 Dog Food Allergies – Treatment and Relief from Harmful Side Effects.
Many dogs exhibit allergies to the food they eat and this is perhaps the most tedious to diagnose because allergies can mimic any of the other allergies mentioned in this article. First thing to do is to remove all possible allergy causing ingredients from your pet's diet.
You can do this using a homemade meal of a protein and starch source your dog has not had before. Add gradually (one at time for about a week), more ingredients into it. If symptoms return after adding a particular ingredient, then the possible allergen could be identified.
However, allergic reactions may not appear for about a week after consuming the allergen so be sure to confirm your findings with your vet. Once it has been verified, avoid the ingredient in the dog foods you subsequently feed your canine companion. Other symptoms of food allergies are vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing and sometimes, changes in behavior
Dog Allergy Relief
You can help your pet and alleviate his allergy woes by bathing and conditioning your dog regularly. Contrary what most people will tell you, you can never bathe your dog too often?
Water helps to relieve your dog's skin and keeps it healthy. It also rinses off allergens from their body. Different kinds of shampoos are available to treat allergies, depending, of course, on your pet's particular condition.
Dog Allergy Treatment
Corticosteroids are also useful for controlling allergies by reducing the inflammation in your dog although it will weaken the immune system a bit, but is often necessary in order to treat the allergy. Some effects are increased appetite and drinking, and higher chances of developing infections. It is therefore not recommended for long-term use. If a longer duration of use is necessary, your pet has to have regular check ups on his/her blood and urine.
Prednisone, a short-acting steroid, can be used orally and is safer than the long-acting steroids. Taken with antihistamines and Omega fatty acids and frequent bathing, these short-acting steroids can be used effectively if the least amount is used. An allergy injection, also called immunotherapy, which is a series of treatments meant to produce immunity to substances your dog is currently allergic to. Skin and blood testing is performed to find out what substances causes your pet's allergies.
These substances then are given to your dog in small but increasing amounts through injections. Over a period of time, the dog becomes desensitized to the substances and no longer exhibits allergic reactions to them.
Finding out what allergies your pets are suffering from and the allergens that cause them may be a tedious, pain- staking process. It is worth the effort especially as you see the relief you give your dog translate into a pet that's in a better disposition and mood, perhaps in gratitude for the time you've spent to understand and take care of their ailments.
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