Do you sometimes feel that your own dog is suffering from allergies?
Has your vet suggested that allergies can cause severe problems for dogs?
Dogs are our best friends, and just like us, they too can develop different kinds of allergies. Surprised? Well, don’t be. Dogs share many similar health problems that humans do, and allergies are one of them.
Just as humans get infected by different enzymes, which may further result in allergies, your dog’s allergy may be triggered by several reasons, including certain food items, chemicals, and environmental factors.
These routine substances- commonly known as allergens- are the reason behind your dog’s allergic reaction.
Did you know? Allergies are one of the primary reasons due to which dogs are euthanized. Well, that’s because treating allergies costs a lot and does not always work. Also, nobody can stand to see their pooch in pain.
Although treating allergies is expensive and rarely works, there is a better solution to the problem, and that is ‘home remedies.’
In this article, we will shed light on seven different types of allergies in dogs with a natural solution to get rid of them.
So, let’s roll.
1 . Skin Allergies
Skin allergies, also known as allergic dermatitis, are one of the most commonly occurring allergic reactions in dogs. These can be caused by many factors, including food, environmental allergens, medication, insects, dander, etc.
Some symptoms indicating skin allergies include persistent chewing and scratching, rashes and inflammation on the skin, etc.
To treat skin allergies in dogs at home, you may try these natural home remedies:
Coconut Oil / CBD OIL
Is there anything that coconut oil cannot do? Well, probably nothing.
You may use coconut oil for dogs with allergies as it contains lauric acid, which helps in limiting the production of yeast in their body. CBD oil also helps to relieve unpleasant skin allergy reactions by reducing your dog’s inflammation from discomfort. A 2012 study found that CBD functions and slowly heal the skin’s itchiness. Know more about CBD oil for your dog allergies visiting this website.
How to use
1. To treat orally
- ¼ tsp for puppies and small dogs
- 1 tsp for large dogs
2. To treat topically
- You may apply coconut oil on your dog’s coat to reduce the symptoms of skin allergy in them.
2 . Fleas Allergy
Fleas are the most common blood-sucking insidious parasites seen on the dog’s skin. These are not only a big problem for the dogs but also for you and your home. These are smaller in size (of about 1-2 mm) but have an unbelievable jumping ability (of about 13 inches horizontally and 7 inches vertically) and, thus, easily spread around your home.
The most common reasons behind your dog catching fleas is an outing to doggy daycare, dog park, or coming in contact with another dog.
You may quickly get rid of fleas in your home and on your dog by considering these natural remedies:
- Squeeze a fresh lemon in water, and give your dog a lemon bath. This will not only help your dog get rid of fleas but will also make him feel fresh.
- Dilute any essential oils like eucalyptus, tea tree, peppermint, rosemary, etc. in water and spray the mixture on to the coat of your dog. This will help in keeping the fleas away from your dog.
- To get rid of fleas in your home, you may try vacuuming your carpet and other soft furnishings time and again.
3 . Food Allergies
Wait! Do not confuse food allergies with food intolerance. There is a difference between the two. Food intolerance is the result of poor digestion, whereas food allergies result due to the response of your dog’s immune system to the amount of protein pervading inside their body.
In the case of food allergies, your dog may suffer from various skin and gastrointestinal conditions, including itching, facial swelling, and vomiting or diarrhoea.
You may try these home remedies to treat your dog of food allergies:
- Add apple cider vinegar to your dog’s food and water. You may also spray the same on your dog’s coat to ease the symptoms of hotspots or rashes, which may occur due to persistent scratching.
- Serve foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid as it helps in reducing the symptoms of itchiness, diarrhoea, or fatty acids.
- Give an oatmeal bath to your dog since it helps in reducing the symptoms of swelling and itching in dogs. All you have to do is mix oats with water and rub the mixture on your dog’s skin. Leave it on for around 10-15 minutes, and wash it off with lukewarm water.
4 . Environmental Allergies
When it comes to environmental allergies, many triggers can result in allergies in your dog. From outdoor irritants like mould, pollen, etc. to indoor allergens such as dust mites and cleaning chemicals, you must recognize what causes allergies in your dog and try to minimize his exposure to the same.
Some of the easy ways to treat environmental allergies include:
- Use air purifiers inside your house
- Use natural or organic cleaning products
- Keep the air environment around your dog smoke-free
- Frequently bathe your dog to keep him away from allergens
5 . Prescription Drugs Allergies
It may sound surprising, but even the prescription drugs which are supposed to treat specific dog-related ailments may cause allergies.
There are chances that your dog may react to certain drugs or ingredients present in them. Some of the symptoms of drug allergies in dogs include vomiting, swelling, diarrhoea, lethargy, loss of appetite, etc.
You may treat such allergies in your dog by following the tips mentioned below:
- Since prescription drug allergies may be life-threatening, you must consider talking to your vet in the first place.
- You may take care of the food your dog eats, and the environment around him besides taking care that he never consumes the same drug again.
6 . Medicated Soap & Shampoo Allergies
There are chances that your dog might suffer from an allergy due to medicated soap and shampoo. There is a possibility that these soaps and shampoos can be made of ingredients that might cause the immune system to release histamine, which may further lead to the problem of skin irritation and other severe issues.
The symptoms of reaction from such products may include lesions, bald patches, itching, swelling, and hives.
- You may treat such allergies on your dog by:
- Bathing your dog properly with lemon water
- Spraying the affected areas with essential oils
- Using organic products while bathing your dog
7 . Worms Allergy
No dog parent wants to see their little ball of fur suffering from any critical health issue, and worms fall into such a category. Worms are so powerful that these can infest your dog’s intestine and may also adversely affect their other organs.
There are two ways in which dogs may acquire worms:
- Consuming something that has worms or their eggs, or,
- Being bitten by a carrier like a mosquito or a flea
There are many types of worms, including roundworm, tapeworm, whipworm, hookworm, and many others, but you must focus on taking preventive measures to treat them.
Symptoms of worms in dogs:
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
- Coughing
- Skin irritation followed by hair loss
- The visible presence of worms in dog’s stool, skin, or fur
- Weight loss accompanied by a considerable increase or decrease in appetite.
You may try these home remedies to help your dog get rid of worms:
- Grind pumpkin seeds in a coffee grinder and add to your dog’s food
- Grind papaya seeds just like pumpkin seeds and add them to your dog’s food
- Vegetables such as grated carrots make your dog’s intestine less hospitable to worms.
- Enzymes present in apple cider vinegar helps in keeping the worms away, so you must spray the same on your pet’s food, and if they do not like its taste, you may add it in their wet food.
Wrapping it Up
Your dog may suffer from many diseases just like you, and you might find it challenging to treat those, but with the right home remedies, you can keep your dog’s health issues at bay.
So if you find that your dog is suffering from any of the allergies as mentioned above, you may try the natural home remedies discussed to treat them real quick and easy.
Also, if you know any other natural home-based solutions to treat different allergies or other problems in dogs, feel free to share the same in the comment box below.