allergies?
IT COULD BE YOUR DOG fOOD...
FIND SOLUTIONSCOMMON ALLERGENS
Dogs may be allergic to pathogens in the environment. Some of these are found in the air itself such as pollen or molds. Sometimes its items they come into direct contact with like flowers or grasses.
Indoor allergens (think dust mites and mold) can be a problem for some dogs, especially those living indoors with closed windows, less sun, and a cooling or heating system.
Food allergies arise year-round and are commonly triggered by animal protein, such as beef or chicken. Dogs may also develop an intolerance over time to other food sources such as wheat, eggs, soy, or milk.
COMMON SYMPTOMS
- - Itching or irritated skin
- - Paw licking
- - Watery eyes
- - Runny nose
- - Coughing
- - Sneezing
- - Reverse sneezing
There are two main allergy tests dogs can undergo: blood and skin. Vets also commonly introduce an elimination diet for suspected food allergies, where you switch your dog to a hypoallergenic food then start adding in items one by one to detect the culprit.
TREATMENTS + SOLUTIONS
Veterinary professionals will often treat the allergies as a whole with steroids that stop the immune system from overreacting to allergen exposure. But they might also try to treat symptoms one by one, like a medicated bath for irritated skin.
You can also take some pre-emptive measures on your own, like feeding your dog with a hypoallergenic food rich in antioxidants and vitamins to boost their immune system and strengthen their skin and coat!
SAVANNAH'S STORY
Some dogs, like Savannah, develop both seasonal and food allergies. Savannah's allergies were so severe that she ended up on steroids and then Apoquel. While the Apoquel helped, Savannah's mom's main qualm was that it treated the symptoms not the cause, “It’s not getting to the root of the problem. We’re not fixing, we’re just putting a bandaid on it.” On top of that, Aqoquel comes with a price tag. Just one pill costs $3- which, when you have a larger dog, it really adds up.
Savannah found relief with Jiminy's Good Grub dog food.
