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Dog Skin Allergies
Dog Skin Allergies are amongst the most common health issues in dogs. They can be difficult to diagnose as symptoms can be similar to other diseases. Most Allergies are seasonal especially the respiratory types, such as tree pollen. Allergies are not normally curable and as such need to be managed over the long term.
Symptoms of Dog Skin Allergies
In a vast majority of cases, if your dog has an allergy it will usually quite apparent through excessive itching and/or noticeable skin issues.
Other signs that your dog has an allergy include:
Chewing on its limbs
Rubbing its face on the ground or carpet
Mutiliated, red or sore skin
Hair loss
Nasal or eye discharge
Skin Allergy Testing For Dogs
There are a couple of types of testing that can be done to check for for dog skin allergies:
Blood Tests are taken to test for antibodies that have been triggered by antigens.
Intradermal Skin Testing is where a small amount of antigen is subcutaneously injected into an area of the dog's skin and watched to see whether it causes an Allergic Reaction. This is the most used type of testing and has a high success rate for identification of Dog Skin Allergies.
Alternatively, and more specifically if a Food Allergy is suspected, systematic elimination of items from a dog's diet or environment may help uncover the underlying causes of the allergies.
Dog Hot Spots
One of the most common dog skin problems are hot spots known in medical terms as pyotraumatic dermatitis. Hot spots are a superficial bacterial infection that causes inflammation in the top layer of your dog’s skin. Initial indications are skin irritation causing your dog to scratch and lick with a sometimes quickly spreading to other parts your dog’s body. This infection can spread rapidly resulting in hair loss, open sores, and oozing puss as well as a distasteful smell. It can be quite painful to your dog.
Some causes of hotspots are:
Long furry coats
Allergies and environment
Habits of your dog like excessive licking
If your dog does get hot spots there are several steps you can take to help them:
Trim the fur from around the affected area. This will allow air to dry out the moisture and help speed the healing process.
Clean the area with a gentle cleaner, rinse and dry.
Applying a cold compress a couple of times a day can help
You can also try natural products such as Tea Tree oil, witch hazel or vinegar.
Dog Dandruff
Having a dog with dandruff is no picnic. Especially on dogs with long coats it can be particularly annoying. If your dog has developed a case of dandruff some things you can do to get rid of it.
One of the first things you should do is check your dog’s diet and water intake. Try a different brand or type of food. Also look into vitamin supplements.
Regular bathing can help but use caution as to much bathing can dry out the skin even more. After the bath give your dog a thorough brushing.
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