subject: Dogs Can Have Allergies [print this page] Author: Charlene Lauver Author: Charlene Lauver
Dogs are not likely to be born with allergies. They can develop allergies to food products, usually before they are one year old or after they are five years old. Symptoms of food allergies in dogs are itching, digestive disorders and respiratory distress. Of all the common domestic pet ailments, allergies are the most common. It often takes some trial and error to find out what substances are causing an allergic reaction. The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. If you do not maintain a consistent diet, the test will not be meaningful. The diet will be free of potential allergy causing ingredients and will ideally have ingredients your dog has never been exposed to. It needs to remain on the diet until the allergic symptoms go away. Then you begin to introduce the foods your pet previously ate to see which are causing the allergic reaction. Foods are not the only culprits that produce allergic reactions in dogs. Your dog may have problems with certain types of chewable heartworm preventive medicine. Some other common allergens are: - Tree, grass, weed pollens and mold spores;
- House dust and house mites;
- Fleas and flea control products;
- Cleaning products;
- Rubber and plastic;
- Cigarette smoke; and
- Perfumes. While any dog can develop allergies at any time during his or her life, allergic reactions seem to be especially common in terriers, setters, retrievers and flat faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers. If you suspect your dog has an allergy, visit your veterinarian. After a complete history and conducting a physical examination, he or she may be able to determine the source of your dog's allergic reaction. If not, your vet will most likely recommend skin or blood tests to find out what is causing the allergic reaction.About the Author:
My husband and I have the cutest and most loveable Maltipoo called Rambo. He's our "kid." So now that I'm retired from an office job, I decided to start my own Web site with my husband's technical assistance and share some of my experiences and research about pets, especially dogs.
