According to Marty Goldstein, DVM and Cornell graduate who specializes in alternative veterinary medicine, dog allergies are plaguing our pets at an alarming rate.
"In 37 years of practice," says Goldstein, "I have never seen canine allergies of such variety and severity, and it's become quite daunting." Also, most experts agree, this is the first year in which there did not seem to be the expected relief that winter usually brings.
Dog Allergies Defined
If you have a dog with allergies you know how badly they can suffer. Defined, a dog allergy is an unfavorable reaction caused by the union of an anti-body produced from the immune system and a foreign body of some kind. This alien substance usually comes in the form of a protein and is more accurately referred to as an allergen.
There are four common forms of allergies:
- Inhaled allergens, represented as molds, dust mites, and most prolific, pollens from grasses and trees.
- Allergens from food consumption, and most veterinarians include drug allergies in this group.
- Dog allergies that are created as a by product of flea bites (called flea-allergy dermatitis).
- And, irritants that crate an unpleasant reaction upon contact (called contact dermatitis).
Allergies create a form of disease that is associated with the skin. Dr. Goldstein includes ears, eyes and nose as dermal, but some allergy conditions also manifest themselves within a dog's organs.
Dog Allergy Symptoms
The signs of canine allergies vary, but usually fall into recognizable symptoms. Common signs are:
- Itching;
- Red, inflamed skin (even hives or apparent welts or abrasions);
- Dry, flaky derma;
- Loss of hair, known as alopecia;
- Red, irritated and infected ears;
- Runny nose and sneezing; and
- Constant paw licking.
In extreme and chronic cases, a dog with allergies may have patches of skin that turns dark or black and begins to secrete an awful odor.
Dog Allergy Origins
Recognizing when a dog has allergy symptoms is very helpful, but understanding the origins is also very beneficial when considering treatment. Most experts agree it could take forever to fully cover the history of dog allergies, and veterinarians concentrate on three major issues; the first being heredity.
Genetics can play an important roll in the existence of a particular dog's allergies, especially those of an atopic, dermatitis nature. Secondly, diet is a key factor. What a dog eats is frequently the culprit and that includes what he may consume without your knowledge. And lastly, a dog can be allergic to vaccinations and this particular dog allergy would be the easiest to trace.
Treating Dog Allergies
As a practitioner of alternative veterinary medicine, Dr. Goldstein prefers natural remedies for treating dog allergies. "I am not adverse to conventional therapy", including cortisone, antihistamines, antibiotics, shampoos etc. "However, my main focus is on more natural means."
Food testing is an effective tool when considering what a dog may be allergic to. Notably, sub-standard dog foods are usually of poor quality and can intensify allergies as well as contribute to overall poor health conditions. Veterinarians do a trial and error process called an "elimination diet", where dogs are fed one protein type at a time, observed for a while, then introduced to another.
Natural remedies for dog allergies include Omega-3 fatty acid supplements. This complimentary form of high quality fish oils is probably the number one recommendation in treating a dog with allergies, and Dr. Marty Goldstein recommends Alaskan Salmon Oil.
For a natural antihistamine supplement, herb nettle or stinging nettle, has been used with positive results.
Dr. Goldstein also advises "there's a supplement called beta-sitosterol, derived from plants, that has a cortisone effect on dog allergies, without the side effects.
Natural Remedies for Dog Allergies of a Topical Nature
For topical relief of allergy symptoms, there are now a wide assortment of choices. Candula ointment or gel (a marigold extract) and aloe vera gel are typically favored by most professionals, and using the secretion directly from the aloe vera plant is the best source.
Being a homeopathic veterinarian, Dr. Marty Goldstien is always on the search for natural treatments and over the years has had a great deal of success with supplements and products that contain such things as histamine, sulfur, arsenicum, and graphite.
As always, all dogs are different in physiology and your veterinarian should be consulted before beginning any treatment for a pet's allergies.
Source:
- Goldstein, Marty, DVM, Cesar's Way, "Season for Sneezin'!", March 2011, Pg. 42-45, Print.
Valerie Modreski - Ms. Modreski has worked as a writer for over 30 years. Valerie began her career on the editorial staff of the Broward College academic ...
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