How To Help Cure Dog Skin Allergies

How To Help Cure Dog Skin Allergies…

By Jennifer Gretson

It is not just humans that have to deal with skin allergies and infections. There are many dog skin allergies that you will find that you have to deal with. Some are extremely easy to help with but there will be some that take months to figure out what it is. The problem with being a dog is that they cannot care for themselves.

The first step is to find the cause of the infection or allergic reaction. It is important that you do everything in your power to stop it from ever happening again and to be able to stop whatever is causing the problem right now. This will give you the ability to start the treatment process. You will need to think about what you were doing just before the skin reaction flared up. There could be a variety of reasons for your dog’s skin to start flaring up in a rash, including changes to its diet or even problems with the current weather conditions and climate.

When you know the cause of the reaction, you will need to start cutting down on the chance of the exposure. This can be difficult in some cases, such as pollen allergies, but there are times that you can make one simple change. This is especially the case if you have tried new shampoo or a different type of dog food. Go back to what you were originally using or you could consider cooking your own meals for your pet. This will help you deal with some of the many dietary problems that occur.

Now it comes to soothing the problem that has occurred. Your dog can only do so much and will need your help. Consider bathing your dog in some warm water with fragrant-free shampoo. Another popular option is to use baby shampoo, which is naturally designed for sensitive skin and is perfect when there is already an allergic reaction. You can find out some soaps from your vet too to help with the problem.

Once you have washed your dog, you will need to rinse off all traces of the shampoo or soap that you have used. Adding apple cider vinegar is a popular option for many people. This is because the vinegar has a natural ability to soothe problems. You could also consider using Epsom salts, which will soothe and work to kill the infection due to the antibacterial properties.

You need to start to find ways to help decrease the sensitivity in your dogs skin and one of the ways to do this is through oils. You can use sunflower oil with your pet’s food, which will help to promote the skin to create its own oils. Omega 3 is another popular oil that will help with boosting the immune system and healing the reactions. You can add more oily fish to your animal’s diet or you can guy supplements from the pet store. However, most dogs prefer not to take pills and will usually fight against you.

You could also find some creams at the pet store to help you with the soothing process. You should read the labels to make sure that the ingredients will not harm your dog any more but you will usually benefit from the prices being much lower than those that are prescribed.

However, there are times that no matter what you do the cause will not go away. At times like this, you will need to see your vet to get help. Your vet will be able to help by finding the exact cause and then prescribing medication that is able to help with the treatment of your dog skin allergies that your pet is experiencing.

Jennifer is a family dog health specialist specializing in dog skin problems. She recommends all-natural treatments for dog skin allergies.

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How To Cure Dog Hot Spots

Dog hot spots, sometimes referred to as moist dermatitis, are a common skin condition experienced by dogs, which is brought on by persistent licking and gnawing at an inflamed area that is causing it irritation. A small inflamed spot can rapidly flare up to cover a much larger surface area, and if left untreated can result in painful pussy lesions causing much discomfort.

Symptoms: Moist dermatitis can be recognized as a hot patch of moist, reddened skin, which is very obviously causing the dog much discomfort and distress. In extreme cases where the skin is broken, the area may be bleeding, and if left untreated can develop into pussy secretions as infection sets in.

Causes: Environmental allergies stemming from grass seeds, pollen, house dust, or reactions to fleas can all cause allergic skin reactions, whilst some dogs are allergic to certain types of foods, or to food additives, which can cause an allergic skin reaction. However, mange mites, anal gland impaction, and side affects from veterinary medicines or injections, may also cause allergic skin reactions in dogs. Dogs with sensitive skins may come out in a skin rash following grooming or shaving, which if aggravated by constant biting at the area could result in moist dermatitis. Moist dermatitis is common amongst all breeds of dogs, but Retrievers, collies and shepherds are more susceptible due to their long thick fur.

Treatment: To treat these types of skin allergies it is necessary to first treat the symptoms, and then to isolate and treat the cause of problem in order to prevent recurrence. When treating a dog at home, it may be necessary to restrain or even sedate the dog, as the skin my be painful to touch, causing him to show aggression when handled. After treatment an Elizabethan collar may need to be temporarily fitted to allow the area to heal without the dog interfering with the wound.

The following steps need to be taken to treat the affected area:

Firstly, the hair surrounding the inflammation needs to be clipped or shaved short so that the infected area can be properly treated.

Wash the affected area with a mild antibacterial soap or shampoo, then gently towel dry to ensure moisture removal, without causing further discomfort to the area.

Keep the inflamed area cool by applying cool compresses. Home remedies using tea bags as a compress to help cool down the skin also help to dry out the lesions.

Depending on the severity of the inflammation and infection, you may need to take a multi-pronged approach to treating the skin lesions. This may include administering oral antibiotics to treat the bacterial infection and antihistamines to reduce inflammation, or the application of a hydro-cortisone or anti-bacterial cream or ointment.

But no matter how successful your treatment, dog hot spots will recur unless the cause of the problem is addressed. You will need to ascertain whether the allergy is food related or caused by some stimulus in the environment, or whether there is some other underlying cause of the reaction. You will then need to take steps to prevent it from flaring up again as this will not only save you time and money, but will spare you and your dog further anguish as well.