What are Dogs Allergic to?

Now, this may sound like a silly question to some people, but believe it or not your dog can have allergies to certain things just like you! Have you ever found yourself sneezing when you encounter something very dusty? Or maybe you have seasonal allergies meaning you can’t even step outside during peak pollen season. Well, at least you know what the problem is and what you can do about it! Your dog just can’t walk to the medicine cabinet and pull out an anti-allergy medication. He has to rely on you to figure out what is causing him distress and that is not an easy task!

Let’s take a look at some of the things your dog may be allergic to.

Dust and dust mites cause a huge problem for dogs. These can be found in their bedding or just around the house in general. You don’t have to be a “bad” housekeeper to have dust or dust mites – if you have a pet they are everywhere. Smoke is another allergy factor when you have a dog. If you smoke, do it outside instead of exposing him to it. Fleas can cause a horrible allergic reaction in a dog, as can the medication you use to treat him. Make sure the product you are using is something you get from your vet-and even then the dog can have a reaction to that, as well. Dogs just can’t get a break!

Pollen can wreak havoc with a dog causing all kinds of nasty reactions. The same goes for certain trees in the spring, and even grass. Some dogs are so allergic to grass they can’t even walk outside without some type of protection for their paws. Mold is another reason some dogs suffer allergic reactions. They scratch, itch and dig themselves until they are raw. They may cough and wheeze because they are so allergic their respiratory system is compromised. This is where the real trouble can start if you can’t figure out what the problem is. If your dog is fine all winter long and starts to react in the spring, this is a very good clue that he has seasonal allergies.

A good many dog owners believe the food they are feeding is what is contributing to the problem, and while that may be, food allergies only rank third on the list of what may be causing the problems.

Yes, he may be allergic to certain ingredients in the food and it will take a lot of detective work on your part to figure out which ingredient is causing an allergic reaction.

Check the list of ingredients on the bag or can of your regular dog food. If wheat, corn, yeast or soy are listed this may be the culprit. You really never know what is in commercial dog food and you may have heard or read about horror stories from other pet owners denouncing certain “over-the-counter” dog food. The only way you can figure something like this out is to switch to a food that is ‘natural’ and doesn’t contain any of that stuff. If the reactions persists however you should always take your pet to a vet to get to the root of the problem. Sometimes even the most knowledgeable vets will not be able to figure it out and may recommend allergy testing for you poor pooch.