How to care for a dog with allergy

Although allergies are more frequent in some dog classes, such as bulldogs, they can appear in animals of any breed. The most frequent types of allergies are caused by fleas, by food, by environmental allergens and by direct contact with certain substances. In .com we review these allergy classes and explain how to care for a dog with allergies .

Avoid fleas

Flea bite allergic dermatitis, also known as DAPP, is one of the most common causes of allergy in dogs.

It is not necessary that the animal is seriously infected with fleas to develop the disease, many times with a flea that bites you can establish the allergy.

To prevent DAPP, the use of repellent collars is recommended.

feeding

One of the ways of entry to the body of allergens, which are the substances that cause allergy, is food. In dogs with allergies or in dogs with a predisposition to it, such as bulldogs, it is advisable to give a specific feed for dogs with allergy problems. The veterinary centers and the stores specializing in pets usually sell feed of this type.

Reinforce the protective barrier of the skin

In cases of allergy, it is often helpful to strengthen and nourish the skin . In addition, the products used for this usually lack important side effects.

Medicines with phytosphingosine, available in the form of pipettes or spray, or fatty acids, which are usually marketed as capsules, are extremely useful to alleviate the process and to reduce the dose or duration of drug treatments that we will see below. Your veterinarian will inform you in this regard.

The drugs

Corticosteroids are the most effective medications for controlling the process, but they have important side effects and their long-term use is not recommended. They are usually reserved for specific moments, when everything else has failed.

Antihistamines, although they may not be as effective, have fewer side effects and can be used for longer periods.

In any case, both substances must be prescribed by a veterinarian.

Anticipate the problem

It is very beneficial to detect the symptoms at an early stage to avoid that the process go further and end up producing lesions on the skin of the dog by scratching the animal, since allergies cause itching.

Regularly monitor the belly and the areas between the toes of the legs, because if they are red, your dog may be starting to suffer from allergies.

Many allergies present with otitis, so you should pay attention if you detect that your dog scratches his ears or shakes his head violently.

In cases of allergy to fleas, dogs often scratch and bite the back of the back and the base of the tail, and alopecia may appear in those areas.

In all these cases, we recommend that you visit a veterinarian.