What are the signs of allergy in your dog?

You will find that the symptoms of allergy in your dog are very similar to those you have when you have an allergy, i.e. heavy itchy skin, sneezing, heavy breathing with wheezing sound, lethargy, vomiting and diarrhea, runny nose, etc. Observe your dog well when it develops any of these symptoms for seemingly no apparent reason. In case you have a feeling that your dog might be suffering from allergy, then rush it to the vet who will prescribe the required medicines.

There are certain tests which will be able to confirm the existence of allergy in your dog. Hence, the best thing to do if you have any doubt regarding allergy in your pet is to immediately rush it to the vet. Do not wait for the allergy to abate by itself. Sometimes, what seems to be an allergy in your dog could be something much more serious.

A word of advice here: do not attempt to self medicate your dog with over the counter medicines. You will not know the right dosage, even if you stumble upon the right medicine and thereby you will further endanger your dog by making adding complications to its already existing woes. Sometimes, even allergy can be very damaging in their reaction, as well.

What types of allergy are known to affect dogs?

The determination of what causes the allergy, if there in an allergy in your dog, is imperative and most important to the cure. Whether it is caused by fleas, or by certain foods, or any other element in its environment, unless it is identified, the allergy cannot be treated. As in humans, dog can be allergic to certain food items as well as insects such as ticks, fleas and even lice.

If and when the dog has been identified to have an allergy the vet will be able to prescribe a regimen of medicines complemented by the removal of the allergen so the dog can live comfortably in spite of the allergy. It is always good to take the advice of the vet and not attempt to medicate the pet yourself, lest you will add to its woes rather than help it.

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What are allergens?

Allergens are substances found everywhere around us that our body cannot tolerate. Usually what happens is that you may have been exposed to these allergens before and your immune system had a reaction, producing antibodies to "fight" off these "harmful" substances.

Most of the time, these substances are not harmful at all, only your immune system misidentify them as "foreign" and "potentially dangerous." So the next time you encounter these allergens, your immune system overreacts by mass producing antibodies to counter these substances. And when that happens, you then experience the symptoms of allergy, such as swelling, bloating, itching, congestion, sneezing, watering eyes, fatigue, skin rashes, headaches, shortness of breath, coughing, respiratory problems, wheezing, asthma, and even fatal anaphylaxis.

Common allergens causing dog allergy are dander (or shed skin cells), saliva, and urine. You notice that fur is not included. That's because fur are not allergens by themselves, but they do collect dander and saliva when your pet is grooming.

Within five to thirty minutes of contact with these allergens, the symptoms of dog allergy can occur. But there are instances where the symptoms can occur much later in a sort of delayed reaction.

Hypo-Allergenic Dog Breeds?

The term "hypo-allergenic" is typically used with skincare products that tend to be less irritating to sensitive skin. The hypo-allergenic dog idea came up when people found that there are certain dog breeds that produce less dander than other breeds. As a result, these breeds came to be known as "hypo-allergenic," "low allergy," and even "allergy friendly." People with dog allergy can supposedly tolerate these dogs, but always with proper environmental controls.

Read below for some tips on how to properly control your environment with dogs around:

• Always try to at least keep your dog away from your bed or even in your bedroom.
• Use HEPA air purifiers in all the bedrooms, the family room, and all other rooms where you spend most of your time.
• Dog allergens are reduced with the use of central heating systems with electrostatic filters to help clean the air.
• Avoid carpets. Use bare, easy to clean floors in all the rooms where the dogs spend most of its time. Carpets are very good collectors of dander.
• It helps if you bathe your dogs regularly. Twice a week will do. Use a mild dog shampoo to prevent over drying of the skin.
• Wash all dog bedding, doggie shirts, and soft dog toys frequently. Try using anti-allergenic detergent to wash these things.
• For sofas, leather is the ideal material. Dog allergy sufferers will find that the less dander is collected on furniture surfaces, the better it is to control your symptoms.

