Does your dog scratch and chew his skin until it is raw? Does she seem to be sick more often than other dogs you know? It is possible that your pet is suffering from allergies. Allergies are one of the most common conditions affecting dogs. Just like their owner's, when exposed to an allergen, the dog's immune system "overreacts".

The most common symptom is scratching, either localized or generalized. Allergies can also affect your pet's respiratory system resulting in frequent coughing and sneezing or, impact the digestive system causing vomiting or diarrhea. Whatever the symptoms, allergies make your pet miserable.

Your vet should evaluate whether or not your pet has allergies. There are elimination diets to check on food related allergies and lab tests for other sensitivities. Your vet can prescribe both topical and systemic treatments to increase your dogs comfort.

There are also several sites such as, The Home Vet, that answer frequently-asked-questions about allergies, give information on dietary supplements to treat both the symptoms and the underlying sensitivities, and include a searchable forum of information on a wide variety of dog care issues. 

Home Vet

Posted by Paula.