how do you treat dog allergies scratching biting and pulling their hair out?
how do you treat dog allergies scratching biting and pulling their hair out?
how do you treat dog allergies scratching biting and pulling their hair out?
how do you treat dog allergies scratching biting and pulling their hair out?... General Dog Discussions : how do you treat dog allergies scratching biting and pulling their hair out?...
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Do not drug the dog just yet. Work with your vet to identify the cause of the allergies and make the necessary changes to avoid exposing your dog to the allergens.Diet is a very common cause of allergies, start by trying grain free and isolate a protein source (chicken, beef etc.)Good luck
Did you already rules out fleas, mites, and fungus? Start there with your vet. If that's not it you can be fairly certain it's allergies. About 10% of allergies in dogs are food related and the other 90% are related to the environment. It's a good idea to do a food trial just to make sure, but it takes 8 weeks of a new food to be sure. Fish & potato formulas like Taste of the Wild Pacific Stream and Natural Balance's Fish & Potato formula are good. Also in that 8 weeks the dog cannot have any other treats, table scraps, flavored heartworm medications, rawhides, etc. If after 8 weeks you see no change, you can be pretty sure the allergies are something in the environment. So then you can ask your vet for dosing instructions for an antihistamine like Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec, etc. Some work better than others so don't be afraid to try a different one if the first couple aren't working. Finally, you can have your vet do allergy testing. From there you can either avoid the allergen or you can ask your vet about allergy shots. They can take up to a year to work and are about 75% effective at re-programming your dog's body. If they work your dog will need booster shots regularly (every six months or a year or something). Good luck!
Have the dog allergy tested by your vet or a veterinary dermatologist, and give the dog immunotherapy shots to desensitize the dog to the allergen. Avoiding the allergen is ideal, of course, if it's possible, and if you have the testing done to show you what the dog is allergic to. Meantime, you can talk to your vet about an antihistamine to relieve some of the itching.