The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology or AAAAI estimates that about 10 million pet lovers or pet owners in the United States are allergic to animals’ fur.
More and more households in the country are adopting or sheltering a pet dog, which is considered man’s best friend even from the time of the ancient civilization.
Dogs are canines that are perceived as intelligent and trainable among all other animals. We see dogs everywhere, in the movies, in cartoons, in the television (remember Lassie?), and even in high-security areas like malls. In the latter case, dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs and other illegal substances in the surroundings.
The world is a ‘dog eat dog world’ and it can be even found truthful if you are allergic to dogs.
Dog allergies and cat allergies in similarities and contrast
However, there are more reported or diagnosed cases of cat allergies than dog allergies all throughout the world because cats are more inclined to spread their danders through their habitual and constant grooming or bathing session by rubbing saliva all throughout their body.
Dog allergy can be found in people with specific allergies to dog furs and those who have history of asthma. Asthma is another reaction triggered by exposure to allergens or allergy-causing substances.
Modern science and recent findings indicate that people who were exposed to either cats and dogs while they were infants will unlikely develop cat or dog allergy. It is because their immune system will get accustomed to the two animals’ danders at an early stage.
Also take notice that people who have developed cat or dog allergy grew up in households where there were no cats or dogs around. Start asking now, or likely, begin by looking at yourself or somebody you know. The assumption is accurate, right?
Symptoms of dog allergy
Just like in any other form of allergy, symptoms or manifestation of dog allergy include wheezing, coughing, itchy and/ or teary or watery eyes and constant sneezing.
Severe dog allergy attacks can be indicated by difficulty in breathing, which is similar to a severe asthma attack. If left untreated, the person’s life could be in danger.
But remember, treatments for asthma and other allergies, including dog allergy are only treatments or relievers. They are not meant and they can not ensure long term cures.
Allergies are not curable, they are only treatable. Hence, dog allergy if successfully treated will reoccur if the person or the patient exposes himself again to dog fur or danders.
Treatment and avoidance
The best treatment is always prevention. As they say, an ounce of prevention is far better than pounds of cure. So it is in the case of dog allergies.
To treat dog allergies, the patient will have to be advised that he should avoid getting near or cuddling dogs. Through that, dog allergy can be successfully controlled or curtailed.
But if that basic prevention measure is ineffective, the patient will have to take either antihistamines, decongestants or corticosteroids. Antihistamines are the common drugs taken during asthma or other allergy attacks.
Decongestants decongest breathing areas or tubes in the body by reducing swellness of nasal tissues thus relieving breathing.
Corticosteroids on the other hand, are drugs that reduce or eliminate inflammation of organs or tissues in the body that may have resulted from the onset of the dog allergy.
Personally, before we go any further, we would like to start by telling you that we prefer chicken listed as the first ingredient in dog food. Why? Well, whenever we look at a dog that is on a chicken diet, they are very healthy. Don’t get us wrong, fish, turkey, lamb, venison and beef are all great choices as well. However, when you take those protein sources and compare them with chicken, you may find that the fatty acid composition and the acid spectrum may be different. However, this is just our opinion. You obviously should not stop feeding your dog that lamb and rice diet you have been feeding them if they look and act great. Let us continue further with some information on chicken dog food…
Did you know that you do not have to buy your dog food out of the pet store? Many do not realize that they can prepare the food themselves and it will be even healthier than the food you get from the store.
Online, you can come across many recipes that can be made with chicken. Take note that if you plan on preparing your pets food at home and not purchasing it from the store, you need to make sure they get all of the vitamins and minerals they need. You will also need to include something green in the recipe.
If you do not choose to make your dogs main food at home, but you would like to make some snacks to reward him or her for those good deeds, then you can also find many snack recipes online.
Feeding your dog some good old brown rice mixed in with some chicken is a lovely idea.
If chicken dog food is something that you are interested in, then we highly recommend you researching it and speaking with your vet. The vet will help you find the best food for that four-legged friend.
Dogs are happy creatures who love to have fun and games. Poor pet health can often spell depression for both the canine and the owner. If you notice your pooch been scratching himself rather than playing with his favorite ball, you may want to get him checked up by a vet. Moreover, if you notice blisters and sores all over his body, it means that your dog is suffering from any of the 5 types of dog allergies. Dogs suffer from allergies just like humans do. In fact, dog allergies are similar in nature to human allergies. They even produce symptoms that are similar to human allergies.
