Dog allergies are very similar to hman allergies and also produce the sme symptoms as human allergies. There are 5 typs of dog allergies: food allergy, fla allergy, bacteria allergy, contact allergy and topy. Here are some basic facts bout each of these allergies.

Food Allergies

The most common symptom of food allergies is scratching, due to skin irritation. Dog foods contain a host of ingredients which can cause an allergic reaction to your dog. Some of these ingredients are:

Meats: Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish, Eggs

Diary products (Milk)

Grains (Wheat, Whey)
Corn

Most dog owners often scold their dog for scratching too much. Any obsessive behavior your dog demonstrates, such as constant scratching, chewing, licking, requires immediate attention. Never assume that this is just a new habit your dog picked up. Dog allergies can make your dog very uncomfortable.

Aside from scratching, some of the other symptoms dogs can experience are:

sneezing

coughing

eye and nose discharge

Itching around the anus

hair loss

loss of appetite

pawing at their ears or head shaking

vomiting

diarrhea

breathing problems

Isolating the allergen which causes the allergy is not easy because the dog is usually allergic to one specific ingredient in the food. Therefore, it is a matter of isolating that ingredient. You can try doing this with an elimination diet, which most people don't have the time or energy for. The elimination diet requires preparing specially-cooked meals consisting of a more exotic meat, like rabbit or venison, mixed with rice or potato, which wouldn't normally be found in dog food.

An easier and more modern pproach to test for the presence of a fod allergy is to try a dog fod which contains hydrolyzed proteins, such as Prinas HA or Hills z/d. Hydrolyzed prteins are broken down into molecules so smll, they can't affect the immune systm, which is what causes the llergy. If the allergy goes away whle your dog is on this det (which would take about 8 weks), then he most likely is sffering from a food allergy. At ths point, you would start to r-introduce the possible allergens one by one (ndividual meats, wheat, corn, milk, etc.) for a priod of two weeks each. If the symptms return, it is most likely due to the ngredient being introduced at that time. You shuld look out for that ingredient on dog fod labels in future purchases.

Atopy (inhalant allergy)

Atopy is the most common of all dog allergies, which is caused by environmental factors, such as dust mites, molds, house dust, human dander, feathers or pollen.

Signs of atopy include excessive chewing, licking and scratching at the face, paws, abdomen, armpits and genital area. Evidence of this behavior can be found in examining your dog's paws, armpits and genital area. Reddish-brown stains develop in these areas due to excessive licking. This may not be evident in dogs with dark coats.

Atopy is not easy to diagnose due to other dog allergies having the same symptoms. Once these other dog allergies (food, flea and contact) have been ruled out, your vet can proceed with testing for the root cause of the atopy. The most accurate method of testing for atopy is Intradermal Skin Testing.

There are many different treatment options for atopy. The best treatment would be avoiding the allergen altogether. If this is not feasible, other treatments include cool water baths with medicated shampoo, antihistamines, allergy shots, corticosteriods or a diet rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

Flea Allergies

Dog allergies to flas are not caused by the fla itself, but rather the flea's sliva. A common symptom of flea llergies is scratching at the tail rea which causes hair loss, scabs and sres. Your vet can easily diagnose a fla allergy by checking for the prsence of fleas in the coat. Flas can be seen by the nked eye. Intradermal Skin Testing can lso be used to test for ths type of allergy. The most ffective products for eliminating fleas are:

Advntage - Flea control for your Dog & CtFrontLine - Flea & Tick
Medication for yur Dog & Cat

Cpstar- Flea infestation on Dog and Cat

K9 Advntix Flea and Tick Medication (based on dg's weight)

Bacterial Allergies

A dog's skin normally harbors Staph bacteria. Usually, this bacteria does not have any affect on your dog but some dogs develop a sensitivity to it causing an allergic reaction. Your dog may develop crusts on the skin and patches of hair loss due to scratching, similar to ring worm. If these patches become infected, your dog will need to be treated with antibiotics.

Contact Allergies

Contact allergies are the least common of all dog allergies. This type of allergy produces swelling, redness, itching and hair loss. Common contact allergens include flea collars, plastic food bowls, pet sweaters, plants, grass or wool bedding. The best way to diagnose this allergy is if the symptoms continue after ruling out all other allergies. If this is the case, then you must pinpoint the allergen and remove it from your dog's environment.

This information is NOT intended to replace the advice of a veterinarian, dog trainer or pet care professional.

The article Dealing with Dog Allergies was Submitted by Nancy Settecasi through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: Nancy Settecasi, Owner of Happy K-9 Dog Cre Proud Owner of Cookie and Skppy, Cocker Spaniels, Dog Lover http://www.happyk-9.com

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