Q&A 7 years ago 3 Home Remedies for Dogs with Allergies
I cannot even begin to tell you how many notes we get in regards to Polly and her allergies.
Our sweet English Bulldog, Polly Pringle Smalls, suffers from various food allergies, skin allergies, environmental allergies {bless her heart} and currently has a bad case of pododermatitis. We have literally researched and tried everything. When I post about Polly and her problems on social media, a flood of tips come through my inbox. So, I thought it would be really helpful to do a Q&A post interviewing Polly’s favorite dermatologist, Dr. Ghubash. Polly has been going to see Dr. Ghubash from the Animal Dermatology Clinic since last October. We visit so often that they should name a room “Polly P” {kidding}.
Between steroids, cytopoint, apoquel, hydrolyzed protein food, antibiotics, topical treatments, acupuncture, CBD oils and pretty much replacing every bed, cleaning solution and plant in or around our house – we have literally exhausted all options. At the end of the day, you really have to trust your gut on what is best for your pet.
What is the #1 allergy that most dogs suffer from?
The three most significant allergies that dogs (and cats) suffer from are flea allergies, adverse food reactions (food allergies) and environmental allergies (also known as atopic dermatitis). Dogs can suffer from one or a combination of these allergies. A recent survey reported the prevalence of environmental allergies in American dogs at 27%.
What are the most common signs that your dog suffers from an allergy?
Allergic disease can present on the skin in a multitude of ways the most common being itching, excessive licking, biting and recurrent skin and ear infections.
- Flea allergic dogs tend to show their symptoms in the back half of their body with itching and rashes on their dorsal rump/tailhead area as well as their groin and inner hind legs.
- Food allergies and environmental allergies can look very similar in dogs as they both commonly come with excessive licking of the paws, itching of the armpits/chest/muzzle and ear issues. Food allergic dogs can commonly have issues related to their intestinal tract as well as including an excessive number of bowel movements (more than four a day is commonly seen in food allergic pets), excessive scooting and chronic diarrhea or loose stools.
Are there particular breeds of dogs that are most susceptible to allergies?
Unfortunately terriers, retrievers, spaniels and bulldogs are especially prone to environmental allergies and are some of the most popular dog breeds. I feel like I see a higher percentage of Labrador Retrievers with food allergies, but that being said, food allergies, environmental allergies, flea allergies or a combination thereof can occur in any breed.
What are 3 home remedies owners can do for their dog that has skin allergies?
Because allergic disease can be so complicated and overlapping, it’s important for people to know that you often have to seek guidance from a knowledgeable veterinarian if your pet becomes uncomfortable or develops a rash that is not resolving – or an ear infection. Often times if a pet’s symptoms are past the mild stage they’ll need some, at least occasional, veterinarian treatment to manage their symptoms. Some things to consider though that can be helpful are the following:
- Bathing can rinse off allergens that can accumulate in the hair coat or on the paws and be percutaneously absorbed through the skin and exposed to the immune system, stimulating the allergic reaction to the foreign allergen. There is no hard and fast rule for how frequently a dog or a breed can or cannot be bathed. Each animal is an individual with its own condition and needs that need to be met, but in general, a gentle natural oatmeal shampoo can be a soothing anti-itch shampoo. There is no specific brand I recommend, but there are many companies out there making high quality natural oatmeal shampoos.
- Another is that wiping off the paws of environmentally allergic dogs after they’ve been on walks/hikes (i.e. out in the world where they could easily pick up pollens/allergens on their hair coat) with a lukewarm wrung out washcloth or towel to physically remove allergens can be super helpful at controlling symptoms.
- Lastly, a treatment I recommend to my clients for organic environmental flea control is to look into obtaining beneficial nematodes that eat flea eggs and flea larva (sprinkling them under bushes, for example, can be helpful organic flea control).
Are there any specific products or ingredients that sensitive dogs should avoid (materials in toys or ingredients in food and treats)?
Again, every individual is different and what one dog is sensitive to, 100 other dogs could have no problem with and it is important to keep that in mind when considering the following answers. I will say that dogs can be allergic to feathers and dust/dust mites (they are common allergens), so this is something to think about when picking out toys and beds. Sensitivity to wool is not too unusual. People often come in wanting to assume their dog couldn’t be food allergic because they are on a grain free diet and didn’t see any improvement in symptoms, but the most common food allergy in dogs is to beef.
What brands and products do you highly recommend for allergy sensitive dogs (food, toys, beds etc.)?
Again, every dog is different so there are no absolute answers, but I find that most dogs with food allergies will tolerate deseeded apples, carrots and canned pumpkin. Those are things I don’t worry about giving as treats (within reason) to dogs with food sensitivities – and a reminder that flavored treats/toys/chews can exacerbate food allergies. There aren’t any specific brands I recommend, but there are a lot of companies making dehydrated organic sweet potato treats that dogs enjoy and tend to tolerate, as sensitivity to sweet potatoes is pretty uncommon. There are no specific toys or beds that I recommend, but in general I like washable natural fibers (I’ve seen some really cool sustainable bamboo products out there) that can be washed to reduce dust mite and pollen accumulation.
Dr. Rudayna Ghubash is a graduate of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine and completed her veterinary dermatology residency (speciality training) at the University of Florida and has been a board certified veterinary dermatologist since 2004. She has been practicing in Los Angeles since 2005. She has been interested in yoga since her undergraduate days and that path has led to an interest in indigenous cultures and their wisdom, including energy and healing work.
Thank you so much to Dr. Ghubash for sharing your incredible knowledge with us.
Do you have a pet with allergies? Please leave any helpful information in the comments below!
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