There are more ways for you to control your dog allergy. But always, the best method is the avoidance method. Yes, we all love our dogs, but try not to spend more time with them. Remember, we all must care for ourselves, too.

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A cat's saliva or sweat contains a protein with a carbohydrate structure called "Fel d 1." It is an allergen that causes symptoms of cat allergy. "Fel d 1" is much smaller than pollen or mold spores, which are already very potent allergens because of their diminutive size, but because of its much smaller size, "Fel d 1" has even greater potential to cause an allergic reaction. "Fel d 1" can easily bypass nasal passages and lodges deep in the lungs, where it can cause allergic episodes and asthma.

Like pollen and mold spores, "Fel d 1" are airborne allergens. They are often microscopic and float in the air easily. After a cat licks itself while grooming, "Fel d 1" allergen is deposited on its fur and once that happens, the dried specks of saliva can float off and drift around your home. The protein allergen can be found anywhere as aside from being airborne, it attaches itself to walls, windows, and furniture. What is even more amazing is that this allergen can remain in your home for years after a cat leaves your home. So if you want to remove the allergen from your home to protect yourself from cat allergy, everything would have to be totally cleaned.

Symptoms

Like most allergies, cat allergy can affect your eyes, nose, ears, throat, lungs, and skin. The symptoms, especially respiratory reactions, usually occur between fifteen and forty minutes after one is exposed. However, note that pet-related allergies like cat allergy can take days from initial exposure for its onset.

The most common symptoms associated with cat allergy are:

Red, itchy, or swollen eyes
Reddened areas on the skin
Runny nose
Nasal congestion
Sneezing
Ears that become stuffed up or itchy
Post nasal drip
Itching and hoarseness in the throat
Frequent bronchitis
Coughing and wheezing

How to Control Cat Allergy

Always the best way to control allergic reactions is avoidance method. However, majority of people with cat allergy often ignore medical advice and continue to keep at least one cat at home even after diagnosis of their condition. We all love our cats and we want to protect them, but you should think about yourself once in a while. Below are some tips to help you control your cat allergy even while keeping a cat home:

Use reputable allergy relief and avoidance products at home
Since "Fel d 1" allergens float in the air, having a source of fresh air will reduce the allergen. Improve ventilation in your house by using an air conditioner even during humid months.
Use a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter to reduce particles of cat allergen in your home.

If symptoms persist even after following the tips provided above, then perhaps it's time for you to consult a doctor for his advice on proper medication or immunotherapy.

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As dog food is made up of a combination of ingredients, it is difficult to pinpoint exactly which is causing the allergy. The most common ingredients that can cause problems in a dog include beef, chicken, corn, eggs, fish, lamb, milk, preservatives, pork, soy, wheat, and whey.

The primary symptom that appears in a dog having food allergy is itchy skin.

Other symptoms may include anal itching, ear inflammations, hair loss, licking front paws, loss of appetite, face rubbing, and head shaking. Sometimes asthma-like symptoms, behavioral changes, diarrhea, flatulence, seizures, sneezing, and vomiting can also be observed.

When you conclude after consultations with your veterinarian, that food may be the underlying cause of your dog's allergy, then you can begin an elimination diet. Discard all the foods in the dog's diet that are included in the list above, and give him/her allergy dog food, which may be a commercial or homemade diet comprising ingredients the dog has never eaten before.

The homemade allergy dog food should comprise two parts starch and one part protein. Duck, salmon, soy, venison, and rabbit may form the protein part, and rice and potatoes the starch, but soy and rice cannot be always called safe substitutes. Some animal medical centers recommend duck and potato based foods as allergy dog food.

You can also choose a special commercial food blends as allergy dog food. As the homemade food is not nutritionally complete, it should not be continued for more than 8 weeks.

Whatever allergy dog food you choose for your pet, it should be the only food the dog ingests during the elimination period. So, say adieu to table scraps, dog biscuits, dog bones, rawhide chews, vitamins, minerals or chewable heartworm pills.

