Tips for Keeping Your Dog Allergy Free

Spring has sprung! And with this exciting and beautiful new season comes an abundance of allergies that not only affect you but your dog as well. Here are some tips o help determine and manage those canine allergies this season.

Visit your Vet

The symptoms for allergies are also prevalent for numerous other illnesses your dog could be facing. The only way to really know if your furry friend is suffering from seasonal allergies is to ask your veterinarian. Taking that first step will allow your vet to run a variety of diagnostics. Blood work, skin smears, and stool samples will help determine the nature of your pup’s symptoms and what the next steps should be in treating it.

Keep your Canine Clean

Washing off your four-legged friend’s skin and coat will help remove a variety of substances that could be irritating Fido. Allergens, bacteria, oil, and many other materials can be eliminated when cleaning your pup with doggy shampoo. The shampoo we use can be toxic for your furry friend, so you want to make sure you’re only using soap that is safe and approved for canines. Depending on your pup’s specific needs, you may need to wash certain areas of their body twice a day. Leave-in-conditioner and vet-prescribed topical treatments can also help in managing your dog’s allergies.

Rinse your Pup’s Eyes

Using the same eyedrops, you buy from the drugstore for your allergies can also be used to help with Fido’s. Applying a few drops to the eyes every morning and night for a few days can help determine how severe your pup’s symptoms are. If these simple eyedrops don’t make a difference, you may need a particular prescription from your veterinarian. Make sure you only use cleansing drops and not anything with vasoconstrictors that are typically found in redness reducing solutions. If you’re not sure if your eyedrops are safe for your four-legged friend, just ask your vet.

Clean out Fido’s Ears

Allergens, hair, bacteria, yeast, and mites can all get stuck in your dog’s ear canals and cause them extreme irritation. By gently flushing your pup’s ear canals with a dog-approved cleaning solution, you can remove an abundance of these irritating substances. If you have a furry friend that loves the water, you may want to flush out their ears after any type of water activities. Moisture can linger in your dog’s ears and lead to infections. When drying off your pooch’s ears, make sure you never use q-tips because they can damage your canine companion’s ear canals. Instead, use cotton balls.

Consider a Change in your Dog’s Diet

Food allergies are not very common among dog’s, but they’re still a possibility. If you suspect your dog’s food is causing them irritation, you should consult your vet. You can also try out dog sensitive food and see if that makes any type of difference in your pup’s symptoms.

Every pet parent wants their dog to be happy and healthy; treating their allergy symptoms properly will help you maintain that goal.