Dog allergies can be food related. Allergies in your dog can also be airborne, yet proper diet can help with this too.
Allergies in dogs make many owners pull their hair out and drain their pocketbook. There may finally be an answer and quite possibly a cure for your dog's allergies, providing you with considerable savings in the long run.
Starting From Scratch
How does your pets' skin and coat look? Are they the picture of health? Do their coats look thick, shiny and healthy? Do they look like these dogs? Or are they stricken with hot spots, raw weeping sores, or bald, scabby areas?
The grief that is caused when your favorite pet is suffering from endless pet allergies can be utter torture. That is why we are here to show you there can be alternatives to the non-stop cost of taking prescribed medications forever. This article will mainly deal with problems in dogs since cats very rarely suffer from allergies, although they too can have chronic ailments caused by food or airborne allergens (about 15% of Population), the outward symptoms are simply less prevalent in cats and can be much more difficult to diagnose. So we will do a separate article on dealing with allergies in your cat.
Dogs are not born with allergies but are manifested over time as the animal becomes exposed to repeated attacks from the antigen. This causes a response in your pet to fight it off through developing antibodies which in dealing with some allergies, they become chronic and your dog can no longer fight them off. Now your dog has allergies which must be controlled through environmental changes. Many dog allergies are mainly caused by diet. Although there are airborne and contact allergens as well and will be also addressed, the majority of undiagnosed, non curative results is due to what the dog ingests. Even though medications serve an excellent purpose for immediate relief, the long term prognosis is not good. If you can't remove the allergen, then medication serves only as a band-aid and can cause accumulative problems of it's own. And this is what you want to avoid.
A Veterinarian should always be consulted just in case your pet has something else all together. They will do a series of blood tests to determine cause and do skin scrapings to rule out mites and check for signs of fleas. But if your Vet has determined it is allergies other than a parasite problem, such as contact dermatitis, then take action and become empowered about natural alternatives to healing your pet. Avoid the use of steroids at all cost as a long term solution. Steroids for example cause bloating, weight gain, kidney problems, poor skin and coat condition, and can create listlessness in your pet. Your pet will be so much better off without this type of treatment. Always have your Vet explain the downside of using such medications.
More and more Vets are introducing holistic foods and herbal medications into their practice as they become more in tune with the natural healing a body can possess with a bit of immune support therapy. If the Vet you are with currently is not open to concerns of using traditional medicines or in trying to understand alternative treatment, then seek help elsewhere. Choosing an excellent Vet can be daunting at times, but when you find a good one, they are priceless.
Your Veterinarian should always be open to other ways of perhaps a better avenue of treatment other than shoving more pills at you. Remember, Vets make a large portion of their income on selling pills and performing surgical procedures. Not that these aren't very important for the practice of caring for our pets, but they are no longer the conclusion to a problem with the new discovery of natural healing treatments. And in defense of many Veterinarians, they are from the "Old School" mindset, and simply have no interest looking into alternative therapies after many years in practice doing what has worked for them. "Old School" ideals are still very much needed in today's medicine, however looking into alternatives should be a shared experience with your Vet.
With today's more educated and sophisticated pet owner arriving on the scene armed with vast knowledge available to them on-line, our Veterinarians need to step up and participate in the new age of Holistic Natural Healing. As a pet owner, you must insist on it. It can literally transform you pet's health in a very positive way.
After you have consulted with a Vet and you seem to be at your wits end, then maybe the information below can help save you further grief.
Signs Of An Allergen Problem
Treating these symptoms with steroids, topical creams, or antibiotics is not the answer long term. Foot chewing and chronic ear infections are a classic symptom of food allergies.
In many instances a simple change in diet combined with support for the immune system may help the problem within a matter of days. Strong signs of food allergies are; if they are chronic year round and have an onset in winter time. If you live in a cold climate when antigens are less prevalent in the air, a strong indicator would then be the likelihood of the allergy being food related. Again this is only if parasites and contact dermatitis has been ruled out.
Treating the body as a whole and treating the cause of the allergy or disease within that body allows the dog's body to return itself to normal making their entire immune system sound again.
The other symptoms described above are also usually linked to food allergies, however airborne allergens are also at fault. Contact dermatitis is another. The dog comes in contact with the outside allergen and the skin has a severe reaction (Hot Spots). Nevertheless, a proper diet can also resolve airborne allergens and contact allergens, along with supplemental therapy of immune supporting nutrients.
