Dog Allergy Symptoms

Dogs are canines that are perceived as intelligent and trainable among all other animals. We see dogs everywhere, in the movies, in cartoons, in the television (remember Lassie?), and even in high-security areas like malls. In the latter case, dogs are trained to sniff bombs, drugs and other illegal substances in the surroundings.

Some dogs are less likely to cause allergies because they have less dander. There is a misconception that it is the fur that causes the allergies so the heavier the dog sheds the more likely you are to suffer. This is not the case. It is all about the dander. That is what actually causes the dog allergy.

Most common of these dog allergies is inhalant allergy. The most common symptoms are scratching of the genital areas, abdomen, armpit or face, and prolonged chewing and licking. Upon close inspection, the dog develops a reddish area caused by too much licking.

Bacteria can be another cause of dog allergy. Bacteria allergy (specifically Staphylococcus allergy) is not a very common condition. Only a few canines react negatively to this bacteria; most other dogs have become accustomed to it.

The biggest mistake made is to blame the fur when actually the allergy is caused by the protein that is secreted by the oil glands and then shed with their dander which is microscopic particles of skin, hair, and fur. Since animals continuously shed this dander is always present and a person can develop a dog allergy when the immune system mistakes this allergen as the enemy.

The sooner one acts, and starts treating their dog's allergies the easier and less stressful it will be in the long run. Properly treating the symptoms of your dog's allergies will certainly bring relief to your dog, but dealing with the cause of your dog's allergy should greatly reduce distress in your dog.

The first step would be to take your dog back to a basic, bland diet and gradually add to their diet. This is the best way to monitor your dogs diet and pin-point the dog food ingredient that is causing the dog food allergy symptoms in your dog. While it is not healthy to have your dog on a bland diet for an extended length of time, it is fine to start with the bland diet and gradually add ingredients back into the food.

To remove allergens from your dog's coat, wash him with plain water or wipe her down with a damp cloth everyday. Even if there's little dander just yet, if it mixes up with pollen or house dust, you're still liable to experience symptoms of dog allergy.

Another step to help alleviate is to keep the home and dog areas extremely clean. A vacuum with allergy filtration will help immensely and keeping dust and dog hair cleaned up will be very beneficial. It is a good idea to keep the dog out of the bedroom areas but if they are in frequently in these rooms the bedding should be washed with increased frequency.

Golden Retrievers have a reputation for being family dogs since they are loyal, patient, and lovable. However, new pet owners must also be aware of their health concerns as well. Golden retrievers are prone to hip dysplasia, congenital eye defects, Von Willebrand's disease, heart problems, and skin allergies. Some of these health problems may appear severer while some may not.