Labrador Retriever Dogs Blog

Unfortunately, the instances of pet allergies are constantly rising. As with human allergies, animal reactions to air-borne allergens, foods and man-made products are become more and more frequent. In fact, it is believed that approximately one in seven dogs is affected by at least some form of allergy. Typically, canine allergies are indicated by a reaction of the skin, which leads to dryness, hives and itching. Obviously, the most effective way to treat canine allergies is to identify the substance that is causing the irritation and remove it, but this is not always as easy as it sounds.

Of course, there are many things that can cause allergies in dogs, but canine allergies are typically divided into four categories.

Allergies caused by fleas, insects and other parasites; known as flea allergy dermatitis.

Allergies caused by the inhalation of pollen and other allergens; known as canine atopy.

Allergies caused by foods.

Allergies caused by direct contact with cleaning products and other substances that can cause irritation.

Often, these allergies will result in the development of hives, which are raised lumps on the skin that are incredibly uncomfortable and cause severe itching. Although hives in of themselves are not harmful, the subsequent scratching and biting can lead to legions of the skin and large sores, which can become infected very quickly. The resulting health problems can be extremely serious and, in some cases, fatal.

Obviously, the main symptoms to look for in your dog are excessive scratching, licking or biting. Sometimes, owners will notice that a dog is particularly preoccupied with the legs or paws. However, any part of the body can be affected. Other indicators include redness on the dog’s tummy, poorly conditioned coat and flaking skin.

In some instances, an allergy may lead to further problems, such as ear infections. Obviously, if left untreated this may lead to irreparable damage, so it is wise to seek the assistance of a veterinarian as soon as possible.

Of course, treating the symptoms of the allergy, such as an ear infection or itching, will only provide a short-term solution. In order to avoid repeated allergic reactions, an owner (with the help of a vet) will need to identify the precise cause of the allergy and ensure that contact with that substance is reduced as much as possible.

As mentioned above, a veterinarian will be able to help identify the cause, but in some instances, it is a case of trial and error. Owners can help by being vigilant to changes in the dog’s behavior. For example, noting when the itchiness begins, whether he, or she, has recently been for a walk, been fed, or bathed. Although this information may not help ascertain the exact cause, it will be incredibly helpful in ruling out certain substances.

Food allergies in particular are very difficult to diagnose and solve, because symptoms may not begin until several hours after eating and can last for days or even weeks. Therefore, unfortunately, preventing an allergic reaction to food can often be a case of repeated trial and error.

There are several treatment options, including prescribed medications and holistic approaches. Your veterinarian will obviously be able to advise on the best course of action. Depending on the type of allergy your dog is suffering from, a vet may prescribe antihistamines (similar to the ones used in human allergies), allergy shots or a course of corticosteroids.

If your dog seems to have particularly sensitive skin, you may like to try using a hypoallergenic dog shampoo, swapping your cleaning products to natural, non-toxic alternatives and adding more Omega-3 to the dog’s diet.

If you notice the symptoms of an allergy in your dog, it is important to seek help from a veterinarian, because it may be an indication of further health concerns and, if untreated, an allergy can cause great distress and discomfort to your pet.

Copyright (c) 2008 JK MacDonald

From my experiences of dealing with my dog for skin problems. I have a lot of research time and suggestions to assist other canine owners in learning how to treat a dog for skin disorders. In my experience the most common disorder found is itching, and chewing and on one certain area on the dog. If your dog has an allergic reaction to something, it will cause red patches, bald spots or irritate the skin. If open wounds or scabbing appears, the next thing that can happen is a bacterial infection.

Allergies are a very common occurance in canines. Skin infections much like ear infections are a couple, of the most common issues affecting a dogs health. Skin problems normally present themselves in “hot spots”, sush areas as eyes, mouth, stomach, anis, and armpits.