If symptoms improve during the elimination period, you can reintroduce each of the eliminated food items one at a time. Each food should be tested for a week before another is introduced. This will help you to pinpoint which foods may be causing problems if symptoms resurface. And once you detect the offensive food, it will be easier for you to choose the right allergy dog food to keep your pet free from allergy.

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Allergy medicine for your dog is available. There are to two major types: corticosteroids and antihistamines. A look at each of the types will give an overview of the benefits and drawbacks of these treatments. There also are other, non-medicinal ways to reduce your pet's allergy suffering.

Corticosteroids

Prednisone is one commonly used corticosteroid for dogs. This type of allergy medicine for your dog works well and fast. However, there are a number of side effects, some of which are mild but others that are potentially lethal. Corticosteroids can possibly suppress your dog's immune system. Short-term use of this allergy medicine for your dog is okay but long-term use should be avoided. Give these drugs in as low of a dose as possible.

Antihistamines

Antihistamines are a much safer allergy medicine for your dog than corticosteroids. But it may take a while to find the most effective type for your dog. Also, antihistamines will probably have to be administered to your dog several times a day. Giving pills to your dog is not fun, and doing it three times a day can become a real chore. Antihistamines can also make your dog drowsy and may not work for all dogs, and some experts say antihistamines only work in 20-30% of dogs.

Non-medicinal treatments

Supplementing the allergy medicine for your dog that you decide on with non-medicinal treatment has shown benefits. Often, changing your dog's diet can help as your dog could have a food allergy but this is hard for veterinarians to diagnose. The best way to figure out what's irritating your dog is by process of elimination. Switching to a high-quality, all-natural dog food could be what is needed.

Bathing you dog frequently can also help supplement an allergy medicine for your dog. Use a shampoo with all-natural ingredients, like oatmeal and aloe vera. A bath can help soothe your pet's irritated skin and cut down on the amount of medicine your dog needs.

Helping your dog fight his allergies can improve his quality of life. Finding the right allergy medicine for your dog, whether it's antihistamines or corticosteroids, is important. The right medicine along with non-medicinal supplemental treatment can aid your dog tremendously.

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First, remember the basics about cat allergens. They are typically airborne, so that means you have to breathe them in first before they can trigger any of your cat allergies symptoms. Cat allergens are very small, microscopic even, and smaller in size compared to pollens or mold spores, the two other common airborne allergens. That means they stay suspended in the air longer and they can get through your nasal passages easier.

If you keep a cat around, the rate of recontamination goes higher. As your cat runs around the house, it sheds dander (dried skin cells) and proteins from its saliva and urine, raising the level of cat allergens in your house even more and causing you to get cat allergies more often.

Below are some steps you can take to reduce cat allergens in your home and, in the process, decrease your cat allergies as well:

Step 1: No more cats sleeping on the bed.

When you think about it, this is actually a very minimal price to pay. Think about itchy eyes, wheezing, nasal congestion, difficulty breathing, rashes, swelling, and you'll realize that not having your cat in your bed is not that terribly important. After all, when you have cat allergies but still insist on keeping a cat, you have to know that there are a few things that you have to give up to achieve a balance between your health and your love for your cat.

Step 2: Keep them out of the bedroom all together.

This is yet another small price to pay for allergy relief. To prevent air from other rooms in your house from contaminating your bedroom air, keep the door closed at all times. An air-conditioner or an air purifier would be of much help to keep your bedroom a sanctuary from cat allergies.

Step 3: Wash all bedding in 140-degree hot water at least twice monthly.

Because some of you may allow your cat to sneak up your bed every now and then, be sure to wash your beddings often. This will help reduce dust mites and cat allergens which you may unconsciously breathe in while sleeping.

Step 4: Use HEPA air filters in rooms where you usually keep your cat.

