Unfortunately, our beloved dogs can suffer from common allergies, resulting in itchy, dry skin, stomach problems, and more. If that sounds like your dog, or you’re wondering what the most common dog allergies are, you’re in the right place.
Here at Green Pantry, we create natural dry dog food which you can shop for by health functions or dietary needs. So, if your dog does suffer from allergies, our 100% natural recipes do everything they can to keep symptoms at bay.
For now, let’s dive into the most common dog allergies and discover ways that you can help your beloved four-legged friend…
The most common dog allergies
From skin issues to digestive problems, allergies in dogs can express themselves in many different ways. There are 3 main types of allergies in dogs, and those are:
- Environmental allergies – Which can be seasonal, like hayfever in dogs
- Flea allergies – A skin condition caused by flea bites
- Food allergies – Intolerances to specific ingredients
Dogs that do have allergies have a hypersensitive immune system that gets triggered by certain substances (like the allergens listed above). Allergies mostly affect your dog’s skin and ears, rather than respiratory problems, which are more common in us humans. But what exactly triggers them? Let’s find out!
Environmental allergies
When we talk about environmental allergies, we mean allergies that can be caused by things in your own home, garden, or any other areas that your dog might spend time indoors or outdoors. They might be caused by pollen, plants, dust, or more. Typically, environmental allergies are more seasonal, occurring at the start of spring and throughout summer.
They can be inhaled by your dog or even absorbed through the skin when your dog touches them, so unfortunately, it’s quite hard to avoid!
Flea allergies
An allergy to fleas is actually one of the most common skin diseases in dogs, and just one small bite is enough to make your dog itch. When it comes to flea allergies, you might even be able to see them on your dog’s skin. Fleas can also leave dirt, which is visible as black dots at the base of your dog’s fur.
Food allergies
Food allergies are also really common in dogs, and they can develop allergies to food at any stage of their life. These allergies are usually common to a specific protein in the food they eat, like chicken or beef. In these cases, the best thing you can do is feed your dog novel protein dog food. Make sure you check out our delicious recipes!
Dog allergy symptoms to be wary of
There are lots of signs that your dog suffers from allergies, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. Symptoms will also depend on the type of allergy that your dog has, but some of the most common include:
- Itchy skin
- Dry, flaky skin or signs of dandruff
- Red, sore, or infected ears
- Fur loss
- Excessive scratching or licking
- Red or sore skin between their toes
- Breathing difficulties
- Vomiting or diarrhoea
- Weight loss
If you’re particularly worried about any of the symptoms in your dog, or think they might not be allergy related, then it’s always best to check with your veterinarian. If your vet has diagnosed your dog with an allergy, don’t worry! Just like with humans, there are things you can do to manage your dog’s symptoms. Make sure you’re consistent with treatments and take action at the first sign of allergy symptoms.
How to naturally treat common dog allergies
That leads us to treatments. If your dog’s case is extreme, your vet will be able to prescribe them steroids, ear drops, or anti-itch medications that are suitable for controlling allergic reactions and itchy skin in most dogs. However, there are a lot of home remedies that can be effective in managing your dog’s symptoms. They include:
> Oatmeal baths can be particularly soothing on your dog’s skin. Simply grind plain oatmeal into a fine powder and add to lukewarm water to soothe inflamed skin.
> Regular cleaning and rinsing. This is particularly important to do after your dog has been outside for long periods of time during the spring/summer to rinse off pollen or dirt.
> As well as washing your dog, make sure you’re washing their bedding too! Frequent washing can help to remove dust mites and pollen.
> A better diet. What you put into your dog’s bowl has a massive effect on their health and can even aid them during allergen flare-ups. Salmon is particularly great at caring for the skin barrier. You might even consider natural supplements as an extra point of care.
The solution? Green Pantry dog food!
Here at Green Pantry, we’ve got just the solution. Try our hypoallergenic dog food, specifically designed to minimise the risk of triggering allergic reactions in dogs. All of our recipes are made up of 100% natural ingredients sourced right here in the UK, so you can rest assured that there’s whole goodness going into your dog’s bowl.
You can even shop for dietary needs or health functions, so you know that what you’re feeding your dog is helping them to live a happier, healthier life. Discover our full recipes below:
- Grain-free natural dog food
- High fibre natural dog food
- High-protein natural dog food
- & see what difference they can make to your dog’s symptoms!
Support your dog’s health with Green Pantry
And there you have it… Some of the most common dog allergies. Remember, in really severe cases, you should take a trip to the vet. However, identifying the main trigger points is the first step to a happier, healthier pooch.
Here at Green Pantry, we genuinely care about your dog’s health. That’s why you can find dog food for healthy skin and coats, as well as natural food for other health conditions, that’ll help to keep symptoms at bay.
Need more advice when it comes to your dog’s allergies, or have any questions about our recipes? Then please get in touch! We’re even happy to chat over the phone – just give us a call on 01553 811 320.