Let’s look at the basic facts for each of these dog allergies:
Food Allergies: Dog foods have several ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction to the pooch and affect pet health. The most common symptom of dog food allergy is constant scratching brought about by skin irritation. Some of the dog food ingredients that can bring about dog food allergy are:
 Meats like Beef, Chicken, Pork, Lamb, Fish, and Eggs
 Dairy produce such as Milk
 Whole Grains such as Wheat, Whey, and Corn
If you are guilty of scolding your Fido for scratching too much then beware! If the dog shows obsessive behavior like excessive scratching, licking, chewing etc, he requires immediate medical attention. After all, dog allergies affect pet health and can make your pet very uncomfortable.
Some other symptoms of dog allergies include:
Sneezing and/or coughing Discharge from eye and nose Itchy sensation around the rectum Hair loss Loss of appetite Vomiting and/or diarrhea and
Atopy Or Inhalant Allergy: One of the most common dog allergies, atopy is caused to due pollen, dust mites, molds, human dander, etc. You can conclude that your dog has atopy if he:
Chews excessively Licks and scratches his face, paws, genital area, and abdomen. Has reddish-brown colored stains in his paws, genital area and armpits (may not be clearly seen if your dog has a dark coat).
Atopy can be difficult to diagnose as it shares symptoms with other dog allergies such as food, contact, and flea allergies. The best method to make sure pet health is affected by atopy is by Intradermal Skin Testing.
Flea Allergies: The saliva of the flea, rather than the flea itself is responsible for causing this dog allergy. Most common symptoms of flea dog allergies is hair loss, sores, and scabs at the tail area due to scratching. Diagnosis is easy as fleas are visible to the naked eye. Flea powders can treat this allergy.
Bacterial Allergies: Staph bacteria grow easily on your pooch’s skin. While most dogs don’t get affected by these bacteria, some canines may experience an allergic reaction affecting pet health. Common symptoms include crusts on the skin as well as hair loss in patches. Bacterial dog allergies can be treated with the help of antibiotics.
Contact Allergies: Rarest of all dog allergies, this type brings about swelling, itchiness, redness, and hair loss. Common causes include plastic food bowls, grass or woolen bedding, plants, sweaters, flea collars etc. Let a vet diagnose this allergy and restore your pet health.
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Dog beds are an essential accessory item to buy when getting a new dog. There are so many options to choose from it can be confusing. This video will help you make a wise choice for you, your dog and your budget.
Always remember that pet eating habits depend primarily on your dogs breed and temperament. This also determines whether your dog is content with disciplined timely food timings or tends to ask for food at frequent intervals. Since dogs can have a considerable appetite, it makes sense to buy wholesale dog foods. This eliminates the possibility of running out of food or having to change brands for an interim period because the store doesn’t have your chosen brand stocked at the particular moment.
Buying wholesale dog foods is a financially feasible decision because larger packs cost a lot lesser than smaller packs. If you were to pick a food package of 1kg, and another of 20kgs, you’d see the difference right in front of you. Pricing is always reached upon in a similar manner because the discount acts as an impetus to influence buyers to buy more. At the end of the day, you make a saving, and the manufacturer ensures a larger sales volume. It’s a win-win situation for all.
In most cases, buying wholesale dog foods eliminates the involvement of middlemen, namely retail stores, and other shops. This ensures that you pick up a tab that’s truly minimal because the cost of overheads is hugely reduced. This is an ideal principle that online shops have cashed in on, and that’s why you can take advantage of the best deals ever when you shop online.
If there’s a hitch in buying wholesale dog foods, it’s predicting how fast the food will get over because you don’t want to buy food that’s going to last beyond the expiry date as that would be a huge waste of food and money. Another concern when buying wholesale dog food,is storage. This becomes especially true if you’re buying food that’s packaged in a huge sack because every time you open it, it’s exposed to air and the food could lose its crispness. Your pet may not want to eat soft nuggets. You must lock the pack well each time so it doesn’t else its nutritional value either. Such problems don’t arise if the wholesale food is bought in smaller individual packs rather than buying a big sized packet.
The author is a professional writer and also fond of diverse writings. Presently writing about wholesale pet food and other pets supplements products.
How Will You Know If Your Pet Has FLEA ALLERGY DERMATITIS? Flea Allergy Dermatitis, or FAD for short, is the number one most common illness caused by fleas. Some vets that specialize in pet allergy say that as many as 40% of all pets may suffer from FAD.
