Dog allergies are a real thing.
Our four-legged friends sneeze, itch and even gnaw at their paws when they’re feeling discomfort at the onset of allergies.
More often than not, doting dog owners are unaware of these symptoms. And when they are, they either think nothing of them or feel as though their pets’ proneness to itching and sneezing is innocuous.
Meanwhile, pets with severe allergic reactions swipe at their eyes frantically or roll around on the grass to cure an itch (which means that they’re not always doing this to be cute!)
As your dog ages, he or she will develop more intolerances to external stimuli, such as pollen and other particles floating in the air during seasonal shifts.
Therefore, it’s not only important to understand how dog allergies work. It’s vital that you pinpoint exactly which foods, substances and external factors contribute to your pet’s allergic outbursts.
Solving this puzzle can help improve your canine companion’s quality of life and allow him or her to enjoy daily activities without succumbing to a nasty spell of allergies.
So, here’s what you can do:
1. Pay Attention.
We all have things to do and places to be. So much so, that we often prioritize these above other aspects of our lives, including paying careful attention to our beloved pets’ behaviors.
If we see them gnawing at their tail, scratching their belly, or heaving their way through a kennel cough, we often dismiss these behaviors, saying that “dogs will be dogs.”
But dogs can feel hot and cold just like their owners, and succumb to illnesses without proper care.
The next time you witness your pet’s discomfort, make a note of the kibble and treats you fed them that day. Also, note if they’ve come into recent contact with any other dog breeds or cats, and how long they might be experiencing these allergic symptoms.
This information can be useful in case you dog’s reactions warrant a visit to the Vet clinic.
2. Do Something.
To find out what your dog might be allergic to, try changing up their diet by choosing kibble with barebone ingredients.
For instance, the Prey Collection from “Taste of the Wild” is a premium kibble that offers limited main ingredients – four at most – including a few options for cats.
They’re a grain-free food, which has been known to spark allergic reactions in dogs, but not all grains will do this.
By carefully observing your pet’s reactions to newly introduced foods, as well as adding other ingredients over time, like pumpkin and brown rice, you can test which particular foods might be the culprit behind your dog’s allergies.
However, if this is too time-consuming, try the 5 Strands Pet Allergy Kit.
A mere five strands of hair from your dog’s nape, which you can then mail to a lab for analysis, can pull an extensive report of what your pet’s allergic to and to what degree.
The different levels of intolerance are color-coded: Green is Level 1 (some intolerance), Yellow is Level 2 (higher intolerance) and Red is Level 3 (severely intolerant.)
After using the 5 Strands Pet Kit to uncover dog allergies, one of our customers reported that his dog had been allergic to pumpkin – one of the safest, most widely-used ingredients to help with upset tummies – and that he had been feeding this to his pet for years!
3. Follow through.
Once you have a clearer picture of dog allergies and what might be the root cause of your pet’s affliction, you can take the necessary steps to eradicate all foods and treats that may cause your beloved pooch much unnecessary grief.
Remember, dogs continue to develop intolerances over time, so just because one particular kibble is working now doesn’t mean that it’ll keep working later.
So, keep a close eye on your pet. If you notice a lapse in their diet, you can always start over on your adventure of uncovering his or her allergic reactions.
It’s hard work – to be sure – but we love our pets enough to work hard for their happiness!
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