Do you have allergies? If so, then you likely understand just how uncomfortable they can make you feel. If you have a dog who also has allergies, then chances are your furry companion is every bit as uncomfortable as you are. This all begs the question: how do you go about protecting your dog from being affected by allergens? Here are three tips you should follow to keep allergies at bay in your dog and make his a little bit easier.
Watch What You Feed Them
Unfortunately, dogs can develop a hypersensitivity to any food that you give them. Your dog’s immune system can overreact to certain food proteins, and it can lead to a variety of symptoms. These could include things such as red or inflamed skin, itches throughout the body, ear infections, skin issues, and often diarrhea and vomiting. If you suspect that your dog is suffering from food allergies, your vet may first of all suggest that you try an elimination diet where your dog is fed food with a different meat protein. Your vet might also suggest feeding your pet a hypoallergenic diet.
Try Artificial Grass
Yes, believe it or not, dogs can be allergic to grass. In most cases, you can tell whether a dog has a grass allergy if he exhibits symptoms such as severe itchy patches of skin and heavy, watered-down eyes. In some cases, a canine grass allergy can be treated with a foot bath, shots of corticosteroid or Omega 3 fatty-acid, or medications that will reduce the itchy skin.
However, if none of these works, there is a strong possibility that you should consider switching to artificial grass. Dogs are not allergic at all to artificial grass. The only caveat is that you should avoid imported artificial grass because it often can contain lead. If your pooch is known to chew things up when he is playing in the yard, then you definitely wouldn’t want him ingesting that! Moreover, some types of artificial grass are designed with dogs in mind and have hypoallergenic backings and blades that provide added protection for your pet.
Watch Out for Fleas
Fleas can definitely be a hideous pest to your dog. First of all, flea bites can lead to your canine friend having severely itchy skin. Of course, there are some ways to combat this, including adopting a rigorous anti-flea program with your animal. Other than that, you also can inject your dog with a variety of anti-allergy treatments to help desensitize him to the flea bites.
If you have determined your dog has allergies, your first step is to determine just what is causing them. After that, if you are persistent, you can help your dog finally find some relief.
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