Dog Skin Allergies: Some Basic Knowledge
Friday, February 3rd, 2012Our pets are super important to us, so knowing a little bit about dog skin allergies should be important to you as well, as this can be a major source of discomfort for your best animal friend, even without you being aware of it. It’s our job to make sure our animals are healthy and happy!
Because you have to remember that just like humans, dogs are affected by allergies similarly. It’s an itch that you want to scratch like no other, but that’s really probably not something you want to do, because that just makes the feeling worse. Unfortunately, dogs don’t really have that kind of self-control.
And it’s vital for you to know that skin allergies aren’t the only things like look like allergies as well. There are things called hot spots, and things like ulcers, that can be caused by environmental or physical conditions, and then there are parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses that can really be a pain as well to a dog’s skin.
It is crucial that you understand exactly what hot spots are as well, because they are very common in dogs and result many times from the itching that comes from initial allergic reactions to things. Basically if that area gets infected, the infection can spread as pus gets caught in the dog’s fun and makes the rashy area get bigger.
Fleas or ticks can also leave behind red, bumpy areas that can be mistaken for allergies. And these little bugs can come from just about anywhere - from another animal, from someone else’s house, from a walk out in the woods or in the park, or even in your own home for reasons that can’t totally be explained.
Is your dog shedding or losing excessive hair for some reason or another? Be sure to check to see if it is allergic to the food that you’re feeding it, or that there isn’t some other sort of underlying problem. Look close at the affected areas to determine if may be caused either internally or externally, and if it might be contagious.
Treatment for allergies and other skin conditions varies, but may include shaving the affected area and applying creams or ointments, the use of antibiotics, and shampooing the dog thoroughly to get rid of any dirt of potential allergens in the dog’s coat, as well as making it so that you can see everything on the skin clearly.
So we all know that allergies are a pain, and if you see your dog suffering, look into what dog skin allergies are and what you can do to help lessen the effects of them. If you don’t get the information you need on the internet, simply call your local vet.
I’m a canine health specialist who specializes in rashes on dogs.
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