Major Food Allergens
The foods your dog will typically be sensitized to and will wreak havoc on their immune system are in the list as follows:
This is one ingredient that requires Special Comment:
Ethoxyquin: has been used as a pesticide on our agricultural fields and is a proven carcinogen. The FDA has allowed 150 ppm in pet foods and livestock feed, yet request pet feed manufacturers voluntarily reduce it to 75 ppm but only .5 ppm is allowed in human consumed foods. This is the typical preservative found in the process of preserving this poor quality meat and fats(4D), let alone the probability the animal was consuming this chemical in it's feed for many years before reaching the rendering plant. The level of toxicity can be 300 times the consumption rate in our dogs and cats.
Furthermore, since introduction of this chemical in our pets' diet we have seen on the rise, harmful results to Brood Dams, congenital defects, still born deaths, irregular cycles, poor weight in pets, poor skin and coat, including poor pigment and has been found in many of the commercial foods along with many professional diets. This chemical was originally used as a rubber preservative developed by Monsanto. It has also been shown to cause stomach, bladder, and kidney cancers. Containers of this chemical bear the Skull and Crossbones on the label as being the highest level of toxicity which means contact with the undiluted chemical can cause convulsions, coma, and death. Read pet food labels carefully since this chemical may or may not be listed and could be labeled as the letter "E". This is why by-products can contribute to your pets' problems since they are not for human consumption so toxic levels of this chemical could be devastating and should be avoided when found on the pet food label.
Is it any wonder people are searching for more organically grown products? Should your pet be any different?
In an FDA article written in 1989, they proclaim this chemical is safe to consume in these small amounts. This should be contradictory since only allowing such a low number percentage in human foods, yet allowing a gross over use in animal foods. What is wrong with this picture? If human food is required to maintain no higher than .5 ppm then why should our pets be subject to eating ratios of 150 ppm without impunity? Other studies done by Monsanto back in the 50's and 60's are not reliable by today's standards since medical and scientific requirements are different today. FDA chose to not intervene regardless of the mounting evidence and complaints brought about by dog fanciers and breeders alike since the chemical had been in use safely for 30 plus years.
There was a time when DDT was considered very safe to humans for spraying bugs and it has now been outlawed after millions of people had been exposed to it. EPA has also been compelled by activists to have other pesticides be removed from the market like Ortho Diazinon and the chemical Lindane due to harmful effects to the environment after years of exposure. The list of other problematic substances in our food and water today is becoming endless as we learn of the ill side effects they can cause despite the denied claims by manufacturers.
Many government agencies, Veterinarians, and manufacturers of dangerous products will tell you this concern is a lot of hype. Maybe and maybe not, but do your own research and decide. After all it's your pet. But if you are seeing some chronic ailments that no one can find a definitive conclusion to, then you must look to your pet's diet first and foremost. Many pet owners already have, and since changing diets to be found preservative and by-product free, marked improvements in the animals health were evident.
Not withstanding the afore mentioned, enzyme and thyroid imbalances can also create the loss of beautiful pigment in skin and coat along with a deficiency in Iron. Again, proper nutrition is key. When these things are corrected in your pet's diet then wonderful things have been shown to happen to their overall health and body.
Making sure your pet is not exposed to the ingredients listed above by reading your list of ingredients on the bag, you can rest assured great results will be seen within a few days to a week of discontinuing the offensive ingredients. Skin lesions and rashes may take as long as a month to completely heal and begin to re-grow hair. Return of pigment may also take as long. More serious conditions may require ongoing medical support, yet the new diet can still make your pet feel much better during their treatment, and hope to bring whatever ails your beloved pet into remission. After 6 months, there should be a total reversal of problems if it was determined it was diet.
Dealing With Airborne And Contact Allergens
These types of allergies will be more difficult to identify and you will need to be vigilant in your dog's activities to determine the time of reaction in relation to the activity.
Typical reactions to the skin on the belly and runny eyes, just like people can be linked to pollens in the air, playing in the grass, and some of you may not be aware, but it can also be linked to what you are providing for his or her bed or toys.
Identify the Culprit:
For instance a contact allergen is as simple as Wool fabric they may sleep on. Many a dog will get the sneezies and their eyes will tear and nose run when exposed to this fabric, believe it or not. And if not removed pronto the allergy can develop into contact dermatitis or a belly rash causing excessive licking which can then turn into a Cellulitis. Hence the onset of the vicious cycle now requiring Veterinary intervention for initial treatment. Something so simple and what seems harmless can be a strong culprit of suffering for your dog.
