Does Your Dog Suffer From Allergies?



I have to admit, I felt SO bad for this dog. When I
looked at him it made me just feel "bad". This dog had
been scratching and itching for days. His skin was raw
around his neck and over his rear. He was so
miserable.
He looked at me with those big brown eyes and I felt
terrible. I knew that HE felt terrible.

For many dogs this is allergy season. They seem to be
especially bad this year. Dogs can be allergic to foods,
fleas and just about anything else you can imagine.
Not unlike people.

Allergies can result in sensitive or irritated skin, coat
and ear infections.

Food allergy is an uncommon problem in dogs and it
can start at any age. A change in diet is not necessary
for development of food allergy. About 70 percent of
affected pets develop allergies to food ingredients
that they have been fed for a long time, usually more
than two years.

In fact, if your dog has an immediate adverse reaction
to a new food, it is probably not an allergic reaction,
because it takes more than one exposure to produce
an allergic reaction.

Food ingredients most commonly responsible for
allergies are beef, chicken, fish, eggs and milk. The
tendency to develop allergies is genetically
determined. Dogs with other allergies like inhalant
allergies or atopy may be at increased risk for
developing a food allergy.

Many dogs have sensitivity to certain foods. For dogs
with food related problems, it is important to feed the
RIGHT food. Learn more - go to:
http://www.hillspet.com/products/healthy-skin.html

They have some very good foods for dogs that suffer
from allergies. For example, Hill's Prescription Diet d/d
pet food is formulated to give relief from itching and
scratching. And Hill's Prescription Diet z/d pet food is a
hypoallergenic food that helps avoid food allergies -
and the z/d line even has treats.

If you suspect your pet has an allergy contact your
veterinarian and discuss if a food trial with
hypoallergenic food is warranted.

Until next time,

Dr. Jon