The Process of Elimination in Treating Dog Allergies
Have you ever watched your dog scratch himself in irritated agony, and wondered to yourself whether it’s the fleas or the flea powder that is causing the irritation. Without the powder your dog may have an agonizing flea infestation. With the flea powder can come a skin reaction that is just as bad as being bitten by fleas. The argument can go in circles just like a dog chasing its tail. Dog allergies treatment has to depend on determining the cause though. Be it something that was ingested, sniffed or on the skin that sets off a reaction, it is a circuitous path that can lead to the source of the allergy.
Any dog can develop a sneeze around cigarette smoke, itchy ears, irritated base of tail or diarrhea after eating certain foods, but some dog breeds are more prone to an allergic reaction than others. Breeds that have flat faces such as pugs, Boston terriers and bulldogs have a higher likelihood of suffering from environmental or food allergies. Many elaborate measures can be taken to alleviate the uncomfortable symptoms of allergies. The first and simplest of dog allergies treatment is removal of the allergen. Easy, right? Not so fast.
Determining whether the allergy is caused by food, fragrance or fur irritant is the first big hurdle. If the new flea collar is determined to be innocent and the feather bed is above suspicion, but the kibble with the high grain content ends up being the guilty party, the cure may not be as simple as supplanting that kibble with another brand. Your dog may not limit his diet to what appears in his bowl, and could covertly be on the receiving end of sandwich donations, fallen crackers or other discreetly-discovered wheat products. When it comes to wheat, dog allergies treatment can be more complex to roll out.
Tracing the path toward the guilty party in your dog’s allergies is difficult simply due to the fact that you can’t have your dog tell you what’s going on. If your dog could only articulate that when he eats his kibble he feels fine, but he feels sick when he chews on the grass outside that was recently treated with weed killer and fertilizer, the process of allergy elimination would be so much easier.
The next time your dog experiences vomiting after eating unfamiliar food, run through the whole process of elimination and reintroduction for a comprehensive dog allergies treatment.
I'm a dog health practitioner who specializes in dogs hot spots. To learn more about dog skin infections, please visit my website.