When Your Dog
Starts to Sneeze
Indeed, there are many
things that both the dogs
and the dog owners could
have in common. For
example, both dogs and dog
owners could be prone to
obesity if not regulating
food intake and by not
exercising.
In addition, dogs and
humans may also acquire
diseases that results from
improper dietary regimen
like diabetes, heart
diseases, etc.
Moreover, the most
amusing thing that both
dogs and humans share is
the fact that they are both
vulnerable to
allergies.
Sounds impossible? Think
again.
Veterinary experts
assert that dogs have
allergies too. One of the
primary signs of allergies
is the itching of their
skin. Their respiratory
tract system can also be
affected with
allergies.
Normally, dogs will
manifest symptoms of
respiratory tract allergies
like sneezing, wheezing,
and coughing. Their nose
and their eyes may also
manifest a discharge just
like humans do whenever
they have colds or flu.
There are also allergies
that may have an effect on
their digestive system;
hence, it may result to
watery stools, diarrhea, or
vomiting.
Experts say that almost
20% of the dogs in the
United States suffer from
several types of allergy.
So, for people who want to
know more about the
different allergies that
dogs acquire, here is a
list of the most common
allergies:
1. Allergies with
flea
It is a well-known fact
that dogs are usually
infected with fleas.
However, what most people
do not know is that they
can get allergies through
these fleas, too.
Well, it is not the
fleas that actually cause
the allergic reactions in
dogs but the fleas saliva.
Hence, it is important for
the dog to undergo a skin
allergy examination so as
to determine if a
particular dog is sensitive
to flea saliva.
In the event that the
dog is allergic to flea
saliva, it would be better
for the owner to implement
a rigorous flea control or
flea eradication treatment
in order to lessen the
allergic reactions. Though,
it must be kept in mind
that solutions that are
used in flea control should
be safe to the dogs.
2. Allergies pertaining
to foods
Like humans, dogs get
allergies from food as
well. There are instances
wherein dogs get allergies
from foods that their
system cannot tolerate,
such as wheat, soy
products, pork, beef, whey,
fish, eggs, milk, corn,
artificial sweeteners, and
chemical preservatives that
are placed in their
food.
Moreover, dogs can get
allergies in food that they
have not tried before. So,
the best way to combat this
particular allergy problem
is to feed the dog with the
commercial dog foods more
often instead of homemade
products.
Some signs of allergic
reactions to food in dogs
are shaking of the head,
scratching the ears,
irritated skin, biting and
licking at the rear feet,
inflammations in the ear,
sneezing, behavioral
changes, vomiting,
diarrhea, etc.
3. Atopic Dermatitis
Atopic dermatitis is a
known allergic skin disease
in dogs. This usually
caused by the
hypersensitivity of the
dogs immune system to
ordinary substances that
can be found in the
environment like molds or
dust mites.
Usually, a dog is said
to be suffering from atopic
dermatitis when the dog
begins to excessively lick
and chew its paws, licking
the abdomen and its rear
feet.
Atopic dermatitis can be
seen as a saliva staining
found in the armpits,
between the toes of the
paws, and in the groin. In
light-colored canines,
atopic dermatitis can be
seen as a red-brown stain
found on the same parts
that were mentioned.
4. Allergies resulting
from bacteria
This is the most common
cause of serious allergies
in dogs. Generally, there
are certain bacteria that
thrive in the dogs skin.
This is known as the
species of Staphylococcus
bacteria. In most cases,
this does not cause
allergies in dogs. However,
there are certain types of
dogs that develop an
allergy to it.
The most common symptom
of this kind of allergy is
hair loss along with the
development of ringworm
like marks in the dogs
skin. The areas where these
marks appear usually get
infected, hence, it is
important to treat them
with antibiotics.
Indeed, allergies are
not for humans only.
Allergies great affects
almost 20% of the total
population of dogs in the
United States, and that is
a pretty alarming number.
Therefore, it is extremely
important for dog owners to
know these dog allergies so
as to come up with some
preventive measures at the
first sign of the
attack.
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