How To Treat Dog For Skin Problems;

You could apply a solution made of Oxy-Drops to the area. Mix this solution by mixing 1 teaspoon of oxy-drops to a cup of purified water. Now you should get blood testing done to pin point the exact cause on the problem. As said before itchy skin is the most common irritation for dogs to deal with.

On the flip side, a dog that is allergic to fleas may have a severe reaction that can cause very itchy skin. Under these circumstances your dog may bite at or scratch the itchy spot, and could later lead to a bacterial infection. If your dog is always chewing and digging at their skin causing open wounds and sores, try the following.

The use of a shampoo that contains eucalyptus and aloe vera can greatly reduce itchy areas on your dog’s skin, and help to heal the irritated areas. Diets with vitamins, minerals and fatty acids can help keep your canines skin clear, clean and healthy. Dogs have a different reaction to allergies than we do as humans, we have nasal problems, where as dogs have skin irritations.

An allergy to food can also be a cause for skin problems in dogs, and can cause sickness in dogs aswell. Thankfuly food allergies can be stopped by simply changing your dogs diet, so it is an easy fix. Hypoallergenic dog food would help resolve this problem.

Here are the 5 most likely causes of dog allergies, fleas, food allergies, atopy, bacteria, and contact allergies.

Sometimes flea medications can cause more problems then the fleas themselves. These problems may include skin infections, irritations, even seizures. As you can see there are a number of causes of skin problems in dogs, and many ways to treat a dog for skin problems so you should always consult your vet.

One of the most commonly over looked causes of skin problems in dogs, is an allergic reaction to something in the food they are eating. Some commercialy made dog foods contain minerals and dyes, that can cause an allergic reaction, or even be very harmful to your dog’s body system.

Itchy skin, hair loss, constant scratching, ear and anal gland problems are the most common indicators of a dog skin problem.

Although there are many canine skin disorders, the 5 following tips will help to identify some of the more common dog skin problems.

1. Fleas: The best way to identify a flea problem is to check your pets belly area and along the inside of the back legs. The hair is thinner in this area and easier to spot both fleas and flea dirt. The flea itself is brown or copper colored and roughly the size of a pin-head. Flea dirt looks like sprinkled pepper. Ruffling the fur on your dog’s back and along the base of the tail is also an easy way to find fleas and flea droppings. Often times dogs that develop Flea Allergy Dermatitis will show hair loss around the base (top) of the tail. There are many options available for flea and tick control.

2. Food Allergy Dermatitis: Although food allergies can appear in pups as early on as 5 or 6 months, they can also develop in adult dogs as late as 11 or 12 years old. Common symptoms of food allergy dermatitis are itching of the skin, excessive scratching, hot spots and even skin infections. Dog owners should realize that there is a distinct difference between Food Allergies and Food Intolerance. Like people, classic symptoms of a food intolerance would be an upset stomach and diarrhea. All foods do not agree with all dogs. Pink Bismuth is a safe remedy for stomach upset and diarrhea in dogs. Food allergies require slowly eliminating foods and changing the diet.

3. Atopic Dermatitis: A condition caused by environmental allergens. Dogs that suffer with airborne allergies will often rub their face along the side of a sofa or along the carpet. As with food allergies, dogs will also chew their feet. With Atopic Dermatitis, it’s common for dogs to develop ear infections due to a yeast overgrowth. Pollen, trees, grass, dust and wool fabric are just a few common airborne allergens that some dogs are sensitive to. Antihistimines are often prescribed.

4. Acral Lick Dermatitis (Lick Granuloma): This raised lesion will be red, hairless and is usually found on the leg of the dog. This neurological condition is self-induced due to continuous licking. Possible causes include anxiety, boredom and stress. Treatment will include identifying the source of the problem (anxiety, etc.), restricting licking of the area and often times medication for behavioral modification.

