It’s not easy to diagnose allergic reactions in dogs. Not knowing what to do can cause an owner a lot of stress and distress. But with the proper care and medication you can make sure that your pet does not suffer so much. Here are a few alternatives that vets commonly prescribe to treat allergic reactions in pets.
Symptomatic Therapy- Relieving your pet’s discomfort will be your primary concern until medications can start working. One popular treatment used to soothe skin irritation in pets is cool skin baths with non-scented soaps and shampoos, colloidal oatmeal and Epsom salts, and medicated shampoos. You can repeat this as many times as you want but do not use any non-prescription medication. Synthetic creams and OTC sprays may aggravate the condition due to their chemical content. Dermacool and Cortispray are two simple sprays you can use in case your pet is getting really restless.
Diet control- Dogs can be allergic to a single ingredient in dog food. Try to avoid commercial dog food for an entire day and use only homemade ingredients that are available at home. Use a combination of simple proteins and carbs and avoid anything commercially prepared like biscuits, chew toys and any type of pills.
Immunotherapy-Vets may advise giving your pet allergic shots to improve his condition. But do not expect miracles as these injections take time to take effect. The injections take about ten months to produce results and are quite expensive. It may take six to twelve months before signs of improvement are seen. Intra-dermal allergic skin testing is also possible, but the process is also costly. Your dog is sedated and will be tested for over 60 common allergens. The allergens show up as raised patches on the skin and a trained vet is required to read and interpret the skin reactions.
Corticosteroids- Steroids are used to suppress the body’s immune reaction that causes the skin effects of allergy. It is important to note, however, that steroids are powerful drugs and they can have serious long term side effects on the animal. Most vets do not prescribe steroids unless it’s absolutely essential, as there are side effects like increased thirst and appetite, increased urination and even behavioral changes. Continued use of the drugs can cause diabetes, seizures and very frequent infections.
Antihistamines- Antihistamines are one of the most common medications used to control allergic reactions and they work very well in dogs. The only side effect is drowsiness. Common antihistamines used in dogs for allergic skin reaction are Atarax and Seldane.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 Fatty Acids- Omega-3 fatty acids and Omega- 6 fatty acids are all great for suppressing the immune reaction in pets. They are not dangerous and definitely help the dog to have a healthier skin and a glossy coat.
Clean your house- If one of the allergens is something similar to plastic or dust then rid your interiors of the material at once. Even if you have already started using allergy shots to control the reactions, it’s a good idea to clean your home of the irritant immediately. This makes the living situation more comfortable for the dog and prevents future breakouts.
No matter what medication you use, do get your pet thoroughly checked by a vet to make absolute sure that they are well cared for!
