Dog Allergies: Symptoms and Treatment

Most people think that disease and serious illnesses do not affect their pets until they become seniors. However, dogs are at just as much risk of suffering from allergies as we are. Understanding the risks to your dog's health allows you to provide him or her with the quality health care they deserve. Here at Caring Hands Veterinary Clinic in Philadelphia, our team can diagnose your dog's allergies and treat the conditions accordingly.

Common Sources

Both dogs and humans suffer from the same common kinds of allergies. Pollen and grasses flare up and die down at different times of the year, triggering allergic reactions. Irritating particles inhaled or eaten by the dog causes a reaction. It also affects the sense of smell in dogs. If your pet seems to have cold-like symptoms during the summer or fall months, they may have an allergy associated with a particular tree or flower in that season.

Food can be another cause of allergies. Not all dog foods are necessarily right for your pet. Some foods contain ingredients safe to most dogs but can be harmful to those that are allergic.  Food allergic reactions will frequently make themselves evident through the skin and hair, causing itchy skin patches to develop. Dogs can be bad at controlling their scratching and can irritate the skin patch with excessive scratching. The itchy spot has soon turned into a wound with a loss of hair and possible infection. It is essential to understand your dog's skin allergies.

Symptoms of An Allergy Problem

Dog allergies can be very much a case-by-case situation. If a dog is suffering from an allergic reaction, his or her symptoms will likely be different from another dog suffering the same allergy. However, some common symptoms can be shared and spotted if you know what to watch for. These symptoms include:

• Dry, flaking skin and rough spots
• Lots of licking, biting, and chewing the lower body
• Excessive mucus from the nose or eyes
• Ear irritations and scratching
• Lots of sneezing
• Excessively loud snoring
• Irritated paws
• Diarrhea

Contact Us for Pet Allergy Treatment from Our Veterinarian in Philadelphia

There are many home remedies and over-the-counter solutions for pet allergies, but nothing is more beneficial to your dog than bringing him or her in for an exam. We can effectively understand your dog’s allergies and help treat them properly. Our team at Caring Hands Veterinary Clinic in Philadelphia provides top-quality care programs for pets and provides specializations in animal allergies. Instead of wondering what is causing a problem, our veterinarian works with accurate information to effectively improve your dog's health. Contact us today to see how we can help your animal feel better.