A HEPA air filter is high efficiency particulate air filter. Sometimes, even after you've thoroughly cleaned your house of all dust and dirt, a few cat allergens remain. They are often very difficult to remove. Air filters will help you clean the air in your room and keep cat allergens at a low level.

Step 5: Vacuum up cat allergen with high grade HEPA vacuum cleaner twice weekly.

Cat allergens often stick to walls, carpet, flooring, chairs, and furniture. During vacuuming, be sure to thoroughly check and clean these surfaces. Also, use hypo-allergenic vacuum bags to prevent the allergens from escaping and getting in the air while you clean.

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You could be allergic to the inhaling of pet dander and hair; hair particles can be typically found in any pet owners home especially during the shedding times of year (spring, fall). You could also be allergic to petting this animals and break out into a rash.

When it comes to medication, you will probably be given a pill or a cream. Creams are for those who develop a rash from touching the dog or cat. Pills are given to people who cannot breath when around these animals. This is important to know what kind of person you are, so your doctor can prescribe you for your condition. Usually, if you are allergic to touching an animal, the rash will only be on your hands. You can develop hives due to your allergy because of the seriousness of your allergy. Some people who have an allergy attack can make themselves sicker.

You can develop a fever, rash, or infection because an allergy. This is why it is important that you try to resist scratching a rash or over-react. You should always stay calm when in an allergy attack or it can get worse. Some of the normal symptoms of an allergy are sinus problems, puffy or watery eyes, and sneezing or coughing. Your breathing will be affected as well.

Pet dander allergens are very popular among children and adults. You most likely won't grow out of it and your allergens could even get worse with age. You should always seek a doctor's advice when you think that you have any kind of allergy. They will prescribe you a medicine to comfort you and relieve your pain. Also, you may want to keep your pills or medication on you at all times, because you never know when you'll be attacked by an allergen.

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In the United States, approximately 20% of dogs suffer some type of allergy, including atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy, inhalant allergy, contact allergy, or bacterial allergy. These dog allergies differ in their symptoms and treatment used. Below are brief discussions of each of these dog allergies.

Atopic Dermatitis

One of the many dog allergies is known as canine atopic dermatitis. The condition is caused by the dog's immune system hypersensitivity to common substances in the environment, like dust mites or molds.

Atopic dermatitis usually occurs during the first two years of a dog's life. One of the veritable first signs of this type of dog allergies is excessive grooming, with licking or chewing of the paws, abdomen, and hind quarters. You can also check the following areas for signs:

Ears to see if they are reddened and hot to the touch
Armpits, between the toes of the paws, and groin
Saliva to see if there's staining
Abdomen to see if it changes color from a pinkish to angry red or black mottling (chronic cases only)

Flea Allergy

Out of all dog allergies, flea allergy dermatitis is the most common. The allergy is actually caused, not by the flea itself, but by their saliva, which causes the allergic reaction. Symptoms may be reduced through strict flea control regimen, but you should be careful that the flea preparations used are not harmful to the dog.

Inhalant Allergy

Dogs, like humans, may also be allergic to pollens (tree, grass, and weed), dust mites, molds, and chemicals. Inhalant dog allergies are typically caused by any or all of these environmental factors.

Pure bred or mutts can acquire inhalant allergies, but there are certain breeds that are especially susceptible to react:

Terriers (especially the West Highland white terrier, Skye terrier, Scottish terrier, and Boston terrier)
Golden retrievers
Poodles
Dalmatians
German shepherds
Chinese shar-peis
Shih tzus
Ihasa apsos
Pugs
Irish setters
Miniature schnauzers

This type of dog allergies exhibit symptoms like scratching, biting, chewing at the feet and constant licking.