You can use things like Bee Pollen formulations, Flaxseed Oils, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and other natural anti allergy remedies to assist your pet with their immune system while they continue to be exposed to the offending allergen. In very severe reactions, you may actually need immediate assistance from the many prescribed medications until you can bring the reaction under control. Example: A Bee Sting, Snake Bite or Spider Bite.
Final Words About Doggie Allergies
Identifying allergens can be an arduous process, however, to make things simpler, always look to your pets' diet first since this is the most common source of allergies in your pet.
In many instances you will be relieved to know chronic dog allergies have been resolved quickly once their diet has been completely overhauled. There are many natural foods on the market today, (Solid Gold) for example along with freeze dried products (Honest Kitchen), and raw meat diets (BARF-Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.)
With so much ingenuity available in the form of holistic and herbal remedies, our pet friends no longer have to watch their pooch suffer the endless torment from nasty ingredients and pollutants in our environment. You can also find excellent books on the subject for introducing preservative and chemical free diets with one name in particular, (Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats).
So carry on and begin the task of cleaning up your dogs' environment, so he or she will be in allergy free heaven. Nothing more enjoyable than snuggling up with your pooch with a healthy skin and coat...oh so soft!
Allergies in dogs make many owners pull their hair out and drain their pocketbook. There may finally be an answer and quite possibly a cure for your dog's allergies, providing you with considerable savings in the long run.
Starting From ScratchHow does your pets' skin and coat look? Are they the picture of health? Do their coats look thick, shiny and healthy? Do they look like these dogs? Or are they stricken with hot spots, raw weeping sores, or bald, scabby areas?
The grief that is caused when your favorite pet is suffering from endless pet allergies can be utter torture. That is why we are here to show you there can be alternatives to the non-stop cost of taking prescribed medications forever. This article will mainly deal with problems in dogs since cats very rarely suffer from allergies, although they too can have chronic ailments caused by food or airborne allergens (about 15% of Population), the outward symptoms are simply less prevalent in cats and can be much more difficult to diagnose. So we will do a separate article on dealing with allergies in your cat.
Dogs are not born with allergies but are manifested over time as the animal becomes exposed to repeated attacks from the antigen. This causes a response in your pet to fight it off through developing antibodies which in dealing with some allergies, they become chronic and your dog can no longer fight them off. Now your dog has allergies which must be controlled through environmental changes. Many dog allergies are mainly caused by diet. Although there are airborne and contact allergens as well and will be also addressed, the majority of undiagnosed, non curative results is due to what the dog ingests. Even though medications serve an excellent purpose for immediate relief, the long term prognosis is not good. If you can't remove the allergen, then medication serves only as a band-aid and can cause accumulative problems of it's own. And this is what you want to avoid.
A Veterinarian should always be consulted just in case your pet has something else all together. They will do a series of blood tests to determine cause and do skin scrapings to rule out mites and check for signs of fleas. But if your Vet has determined it is allergies other than a parasite problem, such as contact dermatitis, then take action and become empowered about natural alternatives to healing your pet. Avoid the use of steroids at all cost as a long term solution. Steroids for example cause bloating, weight gain, kidney problems, poor skin and coat condition, and can create listlessness in your pet. Your pet will be so much better off without this type of treatment. Always have your Vet explain the downside of using such medications.
More and more Vets are introducing holistic foods and herbal medications into their practice as they become more in tune with the natural healing a body can possess with a bit of immune support therapy. If the Vet you are with currently is not open to concerns of using traditional medicines or in trying to understand alternative treatment, then seek help elsewhere. Choosing an excellent Vet can be daunting at times, but when you find a good one, they are priceless.
Your Veterinarian should always be open to other ways of perhaps a better avenue of treatment other than shoving more pills at you. Remember, Vets make a large portion of their income on selling pills and performing surgical procedures. Not that these aren't very important for the practice of caring for our pets, but they are no longer the conclusion to a problem with the new discovery of natural healing treatments. And in defense of many Veterinarians, they are from the "Old School" mindset, and simply have no interest looking into alternative therapies after many years in practice doing what has worked for them. "Old School" ideals are still very much needed in today's medicine, however looking into alternatives should be a shared experience with your Vet.
With today's more educated and sophisticated pet owner arriving on the scene armed with vast knowledge available to them on-line, our Veterinarians need to step up and participate in the new age of Holistic Natural Healing. As a pet owner, you must insist on it. It can literally transform you pet's health in a very positive way.