Because the symptoms of FAD are not specific to FAD and could also mean that your pet has other skin problems or allergies it can be difficult to know if your pet might have FAD or if your pet has some other skin problem. Especially if you don’t see any fleas you might think it couldn’t possibly be FAD. If your cat or dog has FAD and not just any old skin problem you will notice your pet has these symptoms or starts to display these behaviors:
1. Severe itching – Anytime the air is dry your pet could get a little itchy. But if the itching is serious enough that it wakes your pet out of a sound sleep or if you can’t seem to stroke or hold your pet without it becoming itchy and uncomfortable that is severe itching. Also if you pet seems to spend less time sleeping than usual and more time itching that’s a definite sign of FAD.
2. Chewing and biting the tail, rump, back legs – Sometimes a pet with FAD will also check or lick at their front legs excessively. But most of the time it’s the area just above their tail, on their sides, and their back legs. If your pet is licking these areas, pulling the fur off these areas, or scratching and biting at those areas you can be pretty sure that your pet is suffering from FAD.
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Did you know, just like humans, dogs can suffer from allergies too? It’s something that we don’t think too much about as we believe allergies is a human affliction but true enough, dogs are prone to allergies as well. A whopping twenty percent of dogs in the US suffer from one form of allergy or another.
Common dog allergies can be broken down into three categories: skin allergies, food allergies, and inhalant allergies
The most common type of dog skin allergy is flea allergy dermatitis. The signs and symptoms to observe would be persistent itching from the dog and discoloration of the skin. With inhalant allergies, be on the lookout for coughing, wheezing, sneezing, and mucus discharge. For food allergies, the symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, nausea and lethargy.
Pet owners can get over the counter medications in pet shops to treat their dog allergies but it is best to consult a veterinarian first to ensure the actual cause of the problem. The allergic reaction might be a sign of a more serious ailment or perhaps a more potent remedy is required. Or, another scenario could be that it’s not an allergy at all. The last thing you want to do is misdiagnose your dog and cause it more harm than good.
The best course of action if you suspect your dog has allergies is to consult your vet. The vet can provide a variety of tests to determine if an allergic condition exists, the degree of severity and provide a course of treatment. For instance, if a dog has an allergic reaction to certain foods, a new diet will need to be prescribed with the culprit foods would be banned from daily consumption. And, if your pet suffers from fleas and ticks, the vet can recommend a dog flea treatment. Moreover, and perhaps just as important, a flea prevention program would be discussed as well.
Having allergies is something that humans can relate to. It is not a fun experience to have skin allergies, inhalant allergies or food allergies; the itching, the runny nose, the upset stomach and the general malaise. If this is the case, we would expect proper medical treatment for ourselves so how can we deny man’s best friend any different? Take your dog to see a veterinarian for their professional opinion and get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan. Your dog will be happier and thank you for it.
The concern to eat healthy foods seems to equally apply to humans and pets, since many animal owners prefer to buy organic products to feed their four-legged friends. One could be surprised at the large organic dog food offer available on the market. The health issues affecting improperly fed animals are just as serious as those in the case of humans. Thus, organic dog food will reduce the risk of the pet developing skin diseases and allergies. The explanation for the positive health impact is the absence of additives, chemicals, colorants or pesticides. Instead there will be just grain extracts and high quality proteins as ingredients of organic dog food.
Organic dog food also offers more nutrients, and this aspect is reflected in the most relevant of ways in the higher levels of energy and the healthy weight of the pet. Regular dog food often causes diabetes and overweight with all the additional problems that accompany these health issues: poor mobility, bone ailments and organ failure. How can organic dog food help here? Well, organic food items for pets do not contain bulk fillers, these products are packed with nutrients to generate energy and not fat. Prevention of the disease is therefore the best situation.
The summary of the benefits brought by organic dog food are a good immune function and a better and healthier digestive system. Because of the lack of chemicals regularly present in normal pet food, your dog will no longer vomit, experience gas or diarrhea. A healthy metabolism goes hand in hand with a healthy diet. Then, the quality of the nutritional substances in organic dog food boosts up the immunity functions eliminating the risk for infections and all sorts of specific diseases that affect dogs on a common basis.
All in all, veterinarian experts say that with organic dog food, your dog will gain in longevity and the ravages of old age will not be that difficult to cope with. Most of the time, pet owners who choose organic dog food, are also interested in applying the same health rules to their own diet, sticking to clean natural products that boost up body functions and keep intoxications and disease away. You can inquire about organic dog food with the pet food supplier, and if there is none available with the local shop, try to order it online. Lots of web sites sell organic dog food for very good prices.
