Guide to Caring for Hypoallergenic Dogs
Owning a pet requires a sense of responsibility and care for healthy and happy animals. However, experts will tell you that some pets require a little extra attention compared to others. A perfect example is a hypoallergenic dog that might be from any unknown allergies. Notably, this might result in the dog behaving in ways out of the norm at times. Despite behavioral change due to the struggles with allergens, a hypoallergenic dog can live a long healthy life. Allergy-affected hypoallergenic dogs require a little bit of extra attention and care from their owners.
So, what are Hypoallergenic Dogs?
Almost ten to twenty percent of human beings globally are affected by dog-related allergies. Normally, hypoallergenic dogs refer to dog breeds that are more compatible with pet owners struggling with dog-related allergies. However, it doesn’t mean that these dogs are allergy safe. Like human beings, dogs too often show several signs and symptoms of struggling with some allergens. A big question arises on how we can take care of our hypoallergenic dogs, demonstrating signs of allergic reactions. One way of caring for your dog recognizes the signs and symptoms your allergy affected hypoallergenic dog might possess.
Popular Signs of Allergies in Hypoallergenic Dogs
To spot any signs of allergic reactions in your hypoallergenic dog, one ought to search for abnormal behaviors and appearances on the pet. Popular signs and symptoms of an allergy affected dog include, but not limited to:
Hair loss
Vomiting and diarrhea
Redness and bumps or swelling on the skin
Excessive licking of the body especially paws
Itching and scratching
Watery eyes
Sneezing and coughing
What could be the Possible Causes of the Allergies in Dogs?
Like human beings, dogs can have allergic reactions from a myriad of factors. Notably, allergens are classified into two categories; environmental or diet allergens. Let’s have a look at the common allergens that might be affecting your dog.
Diet Allergens
Diet allergens refer to the foods that might cause allergic reactions. For dogs, grains appear to be the most severe and common allergen. While meat makes the favorite meal for most dogs, certain meats, including chicken and beef, might cause allergic reactions to some hypoallergenic dogs. Other diet allergens for dogs include nuts and fillers in most dog meal brands.
Environmental Allergens
What surrounds us, or rather the environment is yet another major cause of allergic reactions to humans and dogs. Fleas, hair, and air pollutants make some of the common environmental allergens. In most cases, frequent itching in dogs is as a result of flea bites. Seasonal fluctuations, including goldenrod, ragweed, and human allergens, might also be the cause for your dog’s allergic reactions. Other environmental allergens for dogs include wool, latex, and chemicals, especially some medicines such as flea and tick treatments.
How common can Allergies in Hypoallergenic Dogs be?
Different people have different susceptibility to allergic reactions and diseases. Similarly, while any dog can suffer from allergies, some breed shows more susceptibility towards allergies. Some of the breed known to be more susceptible to allergies include:
Beagles
Terries
Retrievers
Boxers, and
Boxers
While the above breeds remain at a higher chance of being affected by allergens, they can live a completely non-allergic and healthy life. Like people with strong immunity get sick, owning other dog breeds doesn’t translate to an allergy-free life for your dog. Therefore, it is your responsibility as a pet owner to watch for any symptomatic allergy behavior in your hypoallergenic dog.
Dogs, like a human being again, can develop allergies at different stages of life. Changes in diet or the environment are factors that raise the chances of a dog contracting an allergic reaction. Probably, the reason your dog hasn’t shown any allergic reaction is that you haven’t exposed the dog to its allergens.
It is, however, important to note that the symptoms mentioned above are always linked to allergens. A dog might exhibit the symptoms above, such as paw licking, itching, and scratching for other reasons. Stress and anxiety, especially separation anxiety, are some of the reasons dogs might exhibit behavioral changes. Experts recommend timing your dog’s behavioral changes for a more accurate understanding of your dog’s reasons for their actions.
