adult flea, but environmental insecticides are becoming more highly developed. A vet can offer you flea preparations that have insect growth regulators that will help terminate the larvae and flea eggs. Before spraying any indoor product, it is a good idea vacuum your rugs and carpets to coax the pre-adult fleas to surface from their protective cocoon. Be sure to toss away the vacuum bag after using it. You ought to also clean the bedding your dog has layed down on.

Methods For Ridding the Outside Environment of Fleas

Focus on dim, shady spaces. Apply a product containing an insect growth regulator and do this again every 2-3 weeks for 3 to 5 applications. The latest oral and skin flea formulations will considerably assist you in resolving your flea troubles. With dedication and patience, you and your best friend should be free of fleas in a flash!

Article Resources on Dog Flea Control

• Successful Ways to Get Rid of Annoying Dog Fleas
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