Spring this year certainly has verified E.E. Cummings’s assertion that the world is mud –luscious and puddle-wonderful, but with warmer weather, also come problems like allergies, skin infections and flea and tick invasions.
Pets sometimes cause allergies, but they can also suffer allergies. Although some allergic substances are ingested, most are inhaled, and pets suffer from the same miseries as human allergy sufferers, although they don’t sneeze or blow their noses.
The two common seasonal allergies that may affect your dog are flea allergies and atopy. Flea bite allergies caused by an immune reaction to flea saliva are extremely common in dogs, but are easily diagnosed, and a caregiver has many options available to eradicate that parasite from the dog’s environment. Prevention is always better than a cure.
Atopy or allergic inhaled dermatitis is caused by something in the air or environment like ragweed, pollen, mites, mold, feathers, grasses, trees, and shrubs, or something being harvested in the area. Since these compounds are in abundance everywhere it is obvious that totally preventing exposure is impossible.
Dogs tend to experience skin disorders rather than sneezing and watery eyes, and once exposed, they usually become extremely itchy. The telltale signs that your dog has an allergy are the scratching, licking, and chewing. If your dog really starts to lick excessively, he probably has allergies from inhaling dust or pollens—the canine version of hay fever. When skin allergies are caused by environmental allergens, allergen dogs get very itchy. Typically they will scratch, bite, chew, or rub their face, necks, armpits, groin, rectal area, bottom of the tail, the bend of the joints and between the toes. Continuous scratching can lead to scratch marks, hair loss, darkened or thickened skin, dandruff and greasiness. In some dogs, additional eye and nose allergies, or secondary bacterial or yeast infections develop.
Many topical treatments, including shampoos, gels, lotions, rinses and other treatments, are available to soothe irritated skin, calm itchiness, and reduce inflammation, and antihistamines can be used to reduce the effects of seasonal allergies.
Obviously, it is important to determine the source of any allergic reaction in your dog before a realistic treatment can be established, and since different dogs respond to different treatments, it may take a little time for your vet to find the solution that works best for your dog, but it is important to identify the allergen and, if possible, remove it from your dog’s environment, and to improve his immune responses. There may be no cure for allergy, but with understanding and patience, you and your vet can treat the issue and perhaps correct the imbalance in the dog’s immune system, which will result in a much happier dog.
And a treat –scrumptious would be:
Peanut Butter-Yogurt Cubes (healthy for both two-legs and four legs)
Ingredients:
- Blend 1- 5oz. can chicken,
- ¼ cup peanut butter
- 2 cups yogurt
Instructions:
- When well-blended, spoon mixture into lightly greased ice cube trays.
- When frozen solid, pop out cubes and place in freezer bag.
- Serve on easy-to clean surface…
Enjoy a mud-luscious, puddle-wonderful, treat -scrumptious Spring!
