Dog Allergy Possible?
Posted by admin on 09 Apr 2007 at 07:20 am | Tagged as: Dog Allergy, Pets Allergy
Does Your Dog Have Allergy?
Dog allergy is common is about 20% of the pet dogs in US only. Pet owners may not notice that their dogs are allergy sufferers, exactly like the human beings. One of the most widespread allergies amongst dogs is flea allergy dermatitis. Dogs can also develop food allergies, airways allergies or even atopic dermatitis.
Dog Allergy Symptoms
The clinical signs which make the diagnosis of allergy in dogs are usually the itching which never stops, cough, which is dangerous and should be treated as an emergency, wheezing (which is a kind of whistle noise the dog makes during breathing) or mucus secretions. Under no circumstance should the dog owner give medication to his dog without seeing the vet first of all. Medication can mask the symptoms, thus making the diagnosis much harder.
Only the vet can decide if your dog suffers from a simple, common allergy, or it has a more serious ailment which needs other type of treatment. Once taken to the doctor, your dog will be tested for various allergens, in order to determine its body reaction.
Dog Allergy Treatment
Dogs can live with allergy very well, if their owners take care to obey several simple rules. For example, if your dog is allergic to specific foods, you should never give him those foods again. Allergy does not disappear if the allergic subject is exposed more frequently to that allergen (the substance which induces the allergic reaction). Keeping on giving your dog that food which caused the allergy would worsen the symptoms, and in time, it may even cause death.
Beware of fleas, as they can cause your dog allergy. In such cases, the allergen substance is the flea saliva. If that’s the situation of your dog, you’ll have to be very careful to keep him away from fleas. This is not very easy for the owner, because dogs are friendly to other dogs and they touch each other, allowing fleas to pass from one body to the other when they play in the park.
If discovered early and treated properly, allergy is a disease anybody can live with, including your dog. This is why it is very important to take your dog to the doctor as soon as you suspect anything which may not be in order with its health. If you see a change, like the presence of a bigger quantity of secretions, or never ending scratching, or series of sneezes and coughs, don’t treat your dog with over the counter medication according to what you may think it has, or according to your neighbor’s advice.
If you love your dog, take it to the vet and ask for allergy tests to be run on it. Remember that once you got yourself a pet, you are responsible for its well being, and you have to take good care of all aspects of its life. Don’t forget that dog allergy is real and fully manageable if discovered in time.
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