Food Allergy

Dogs can become allergic to food they've been eating for years. That's why many people overlook the possibility of a food allergy. Unlike other common dog allergies, food allergy only accounts for 10 percent of allergy problems in dogs. The foods that dogs often cannot tolerate include:

Soy products
Wheat
Corn
Beef
Pork
Chicken
Milk
Whey
Eggs
Fish
Chemical preservatives
Artificial sugars

There are several other dog allergies, of course, that it's nearly impossible to name all of them. For more information on the symptoms and what you can do to help your dog, contact your local veterinarian for some advice.

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The responsibility of the human immune system is to locate foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, and get rid of them immediately. When the immune system performs normally, it protects the body from various harmful diseases. However, people who experience dog allergy symptoms have hypersensitive immune systems, which react even to harmless proteins (called allergens) in a dog's saliva, urine or dander.

Although you may consider your dog as a best friend, he or she secretes fluid and shed dead skin (dander) that contains allergens. These allergens accumulate on various surfaces in your home for as long as several months, sticking to walls, clothing carpets and other hard-to-clean surfaces.

While many people say that their dog allergy is caused by their dog's hair, this is not true since pet's fur does not contain allergen. However, it collects dander and other allergens like pollen and dust.

Dog allergy occurs when the allergens from your dog lands on your eyes or nose, resulting in itching, swelling, stuffy nose, inflamed eyes or inflammation. Even a lick or scratch from your dog could result in rashes.

Some symptoms of dog allergy only appear several days after allergen contact. However, when you inhale airborne allergens, these harmful bacteria could get into the lungs and could mix with your antibodies. As a result, you can experience severe respiratory problems, such as wheezing, coughing or shortness of breath for more than 20 minutes upon contact. Intense cases could cause rashes on your neck, face and upper chest.

Dog Allergy Prevention

If your dog is living inside the house, you should try to move him or her outdoors for a couple of months. If you have been diagnosed with dog allergy, it is important that you perform regular bath and cleaning. Evaluate if keeping your dog outdoors have reduced your symptoms or if you still want your dog to live inside the house.

If, for some reason, you decide to keep your pet indoors, make sure to restrict your bedroom, toilet and kitchen from him or her. Since these three rooms are where you spend most of your time in, you should keep these rooms extremely clean from possible allergens sticking on walls, carpets and furniture.

Just as medicines used in treating other allergies, you can reduce the symptoms of dog allergy by taking asthma pills or sprays, antihistamines, nasal steroids and allergy shots. Consult your doctor about the most effective medication to lessen dog allergy symptoms.

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A dog allergy can strike anyone at any age, period. There is no age requirement or limit to suffering from a pet allergy, it just happens and that's really all there is to it. Most people that suffer from different pet allergies also suffer from allergies to pollens or to molds as well. It is also highly common for there to be a genetic trait in dealing with allergies to pets, so chances are if it is in the family line it could happen to you as well as anyone in your immediate family.

It should also be noted that no dog is considered non-allergenic because the same allergens are present in all types of pet hair and dander. All dogs produce dander, all dogs urinate and shed skin, and all dogs lick themselves. This makes all dogs an allergenic possibility regardless of their individual hair type. There are dogs that produce less dander but this does not eliminate the presence of dander completely and still makes all dogs a possibility for an allergic reaction.

Dog allergies produce symptoms that are a lot like hay fever or seasonal allergy symptoms.

If you suffer from a dog allergy you might experience runny nose, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, scratchy skin and throat, watery eyes, and other such symptoms that are akin to airborne allergies. This is because a dog allergy affects the same allergenic systems in the body much the same way hay fever and other seasonal allergies do because of the smallness of the allergen, or pet dander in this case.

There are a few tips, though, that can save you a lot of problems with your dog and your family that may be allergic to dogs. For starters, always wash your hands after playing with your dog. This ensures removal of the dander. You might also want to consider changing your clothing or taking a shower or bath for a more thorough treatment. Also, keep dogs out of certain rooms of the home like bathrooms and bedrooms to reduce the areas that the dog's dander will affect. Limiting exposure to allergens is always a good way to limit the actual symptoms of a dog allergy.

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