Today we will discuss treating seasonal allergies in your dogs.
Dogs who suffer from allergies usually have indications of respiratory tract infections, like sneezing, coughing, and breathing difficulties. But when a dog has allergies, the signs more often appear as allergic dermatitis. This condition is an inflammation or irritation of the skin.
Signs That Your Dog Is Allergic
A dog with allergies is typically very itchy. The dog will scratch excessively. The dog might nibble or bite at a particular part of his body or be mostly irritated. It may rub his body against walls, floors, and furniture as he tries to ease that uncomfortable, itchy feeling.
As the scratching and itching get worse, the skin can become tender or inflamed. There might be open sores, hair loss, or sores that have rubbed over.
Some dogs can develop hotspots, which are infected and inflamed areas of skin, causing rapid growth of bacteria. Hotspots are typically red and bad-looking, and they can grow very rapidly. They can produce pus and often lead to hair loss and bleeding.
A dog with seasonal allergies can also have complications with its ears. The ear canals can become inflamed and itchy as an allergic response. It can also lead to yeast and bacterial infections. Indicators of a possible ear infection include aggressive head shaking, scratching at the ears, or bad smells. They may show a discharge or hair loss in the area of their ears.
Another thing to watch out for if you are suspicious of your dog’s allergies is redness. The redness denotes that your dog can have red spots anywhere. Some dogs show red oral tissue, puffy red eyes, or a red chin. Other dogs can develop red paws or a red belly. Some will even show a red muzzle, inner thighs, a red tail base, or anus.
Respiratory indicators aren’t common in dogs with allergies, but they’re not ones we ignore.
Like an allergic human, your dog may have watery eyes, a runny nose, or coughing and sneezing. Dogs with seasonal allergies to grasses, pollens, molds, and ragweed are also inclined to develop sensitivities to other inhaled allergens. Dogs with lung weakness can develop bronchitis and sinusitis just as humans do.
Relief for Allergic Dogs Begins in the Gut
The first thing to address your dog’s allergies is their diet and the risk of dysbiosis. They also call this condition a leaky gut. It’s the cause of seasonal allergies that can worsen from one year to the next.
You should feed your dogs with allergies an anti-inflammatory diet. Also, you might consider avoiding diets that worsen their inflammation. Consider foods that are low in carbohydrates.
Your allergic dog diet should include meals low in grain content. So, using beef and chicken as protein sources.
It is also recommended to use coconut oil for allergic dogs because it contains natural lauric acid. Lauric acid can help in reducing the body’s production of bacteria. Using coconut oil for allergies in dogs can help moderate or even minimize the inflammatory response.
Feeding your dog anything rich in Omega-3 fatty acids can also help decrease inflammation. Adding Omega 3 fatty acids and coconut oils into the diet of your struggling dog can be very beneficial.
Coconut oil can be beneficial in easing allergies in dogs. Dog owners have used the natural components in coconuts as antiparasitic and anti-inflammatory supplements for years. This can work wonders in treating dog allergies.