Dog Skin Allergies Are Increasing In Numbers And Severity

Online, February 22, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Just like people, man's best friend can suffer from dog skin allergies. And like us, they want relief. Unfortunately for them, the only solution they know is to keep scratching themselves, trying to provide some sort of end to their suffering. Sometimes you have to step in and help them out. But what can you do?
Dog News
The very first thing that you should do is to find out why they are scratching so much. Move fur out of the way to inspect the affected area, where they seem to be scratching the most, and look for indications of the dog skin allergies, such as dry skin, bite marks, rashes, or other irritations. This is key to figuring out what to do to help your dog end its suffering.

Fleas may be a possible culprit. If you discover flea bites or the actual pests, there are several medications available to rid them from your canine. You can also bathe you dog in anti-flea baths to reduce the amount of fleas present on their bodies.
However, if you find dry skin or rashes, you need to find the source of their allergy. Using a simple process of elimination, observe what they eat and their activities. There can be many thing that trigger allergic reactions, but it should not take long to determine the culprit. Removing the source of an allergy is usually much easier than continually treating the symptoms.

When your dog has a reaction to some kind of irritant, you need to clean the irritant from their coat. An economical and quick solution if you do not have dog shampoos available is to wash the irritated area with a mild dish soap. This may ease their irritation and suffering, but it oftentimes will not relieve their irritation.

You may want to consider purchasing medications for your dog to alleviate the mild and moderate irritation. Many creams and sprays are available over the counter at most pet shops and some supermarkets. If the problem seems more serious, you should consult with a professional. They may prescribe stronger creams or oral medications.

You may be able to help your dog by changing their diet to include supplemental vitamins. These supplements are essential for making sure that your dog is getting the vitamins they need for healthy coat and fur development. You should consider this, even if your canines symptoms are not caused by food. The healthier a dog is in general the better off they are all around.

There is a small chance that a dog can have life threatening reactions to conditions of this nature. If your dog has a hard time breathing, seems to be drooling uncontrollably, has any swelling (especially facial or on their paws), or has lost consciousness, you need to bring them to an emergency veterinarian immediately. Generally, life threatening reactions are caused by vaccines and medications.

There are some good tips in the article above. If your dog is constantly scratching, skin allergies would seem to be the first avenue to investigate. I firmly believe a healthy dog is much better off all around.

Source: GoArticles

If you found this helpful, check out my dog health blog for other helpful dog tips and information. You can also go to my dog health matters facebook page and "like" me there.