I’ll admit it, I’m guilty. Like many other people, I didn’t realize my dog was suffering from allergies. Unfortunately, our pets are not able to tell us when they are miserable and we need to be aware of the symptoms of dog allergies.

When you realize that your dog has allergies, you will probably want to know what type of dog allergies treatment to use. This will vary upon the type of allergy. These are in order of commonality, dog flea allergies, dog inhalant allergies, and dog food allergies.

You have to pay close attention. because the symptoms can sometimes be similar. Most of them will start with more scratching and licking to deal with the itchiness of the inflamed areas. In the case of a flea allergy, these itchy areas may be located where the dog has been bitten. On the other hand, with an inhalant or food allergy, the symptoms may be throughout the body. If they are not stopped, these dog allergies can lead to other symptoms. I’ve seen cases where they may get chronic ear infections or hot spots that initially started with a dog allergy.

It is always important if your dog is showing any sign of having an allergy, to get them to a vet as soon as possible. A veterinarian can help you determine the type of allergy as well as a proper course of treatment. In some cases they may choose to use a steroid or antihistamine to provide some immediate relief.

It’s important to know that just because you get your dog is so quick help, the battle is not over. You still need to find the underlying cause of the allergy. This will take time and research but it is worth it because it will save your dog great deal of misery in the long term.

Sometimes, for whatever reason, we may be forced to give our dog a food that they are not accustomed to eating. Many dogs make the change without any problem at all. Some dogs though, are sensitive to certain ingredients and will not respond well. Here is an example of what happened with a pet who had dog food allergies.

James was reclining on the couch resting when his phone rang. He made Thunder, his Labrador Retriever get off of his lap so he could get the phone. It was James’ boss. They talked for a while and James learned he had to fly out the next morning to go to Memphis to take care of a client’s issue.

The next moment James realized that his mother, who lived near him, would not be available to watch Thunder since she was at his aunt’s house. James quickly went through people that might take him and thought of Brad, a neighbor that had a friendly mutt named Sandy. Thunder and Sandy got along well enough and James was in a pinch, so he called Brad.

Brad said he would be happy to do it, so James dropped Thunder, his food and instructions off the next morning before leaving town.

James’ trip that was only supposed to last 4 days ended up taking three weeks. When James spoke with Brad, James was assured that it was not a problem and that everything would be fine.

When James finally returned, he found Thunder in a lot different shape than he left him. His normally carefree pup was scratching at different areas of his body and had lost some of his coat in those areas. James at first thought Thunder had gotten fleas, but after a thorough inspection, he did not find any. Before leaving, James asked Brad how long Thunder had been like this, while trying really hard not to offend his friend. Brad said the scratching had only happened a few days ago. With further questioning, James learned that Thunder had run out of his regular food and James had given him the same food that Sandy ate.

James quickly realized that Sandy’s food had wheat and corn in it, to which Thunder was allergic. Thunder had been placed on a special food a few years before after having problems with dog food allergies. James explained the situation to Brad, and Brad felt terrible. Sandy had eaten the food for years, but never had a problem.

If you believe your dog has a dog food allergy, it is important to get them to a vet to be properly diagnosed. A non-seasonal itchiness could be caused by a dog food allergy, but could also be due to fleas. Your vet will be able to help determine the cause.