After you have consulted with a Vet and you seem to be at your wits end, then maybe the information below can help save you further grief.
Signs Of An Allergen Problem
- If you notice your dog seems to just want to lay around all day and just doesn't seem to have his old zip, allergies can be the cause.
- If you notice runny eyes or thick goop in the corner of the eyes along with nasal discharge, allergies are typically the problem.
- If your pet has chronic ear infections, noticed by constant head shaking and scratching at the ears, allergies are certainly the cause. Not to be confused with foreign body in the ear!
- If your pet has poor pigment on the skin of his nose or around his eyes, allergies are primarily the problem.
- If your dog seems to be losing their hair, have visible skin irritation, have a belly rash or they scratch at themselves with ruthless abandon, allergies are more than likely the problem.
- If your dog is licking or chewing his paws, legs and at the base of his tail on a chronic basis, allergies are definitely the problem. Not always flea related!
Treating these symptoms with steroids, topical creams, or antibiotics is not the answer long term. Foot chewing and chronic ear infections are a classic symptom of food allergies.
In many instances a simple change in diet combined with support for the immune system may help the problem within a matter of days. Strong signs of food allergies are; if they are chronic year round and have an onset in winter time. If you live in a cold climate when antigens are less prevalent in the air, a strong indicator would then be the likelihood of the allergy being food related. Again this is only if parasites and contact dermatitis has been ruled out.
Treating the body as a whole and treating the cause of the allergy or disease within that body allows the dog's body to return itself to normal making their entire immune system sound again.
The other symptoms described above are also usually linked to food allergies, however airborne allergens are also at fault. Contact dermatitis is another. The dog comes in contact with the outside allergen and the skin has a severe reaction (Hot Spots). Nevertheless, a proper diet can also resolve airborne allergens and contact allergens, along with supplemental therapy of immune supporting nutrients.
Major Food Allergens
The foods your dog will typically be sensitized to and will wreak havoc on their immune system are in the list as follows:
- Wheat, Corn, and Soy: These are the 3 top causes of allergies in dogs and will cause the signs of chewing on the feet, the base of the tail and itchy skin, along with the chronic ear infection. These ingredients can also contribute problems based on how they were grown and what types of pesticides were used to keep them bug free.
- Salt or Iodized Salt: Too much of this ingredient can further create outward skin irritations.
- Sugar Beet Pulp: Creates a form of constipation, again not allowing your dog to expel from his system things that will show outwardly in his appearance.
- By Products: Create skin problems since most of these ingredients are processed in rendering plants, not for human consumption. These are known as 4D animals. Disabled, Dying, Diseased, or Dead and have been removed from the "For Human Consumption" food chain.
- Artificial Colors or Chemical Preservatives: Wreak havoc literally on a dog's immune system, and can create not only skin conditions, but can cause emotional dysfunction and internal functions such as cancer as well.
This is one ingredient that requires Special Comment:
Ethoxyquin: has been used as a pesticide on our agricultural fields and is a proven carcinogen. The FDA has allowed 150 ppm in pet foods and livestock feed, yet request pet feed manufacturers voluntarily reduce it to 75 ppm but only .5 ppm is allowed in human consumed foods. This is the typical preservative found in the process of preserving this poor quality meat and fats(4D), let alone the probability the animal was consuming this chemical in it's feed for many years before reaching the rendering plant. The level of toxicity can be 300 times the consumption rate in our dogs and cats.Furthermore, since introduction of this chemical in our pets' diet we have seen on the rise, harmful results to Brood Dams, congenital defects, still born deaths, irregular cycles, poor weight in pets, poor skin and coat, including poor pigment and has been found in many of the commercial foods along with many professional diets. This chemical was originally used as a rubber preservative developed by Monsanto. It has also been shown to cause stomach, bladder, and kidney cancers. Containers of this chemical bear the Skull and Crossbones on the label as being the highest level of toxicity which means contact with the undiluted chemical can cause convulsions, coma, and death. Read pet food labels carefully since this chemical may or may not be listed and could be labeled as the letter "E". This is why by-products can contribute to your pets' problems since they are not for human consumption so toxic levels of this chemical could be devastating and should be avoided when found on the pet food label.
Is it any wonder people are searching for more organically grown products? Should your pet be any different?
