If your dog is constantly sneezing and scratching, this may be a sign that he is suffering from an allergy. Yes, most veterinarians agree that, like humans, dogs can also develop allergies. And the symptoms are surprisingly similar to those of humans.
And like humans, it’s very common for dogs to suffer from a variety of allergy types. There are many types of dog allergies. And since allergens are prominent everywhere, determining the specific causes for your dog’s allergies can sometimes be a very difficult task. Your dog can suffer from one of three types of allergies and your first task is to figure out which type your dog has contracted. Here is some information that will help you do just that.
1. Food allergies
We’ve already determined that dogs have allergies that are very similar to human allergies. And that includes coughing, scratching and sneezing. Additionally, your dog might display behavior that includes excessive licking as further indication that he might be suffering from some type of allergy. If your dog has a food allergy, it’s probably because he has been fed some type of food that has been commercially processed.
In the case of a food allergy, the task of determining the specific allergen can be somewhat of a problem. That’s because you would have to trace the allergen to a specific ingredient in the food. And that can prove to be quite an awesome task. To solve this problem you would need to use dog food that contains hydrolyzed protein. The best way to do this is to use the alternate process of elimination by purchasing dog food with hydrolyzed proteins.
2. Flea allergies
Some dogs are allergic to the secretions that are produced by fleas on your dog. To solve this problem, simply get rid of the fleas.
3. Atopy:
The atopy allergy is a tough one to cure because this one is very hard to isolate, identify and cure. That’s because the atopy allergy is caused by allergens that appear in the natural environment and not from the foods your dog eats, or from fleas that attach themselves to your dog’s skin.
Environmental elements might include such things like pollen, dust, heat, cold, feathers and mold. And it is this broad range of possible causes that makes it so hard for you to determine the exact culprit. But that doesn’t mean, however, that this is an impossible task. Again you’ll just have to exercise a bit of patience and use the process of elimination to isolate the particular allergen that’s attacking your dog.
Just eliminate one item at a time before moving on to the next one. One way to do this is to use a process (that’s also used by humans) called Intradermal Skin Testing.
Remember that human allergies and dog allergies are very similar when it comes to pain and symptoms. You can help shield your dog from various allergies by keeping him away from both environmental and fool related allergens and by taking the proper steps to cure him of the problem with proper treatment methods such as using corticosteroids, antihistamines, medicated shampoo and cool water baths.