5. Hot Spots: Medically referred to as Acute Moist Dermatitis, these round lesions generally appear in warmer weather. Along the hip, the sides of the chest and around the head area are the most common locations for hot spots. These moist and hairless inflammations are painful causing the dog to fixate on the particular spot by licking, chewing and scratching at it. Continuous licking in one area is a large factor in the development of hot spots. These lesions can quickly become very large in size. The location of the hot spot will help determine what the underlying problem could be an; anal gland problem, ear problem or a flea problem. A Veterinarian will clip the hair around the spot, clean it with a medicated solution, prescribe antibiotics and pain medicine.

Determining the source of many dog skin problems can be difficult. Skin conditions can be uncomfortable and painful, so dog owners should not give up until they know where the problem stems from.

Say you have an itch that just won’t stop. What you will most likely do (after almost scratching your skin off!) is go directly to the nearest pharmacy and ask the pharmacist for the most potent cortisone or antihistamine that their store has. Then you lather or drink that drug up like there is no tomorrow.

Having an excruciating back ache or a smashing headache is a nuisance but if you have a skin rash you feel very, very itchy and it’s like you’re in living hell and your nails aren’t doing justice to what you feel.

Now imagine the same unbearable skin rash, only this time, you cannot go to your favorite pharmacy and you cannot just tell a doctor to treat you up because you cannot speak. Sounds like a horrible scenario? Well, this is how your four-legged bundle of joy actually feels when he or she has a dog skin rash!

Causes

Dog skin rashes are very difficult to treat because you never know what causes them. So, really the best thing you can do for your beloved dog is to prevent the skin rashes from occurring. Here are ways you can prevent this from occuring:

1. The number one cause of dog skin rashes are external dog parasites such as ticks, fleas, lice and mites. To avoid these external parasites, do not let your dog play with strangers’ pets unless you are sure they are not infected. Always keep your furry friend’s house parasite free by cleaning it well and in case that parasites do attack, treat your dog with a tick and flea shampoo or cream.

2. Internal parasites can also cause dog skin rashes so to avoid intestinal parasites, make sure that both the water and food that your loyal dog takes in are clean.

3. Comb or brush the coat of your dog regularly especially if your pup has thick and long hair. Tangled hair can cause the skin to become irritated which can lead to scratching.

4. Find a shampoo that does not dry out your dog’s skin if you like to bathe your doggie regularly.

5. Make sure you buy good quality dog chow to boost your dog’s immune system. Commercial grade dog food is usually just filled with extenders that have no additional nutritional value unlike good dog food.

Solution

But a dog cannot avoid skin rashes forever. Even if you are the most attentive, cleanest and most caring dog parent, he or she will still get skin rashes at one point in his or her doggie life. So what do you do in times when your furry friend is scratching and gnawing at his or her skin like crazy?

1. First of all, give your dog a bath. Find an anti-tick, anti-fleas medicinal shampoo.

2. Have a look at your dog’s food. If you’ve just changed your dog’s food brand, and he or she seems to have acquired the habit of scratching, then you may need to buy your old brand back because the new one is making your poor pooch itch. Better yet, consider some of the natural diets. Type in “BARF diet” on the Internet and you’ll find a lot of great resources. Also remember that certain dog breeds are naturally pre-disposed to specific allergies (I.e. Shih Tzus tend to be allergic to chicken). If, in any doubt, talk to a holistic minded veterinarian or nutritionist who can show you the proper meal plan.

3. Some dogs are itching because they are restless. Giving your dog enough exercise might just do the trick.

4. You may also consider purchasing products that specialize in treating dog skin rashes. There are a variety out there but one of the most effective ones I’ve ever seen contains the Mayan traditional herb Tepezcohuite. (In fact, I was so impressed with its natural abilities that I created an all-natural dog balm called K9 KlearUp around this compound – www.k9klearup.com. It’s guaranteed to help clear up the 17 most common canine skin and coat problems).

So there you have it, some simple solutions to help get rid of a severe dog skin problem: skin rashes. Your dog should be wagging his tail again in no time!