Caring Guide for Your Hypoallergenic Dogs
While caring for your pets might come with extra efforts, the result is a comfortable and happy pet. Dogs suffering from allergic reactions usually exhibit unhealthy behaviors including but not limited to, irritability, relentless scratching, and stubbornness. The following are some of the ways one can care for hypoallergenic dogs suffering from allergies.
Identifying and Isolating the Allergen
The number solution for caring for a dog suffering from an allergy is getting the allergen away from the dog. Major possibilities for allergic reactions in dogs come with the diet or environmental changes, including even the most little geographical shifts. Start with any diet and environmental changes as the possible causes of allergens to the dog.
Notably, if your dog shows any signs of skin irritation, the first thing to look out for is the presence of fleas. If no fleas are identified, skin irritation implies medical issues with the dog, such as mange. Any medical issues can be treated using home remedies for your dog with a vet being a better option. You will realize that such cases are often a common occurrence other than being allergy related.
Additionally, symptoms exhibited by hypoallergenic dogs easily indicate what category of allergen affects the dog. Like humans’ seasonal allergies, watery eyes, sneezing, and coughing point towards airborne allergies. Daily doses of antihistamines such as Benadryl provided by professional vets might come in handy in such cases. Other symptoms such as skin rashes and persistent itching and scratching offer quite a hard time determining the actual causes. However, combined with diarrhea and vomiting symptoms, the best place to start is with the dog’s diet.
Adopt a Grain-free Diet for Your Dog
If you suggest that your dog’s allergy is diet-related, adopting a grain-free diet is a way to go. You should have noted that the dog’s digestive system is not best in processing grains. Due to grains becoming one of the greatest culprits for dog allergies, most dog meal brands process grain-free dog meals.
A grain-free diet should involve no grains in the meal at all. Such a diet would include zero grains, even in treats and table scraps you choose to give the dog. Time should be taken in removing grains present in the dog diet at all times. However, to verify if the grains in the dog’s diet were the cause of the dog’s allergy reactions, one has to probably wait for some week or two. This period is enough to see if the problem has been resolved or not.
Try More Restricted Diets if a Grain-free Diet didn’t Work
With the grain-free diet not solving diet-related allergies for your dog, you will require to try a more restricted diet. Notably, these foods are quite expensive, having them contain no grains and fillers. Common meat types such as beef and chicken in a more restricted diet are replaced with fish meat. Treats also for your dog should also follow similar diet restrictions.
With allergen-free core diets not working for your dog within a few weeks, it implies that the dog’s allergy is no-diet related. Environmental allergens can be seen as possible causes of your dog’s allergy at this point.
Consider Finding a Solution for Your Environmental Allergies
Hair loss, redness, skin irritation, and itchiness are some of the notable symptoms related to the environment of the dog. Notably, these allergy symptoms imply that it’s time to prioritize caring for your hypoallergenic dog’s coat. Frequent bathing and daily brushing the dog to remove extra dander and fur is the first remedy you need to seek.
Note that new blankets, toys, or dog beds might be the possible cause of allergic reactions. Cleaning the dog’s blankets and other items periodically should, therefore, also be prioritized. This helps prevent the accumulation of fur and dander and any possible agitation to your dog. Ensure that you use gentle soaps and detergents in cleaning the dog’s blankets and other items. Adopting some of the recommended shampoos and sprays designed for dog’s hygiene should be practiced too.
Conclusion
Allergies remain to be a common issue with dogs having the hypoallergenic dogs not being exempted. Like other dogs, hypoallergenic dogs that suffer allergic reactions might experience behavioral and physical changes hence requiring extra care and attention. Regular visits to the vet are recommended, especially for accurate diagnosis of the dog’s allergy issues. Notably, dogs’ allergies emanate from either dietary or environmental allergens. The above tips might help relieve your hypoallergenic dog off their allergy and the much-needed relief and better health. If symptoms persist, hesitate not to get back to the vet.