Believe it or not, your dog is just as susceptible to allergies as you are.
Just like humans, sometimes a dog’s immune system mistakes a perfectly ordinary, innocent food item or part of nature (such as mold, dust, dirt, pollen) and decides that the item is a threat to the dog. As such, the dog’s immune system attacks the offending item.
People are no strangers to having their immune systems thinking the local flora and fauna is actually an attack on the body, and your dog’s immune system behaves just the same!
In fact, some dog breeds are more prone to allergies than others:
Following are 10 signs that your dog is suffering from allergies…
How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Allergies?
#1 If your dog is constantly shaking his head, scratching or licking himself, this can be an indication he is suffering an allergic reaction.
#2 If your dog has patches of red and irritated skin that are hot to the touch.
#3 If your dog is always rubbing his face. He may also have sore spots around his muzzle and red areas around his eyes.
#4 If your dog sneezes and coughs a lot and/or has discharge coming from his nose and or eyes.
#5 If your dog appears to have a bad case of dandruff.
#6 If your dog has difficulty breathing and is wheezing.
#7 If your dog is suffering from weakness, loss of appetite and has vomiting or diarrhea, these symptoms can indicate a food intolerance or allergy.
#8 If your dog is constantly chewing or licking his feet, this is a strong indication that your dog is possibly allergic to pollen.
#9 If your dog is always scratching or rubbing his ears with his paws or on furniture, he may be allergic. You may also notice a waxy discharge coming from his ears that has redness and odor.
#10 If your dog has a sudden change in mood or is less playful than normal.
If your dog has any of the above signs or symptoms, it’s probably a good idea to take him to the vet and have him examined.
While it is possible there is some other issue causing the problem, the only way to determine if you dog does indeed have allergies is for your vet to run some tests — like a skin scrape. Allergies can be just as distressing to dogs as they can be to humans, so doing what you can to help your dog manage his allergies is important.
My favorite things to write about are topics that have to do with weather, pregnancy, weddings, saving money, living green, and my life with dogs. When I’m not writing, I love to spend time with my husband, read, create 3D artwork and Native American beadwork.