Did you know that dogs, just like human beings, can suffer from allergies?  If you have a dog who suffers from allergies, then I'm sure you're well aware of this fact.

Perhaps it would be a surprise for you to learn that about twenty percent of the dogs in the United States alone are suffering the effects of an allergy at any one time.  Flea allergy dermatitis is the most common form of allergy in dogs, but other common types of allergy in dogs include atopic dermatitis, inhalant allergies, and food allergies suffered by dogs.

Signs and symptoms of dog allergies may vary but are often marked by persistent itching and discoloration of the skin (most common with skin allergies), coughing, sneezing, wheezing, and mucus discharge (most common with inhalant allergies), and nausea, lethargy, vomiting, and diarrhea (common with food allergies.)

Over-the-counter preparations and treatments for common dog allergies exist and may be purchased at any good pet supply store, but care should be taken when choosing such treatments.  Consultation with a vet is the best first course of action for several reasons.  First of all, what you think is an allergic reaction may actually be signs of a more serious ailment and a vet should be the one to determine whether that is the case.  Secondly, if the allergy is severe enough, over-the-counter treatments may not be sufficient to treat the symptoms.  There is also the chance that the dog does not have an allergy at all.  The last thing you want to do is medicate your pet unnecessarily.

If you do think your dog has some type of allergy, consult your vet.  He or she will be able to perform tests to determine whether an allergic condition exists, how severe it is, and what the appropriate treatment should be.  If the dog has an allergy to certain foods, it will be imperative to restrict the animal’s diet to eliminate those items that cause a reaction.  The vet’s testing methods can help to determine whether this type of allergy exists as well.  If the dog has flea allergy dermatitis (an allergic reaction to the saliva of fleas, rather than to the insects themselves), an strict flea prevention regimen will be recommended.

The vet may also recommend cortisone or steroids. Many vets are conventionally trained and do not offer holistic alternatives, which can be just as good as the toxic drugs which vets routinely prescribe.  So before you accept your vet’s recommendations for drugs, do investigate the alternatives.

Natural Flea Treatment

You can actually Detoxify Your Dog’s System if your dog has taken toxic drugs in the past.

And if you have any suspicion that steroid use in the past may have harmed Your Dog’s Immune System (characterized by such chronic illness as Lyme’s Disease and many others), look into Treating Pet Disease Naturally

You should always discuss your intentions with your vet, when proceeding with any new regime, whether natural or otherwise, but knowledge is power. And being armed with the knowledge of the harm that conventional medicines can cause, and the effectiveness of holistic, natural, alternative methods, will stand you in good stead.  Many vets are open to such alternatives when asked directly about them by a pet owner who has done research and is looking for a more natural way of dealing with illness, and this case specifically, allergies, in their dog.

Just like humans, dogs that suffer from various allergies can live comfortably with them if they are detected and treated properly.  It is important to bear in mind that this is not a time to “play doctor” by attempting to diagnose and treat a possible allergic condition yourself.  Only your veterinarian is qualified to determine whether your dog is suffering from allergies.  What course of action to take, however, may well be a matter for discussion between you and your vet.Subscribe here for your FREE Special Report: "How To Improve the Health of Your Dog - Maybe Even Lengthen Your Dog's Life!", and your Healthy Happy Dogs newsletter: 

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