An allergy is an unpleasant response to exposure to an inhalant, a food, or something in the environment. This response is triggered by the immune system. Allergies can affect all breeds of dogs.
Canine allergies fall into four categories:
- Flea allergy dermatitis
- Inhaled allergens such as grasses, molds, pollens, and dust mites. Allergies usually start between 1-3 years of age. Most common breeds affected are Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Dalmatians, Poodles, English Setters, Irish Setters, Boxers, Bulldogs, Lhasa Apsos, Wire Fox Terriers, West Highland White Terriers, among others, although any dog may be affected
- Food Allergies (and drugs): The most common allergens are beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish.
- Those caused by irritants through direct contact with the skin.
Other potential root causes:
- Genetic predisposition.
- Environment.
- Antibiotics at an early age may cause allergies due to disrupting gut ecology.
Important to Note:
Flea allergies and irritant allergies are usually more readily identified and treated by removal and control.
Food allergies and inhalant allergies require recognizing symptoms and taking steps to improve your dog’s health.
Because they are harder to identify, we will focus this article on Food and Inhalant allergies.
This article is for Dog Allergies (read on)
For Cat Allergies go here:
https://nusentia.com/collections/allergies-in-cats
How to recognize Food Allergies and Inhalant Allergies
- Gastrointestinal problems.
- Licking of the feet.
- Excessive scratching.
- Ear problems.
- Sneezing.
- Watery eyes.
- Hair loss.
What to do - Food Allergies
1. Food Elimination
Obviously if you have identified the food(s) that your dog has a reaction to, you should remove them. This can be done through eliminating a suspected food, observing, then reintroducing. If your dog improves with elimination and worsens with reintroduction, there is likely a problem. With dog food it can be hard to distill down to the actual allergen as it may only be a particular ingredient, so you may want to look for options in dog foods that are designed for low allergy potential. Here are some other steps to take nutritionally that will be sure to help:
2. Provide some variety in the diet (especially with young dogs)
This will reduce the load of any potential allergen and also will serve to strengthen overall tolerance against allergies.
3. Put your dog on probiotics
...such as Probiotic Miracle® ! Especially young dogs and particularly for the first year of life). If you can create a strong gut ecology, food allergies will likely not develop. For those dogs that already have allergies, regular use of probiotics over time should greatly help to abate them.
What to Do - Inhalant Allergies
Often these allergies are in response to those that are inhaled or absorbed through the skin (atopic dermatitis).
Here are the following steps to take:
- Reduce itching by treating the skin problems.
- Try to improve your dog’s living conditions to avoid the allergens (easier said than done).
- When you dog comes in from the outdoors you can remove pollens by wiping them down with a damp towel or cloth.
Nutritionally:
- Dogs respond well to essential fatty acid formulas such as Celavin™ as they can reduce the inflammatory response (the severity).
- Dogs also respond to nutritive formulas such as Dermix™ which contain antioxidant compounds, bioflavonoids, natural antihistamines, and immune supporting substances, which are needed to protect the body from the tremendous increase in free radicals that takes place during an inflammatory process.
Understanding the symptoms of the various causes for allergies can really work to solve the issue for your dog.
Fight Back with Nusentia’s Allergy Pack!
Dermix & Celavin
Celavin & Probiotic Miracle
Dermix ™ Allergy Support Formula Chew:
Ingredient Highlights
Colostrum
Contains immunoglobulins (also called antibodies). The antibodies in colostrum include IgG, IgM and IgA.. It also contains lactoferrin, and Proline-rich peptides (PRP). These all serve to be strong immune enhancers. In the case of Allergies (which is an overactive immune response), colostrum helps moderate that response. Colostrum also helps manage inflammation that cause rashes, itching, and discomfort for your dog. Additionally, it can help manage leaky gut, which a common cause of allergic reactions in dogs.
Quercetin
A flavonoid; phytochemical compounds present in many plants, fruits, and vegetables. It suppresses the release of histamine, which is what causes much of the inflammation, redness and irritation caused by pet allergies
Bromelain
A digestive enzyme that has very strong anti-inflammatory properties. Along with Quercitin and Vitamin C, it is part of the Dermix immune balancing matrix.
Vitamin C
A potent antioxidant. Vitamin C protects your cells from damage and reduces the severity of allergic reactions.
Vitamin E
Acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect skin cells from damage and reduce inflammation, which can be helpful in managing allergy symptoms like itching and dry skin.
Celavin ™ High Omega 3 Norwegian Salmon Oil
When combined with Dermix it makes the Ultimate Allergy Fighting System.
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Reduces Inflammation:
- Omega-3s, especially EPA and DHA have anti-inflammatory properties that can help lessen the severity of allergic reactions.
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Improves Skin Health:
- By reducing inflammation, omega-3s can help alleviate itching, redness, and dryness associated with allergies
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Strengthens Skin Barrier:
- Crucial for preventing allergens from penetrating the skin; making it more resistant to allergens and irritants.
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Reduces Scratching and Licking:
- By calming sensitive skin and reducing inflammation, omega-3s can help decrease excessive scratching and licking, which can further irritate the skin.
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Improves Coat Condition:
- A healthier skin barrier and reduced inflammation often result in a softer, shinier, and healthier coat.
Get Nusentia’s Allergy Pack now for a 15% savings over when buying the two items together!
