Dogs can suffer from the same allergic reactions as humans. In dogs, this often manifests itself in an enormous itching, during which he can scratch the skin completely. This can lead to nasty skin infections. The culprits are often fleas, dust mites, pollen, fungi, wool, and feathers.
A dog that is allergic may lick the paws a lot. In some cases, it is better to put socks on the dog. Make sure your dog is in a clean environment and keep your house clean.
Allergy Symptoms
Dogs may not experience the same symptoms as humans if they suffer from an allergy, but they do suffer from it. In humans, this manifests itself in sneezing and shortness of breath. In dogs, this usually manifests itself in an enormous itching.
The dogs just keep licking, biting, and scratching until the skin breaks. Itching can have various causes and does not always have to be an allergy. Always consult a veterinarian. Usually, dogs are allergic to flea bites, but they can also be allergic to dust mites, pollen, mold, wool, feathers, or food. Cigarette smoke and perfumes can also cause allergies in some dogs.
Stop the Itch with Water
Dogs with allergies often lick and bite their paws for hours on end. This is probably because a lot of pollen and dust are retained on the soles and legs. To avoid this, place a bucket of water by the door and rinse its paws every time the dog goes back in. Dry the paws well, especially between the toes to avoid further skin irritation.
Wash Wway the Itch
A cool bath will bring temporary relief to the skin. Since dry skin is itchier, it is better to keep the skin moist and clean. Pure cold water is sometimes enough to stop the scratching, but some oat bran, which is very soothing for itchy skin, makes the bath even more effective. It only provides relief for one to two days, but it can help the dog through a difficult moment.
Put his Socks on
To protect the dog from scratching its own sharp nails, you can put baby socks on its hind legs. Vets also sometimes advise you to put on your dog a tricot baby suit for protection. When your dog scratches, the skin is somewhat protected by the fabric.
Protect the Skin from Within
A good way to relieve the dog of the itching is to give supplements that contain essential fatty acids. These are available at the vet and pet store. While they are safe and effective, they don’t work as quickly. It can take two to four weeks to see results. If your dog doesn’t want to swallow pills, hide the pill in a spoonful of peanut butter or wrap it in a slice of meat.
Keep the Living Environment Clean
By keeping your house clean, by vacuuming regularly, the chance of eradicating more pathogens is greater. Although you can’t see it, the house is full of microscopic and allergy-causing dust mites. They can be found everywhere, such as in the mattress, carpet, upholstered furniture, curtains, or pillows.
You can never completely eradicate them, but regular cleaning will help keep their numbers under control. You can wash pillowcases, covers, and rugs once a week in hot water. It is also good to change the filters of the oven, air conditioning, or humidifiers.
Since mold is a common cause of allergies, you should also keep the places where it develops, such as the bathroom, clean. Sometimes it is so humid somewhere that there is little that can be done about the development of mold. A dehumidifier can then be a solution. Clean the device regularly because mold can develop in it.
Give Him a New Berth
If nothing helps, you may want to consider keeping the dog in the kitchen or other areas where there is no carpet. If the dog is lying on the carpet or fabric sofa in the living room and is allowed to lie on the bed in the bedroom, there is a high exposure to dust mites.
Say Goodbye to Feathers
Feather pillows and down pillows are the perfect habitat for dust mites. However, a synthetic pillow is a lot less pleasant for mites. So buy a synthetic cushion for your dog that also keeps you clean, and see if the scratching decreases.
Keep him Indoors at Certain Times
Dogs that are allergic to pollen have the hardest time in the morning and evening when the most pollen is floating around in the air. Your dog will be less exposed to pollen if you keep him indoors during those times during the spring and summer.
Quick Solution
If you want to quickly relieve the dog of annoying itchy paws, let him stand for about ten minutes in a bowl of cold water in which some English salt has been added. Do not let the dog drink this because salt can have a laxative effect.
Medication
Many over-the-counter antihistamines (medications used to treat symptoms of allergic reactions) such as Benadryl and Tavist are suitable for dogs. About 25 to 40 percent of dogs that suffer from an allergy benefit from it. The amount needed depends on the weight of the dog. If you want to use medication for the allergy, consult a vet.
Food Allergy
It is not the most common allergy, but sometimes the cause is food. Food allergies are less common than other allergies, but they are just as frustrating. They are often difficult to spot because your dog can suddenly become allergic to the food he has been eating for years.
The body reacts to components of the food. Buying a different brand of food usually does not help, because all dog food generally contains the same ingredients, such as corn, milk powder, and whey. To find out if your dog suffers from a food allergy, it is best to get a special type of food from the vet.
Recomended
That food contains ingredients that your dog has not had before, such as venison, turkey, lamb, or duck. The dog should not treat treats in between because they contain the wrong nutrients. If the dog does indeed suffer from a food allergy, the itching will subside after about 12 weeks.
Then it must be discovered what caused the allergy. You do this by adding one of the nutrients to the food that was present in its original diet. You can do this in consultation with the vet.