In an FDA article written in 1989, they proclaim this chemical is safe to consume in these small amounts. This should be contradictory since only allowing such a low number percentage in human foods, yet allowing a gross over use in animal foods. What is wrong with this picture? If human food is required to maintain no higher than .5 ppm then why should our pets be subject to eating ratios of 150 ppm without impunity? Other studies done by Monsanto back in the 50's and 60's are not reliable by today's standards since medical and scientific requirements are different today. FDA chose to not intervene regardless of the mounting evidence and complaints brought about by dog fanciers and breeders alike since the chemical had been in use safely for 30 plus years.
There was a time when DDT was considered very safe to humans for spraying bugs and it has now been outlawed after millions of people had been exposed to it. EPA has also been compelled by activists to have other pesticides be removed from the market like Ortho Diazinon and the chemical Lindane due to harmful effects to the environment after years of exposure. The list of other problematic substances in our food and water today is becoming endless as we learn of the ill side effects they can cause despite the denied claims by manufacturers.
Many government agencies, Veterinarians, and manufacturers of dangerous products will tell you this concern is a lot of hype. Maybe and maybe not, but do your own research and decide. After all it's your pet. But if you are seeing some chronic ailments that no one can find a definitive conclusion to, then you must look to your pet's diet first and foremost. Many pet owners already have, and since changing diets to be found preservative and by-product free, marked improvements in the animals health were evident.
Not withstanding the afore mentioned, enzyme and thyroid imbalances can also create the loss of beautiful pigment in skin and coat along with a deficiency in Iron. Again, proper nutrition is key. When these things are corrected in your pet's diet then wonderful things have been shown to happen to their overall health and body.
Making sure your pet is not exposed to the ingredients listed above by reading your list of ingredients on the bag, you can rest assured great results will be seen within a few days to a week of discontinuing the offensive ingredients. Skin lesions and rashes may take as long as a month to completely heal and begin to re-grow hair. Return of pigment may also take as long. More serious conditions may require ongoing medical support, yet the new diet can still make your pet feel much better during their treatment, and hope to bring whatever ails your beloved pet into remission. After 6 months, there should be a total reversal of problems if it was determined it was diet.
Dealing With Airborne And Contact Allergens
These types of allergies will be more difficult to identify and you will need to be vigilant in your dog's activities to determine the time of reaction in relation to the activity.
Typical reactions to the skin on the belly and runny eyes, just like people can be linked to pollens in the air, playing in the grass, and some of you may not be aware, but it can also be linked to what you are providing for his or her bed or toys.
Identify the Culprit:
- What kind of detergent do you use?
- What type of fabric softener do you use?
- What kind of fabric is your pet sleeping on?
- What type of cleaners or air fresheners do you use?
- What fabric is your pet's favorite toy made out of?
- Does it only happen during certain times of the year?
- Does your pets' problems seem to be chronic or intermittent?
For instance a contact allergen is as simple as Wool fabric they may sleep on. Many a dog will get the sneezies and their eyes will tear and nose run when exposed to this fabric, believe it or not. And if not removed pronto the allergy can develop into contact dermatitis or a belly rash causing excessive licking which can then turn into a Cellulitis. Hence the onset of the vicious cycle now requiring Veterinary intervention for initial treatment. Something so simple and what seems harmless can be a strong culprit of suffering for your dog.
You can use things like Bee Pollen formulations, Flaxseed Oils, MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane), and other natural anti allergy remedies to assist your pet with their immune system while they continue to be exposed to the offending allergen. In very severe reactions, you may actually need immediate assistance from the many prescribed medications until you can bring the reaction under control. Example: A Bee Sting, Snake Bite or Spider Bite.
Final Words About Doggie Allergies
Identifying allergens can be an arduous process, however, to make things simpler, always look to your pets' diet first since this is the most common source of allergies in your pet.
In many instances you will be relieved to know chronic dog allergies have been resolved quickly once their diet has been completely overhauled. There are many natural foods on the market today, (Solid Gold) for example along with freeze dried products (Honest Kitchen), and raw meat diets (BARF-Biologically Appropriate Raw Food.)
With so much ingenuity available in the form of holistic and herbal remedies, our pet friends no longer have to watch their pooch suffer the endless torment from nasty ingredients and pollutants in our environment. You can also find excellent books on the subject for introducing preservative and chemical free diets with one name in particular, (Dr. Pitcairn's Complete Guide to Natural Health for Dogs and Cats).
So carry on and begin the task of cleaning up your dogs' environment, so he or she will be in allergy free heaven. Nothing more enjoyable than snuggling up with your pooch with a healthy skin and coat...oh so soft!
0 comments:
Post a Comment