Does My Dog Have Allergies And Should I Be Concerned?

If you suffer from seasonal allergies, you’ve most likely tried to tirelessly find solutions to combat them. Nobody likes the feeling of being congested with watery eyes and a runny nose, so it’s no surprise that there are a lot of products that exist on the market that all claim to help solve allergy woes. Whether it’s medication, nasal sprays, switching laundry detergent, or the million other things you’ve tried, it can become frustrating when it seems like nothing will work. However, when you do find something that helps even if it provides just a small amount of relief, it’s an amazing feeling to have some of those allergy problems alleviated! 

Seasonal allergies are just the tip of the iceberg, and there are millions of people out there who suffer from more severe allergies, like food, drug, or latex allergies. You need to be informed to know you’re staying safe.

The same is true for your dog. Many dogs suffer from seasonal allergies just like us humans. However, many people don’t realize this. There are many factors, such as environment or breed, that you should be aware of when evaluating your dog’s health and whether or not you should be concerned about allergies. Your dog is family, so you need to be as aware and educated as possible on everything that can cause them problems, as well as determine the best course of action in making things better for them. 

Hopefully this article can shed some light on this topic and increase your awareness when it comes to dog allergies, so that you can determine if there are steps you need to take to help improve your dog’s overall health.

How To Tell If Your Dog Has Allergies

The first thing to consider when determining whether or not your dog may have allergies is the fact that there are many different types of dog allergies. They could have environmental or seasonal allergies, or they could be allergic to certain foods or even develop a skin allergy. There are different symptoms for each type of allergy, but also be aware that there’s a lot of symptom overlap. 

Some of the most common symptoms of various allergies are itchy and red skin, gastrointestinal issues (diarrhea and vomiting), abnormalities around the paws and ears, swelling, and many others. With such a broad variety of potential symptoms, it’s very important that you consult your vet before coming up with your own diagnosis. Your vet will be able to run all the required tests so that nothing is left up to chance.

What To Do If Your Dog Has Allergies

Once you work with your vet to properly determine your dog’s allergies, there are several things that you can do. For starters, if the source of the allergy problems can be avoided altogether, this is, of course, going to be the simplest and most effective solution. This is certainly the case if your dog has a food allergy. 

However, this is not always possible. If their allergy can’t be completely avoided, you will need to seek out another solution. The required solution will vary depending on the type of allergy at hand. For example, if your dog is allergic to fleas, there are dozens of products ranging from medications to shampoos that you can use. For seasonal allergies, there are many resources such as skin irritation relief, dry nose solutions, and more. If your dog is having gastrointestinal problems caused by their allergies, your vet will likely recommend a combination of medication and diet alterations to help alleviate your dog’s symptoms.

In Conclusion

Your dog’s health is important, but they won’t always tell you if there’s something bothering them. This is why it is extremely crucial that you’re fully aware of their vulnerabilities and know what types of things to look for. There are many great resources out there, such as the American Kennel Club or AKC, so be sure to take advantage of the vast amount of information available to you so you can stay educated and aware. 

If your dog does have allergies, know that you have options to help make things better for them. Be sure to always consult your vet to confirm your suspicions about your dog’s allergies and to get the best advice for treatment, avoidance, and symptom alleviation. With a little bit of care and forethought, you can confidently and happily know that you’re doing everything in your power to ensure that your dog is leading a healthy and happy life!