We all know about people who are allergic to dogs, but what happens when it turns out that your dog is the one who is allergic? The truth of the matter is that dogs can have allergies just the way that people do and that if your dog has one, it can make them miserable. When your dog is allergic to something, one way he might show it is with hives, which are often known as urticaria. He might also evidence it in a swollen face, which is called angioederm. These signs all point towards your dog having an allergic reaction, though the cause might vary from chemicals, to food to something as innocuous as sunlight!
How can you tell if your dog has an allergy? Hives are one important sign, but because your dog might be rather shaggy, it can be hard to tell for sure. Take some time and examine your dog closely. Hives will manifest as small bump on the skin, and they will often have hair growing over them, making them harder still to see. You might also see that dogs with hives tend to scratch themselves more often than usual. Some dogs are going to have hives that are so itchy that they will scratch until the bleed.
Slightly easier is going to be anigioedema, the swollen face. When you suspect that your dog has an allergy, look for swelling that is occurring around the muzzle and around the eyes. The swelling can be so severe that your dog might have trouble actually opening his eyes. A swollen face will typically result in itching, so if your dog is constantly pawing his face, it is a good sign that something is wrong. In very severe cases, the swelling can occur in the throat, making it hard for your dog to eat or even breathe; this is more common with food allergies.
When you have a dog that has allergies, you should take him to the vet and see what might be done. Remember that hives and swelling can occur within about fifteen minutes of the exposure to the allergen and that if you notice that your dog breaks out right after you feed him, you might have the culprit right there. On the other hand, many dogs end up having an allergy to certain medications or treatments. Remember that a reaction to medication should be reported to a veterinarian right away. When you take him to the vet, though, you will be able to find out precisely what the allergen might be and what you can do about it.
For immediate relief, the vet will likely prescribe antihistamines, though if the issue is very severe, steroids are going to be recommended instead. If your dog is having problems getting his breath, the vet might immediately administer epinephrine.
When you are learning about how to keep your dog healthy and happy, you will find that you need to consider the possibilities of allergies. The more you know about your dog’s health, the better, so stay on top of things, and observe your dog carefully if he is acting in a strange fashion.
When you start searching for organic dry dog food for your pet, you are certain to find a variety of pet food. One brand you will come across is the Pure Woof Gold brand of foods. This brand is sold both online and through “parties.” It comes with a stellar reputation and is backed by many personal testimonials. The company backs their dog food formula with a scientific formula that your pet is sure to enjoy. The all natural ingredients are selected from USDA ingredients selected for human consumption. This particular article will go into greater detail about the benefits of this brand and give it an overall review.
Pure Woof Gold’s organic dry dog food is well tolerated by dogs and loved by dog owners. People enjoy giving their dog holistic food made from all natural ingredients and dogs love eating food that is free of chemicals. Many times, dogs who had allergies will no longer exhibit symptoms after switching. Since Pure Woof Gold only uses the best ingredients, dogs enjoy high quality food without toxic chemicals.
Benefits of Pure Woof Gold Organic Dry Dog Food:
• When you buy organic dog food, it contains no harmful ingredients. This means no herbicides, no pesticides, and no chemicals. It uses all natural ingredients for your pet.
• USDA approved meat – Some companies use animal by-products in their dog food. Now, I won’t tell you what that is. However, if you have a strong stomach then you can go look it up for yourself. If you do not, then I suggest you stay away because it is just plain nasty. USDA approved meat is real meat rather than a by-product.
• Organic – Pure Woof Gold uses organic ingredients for all their pet food. The use of organic farming techniques means your dog gets a safer product. It also means you are doing a favor for the environment. It is a win-win situation.
• No preservatives – It is my philosophy that if I do not want it in my own food, then I do not want it in my dog’s food. Therefore, since I do not like preservatives in my food, I do not like preservatives in my dogs’ food either.
Drawbacks of Pure Woof Gold Organic Pet Food –
No review would be complete without some drawbacks. While overall, this product is a great product. I must say there are a few things that I would change. You only have three options in the size. You can only get it in a 5, 15 and a 30-pound bag. This is not exactly the most convenient set of sizes for people like me who have several dogs. A 30-pound bag just does not last long enough. I also would like to buy dog food that comes in a re-sealable bag to retain freshness since there are no preservatives.
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