About 10% of dog allergies are caused by food intolerance, but they can also be caused by many other things as well.
It may be difficult to find out what your dog is allergic to, but your vet should be able to test for allergies.
Seasonal changes can give your dog the sniffs and sneezes too. Find out here what to give dogs for allergies.
Vaccines
Just like you can get allergy shots, so can your pet.
There will be a little bit of the allergen injected into them, slowly building up the amount over time. This way, their body will be able to build up an immunity to it.
This is a great method because you’re not just reliving the symptoms, but you’re getting to the root of what is causing those allergies. Getting the shots may also help relieve symptoms over time so that your pet is not suffering.
This may one of the best treatments that you could get for your pet.
Antihistamines
Antihistamines are one of the common answers when people ask what to give dogs for allergies.
Antihistamines are things like Benadryl or other allergy medications. However, these won’t work on all kinds of dogs.
If histamines are what’s causing your dog’s allergies, then it will work. However, if it is a different type of trigger, you may need to use another treatment in addition to this.
Check out this post to learn more.
Quercetin
Quercetin is a natural antihistamine, but it also has anti-inflammatory properties. This will help with the itching. It is found in a lot of fruits and vegetables, like apples and broccoli.
Some research has suggested that the quercetin prevents the release of histamine in the body and helps avoid the allergic reaction.
Quercetin may be more helpful when taken as a supplement instead of finding in the fruits or vegetables because the amount will be more concentrated in that form.
To find the right dose for your dog, figure out how much they weigh, multiply it by 1,000 mg and divided by 125.
Bromelain and Papain
Bromelain and Papain are both enzymes, which means they help break down protein.
These two enzymes help reduce pain and inflammation in various parts of the body, and for some of the best results, you can give this to your pet along with quercetin.
Bromelain and Papain are normally sold together, and they can be found in pineapples and papayas. However, you can also buy them as supplements.
Thyme
Thyme is also a natural ingredient that could help your dog’s allergies.
Like the quercetin, this also is anti-inflammatory and has antioxidant properties. In addition to that, it can also be used as an antiseptic or antifungal.
If your dog has a yeast infection in between their toes, you can try making an infusion out of it and apply it to the itchy areas.
This should help them stop itching and scratching.
Bovine Colostrum
Bovine colostrum is another natural treatment, and it comes in either a powder or a pill.
This one is supposed to help calm down the immune system response and act as an anti-inflammatory and an antihistamine.
This is like all of the answers to your dog’s allergy problems. In addition to all of that, it should help your dog’s body build up antibodies to the allergen so they won’t feel symptoms anymore.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which will help decrease yeast production. It helps promote healthier skin which can reduce an allergic reaction.
If you add fish oil into their diet along with the coconut oil, it can help to stop the inflammation response which can help with your pet’s allergies.
The coconut oil on its own has antibacterial and viral properties which will help your dog feel less itchy while also boosting their immune system.
Apple Cider Vinegar
If your dog has seasonal allergies, you can use apple cider vinegar to clean their paws off when they come back inside.
When your dogs are playing outside, they can pick up all kinds of allergens that will then get into their body which their immune system will attack. But if you try and rinse them off beforehand, this may reduce the symptoms they feel.
Special Sprays or Shampoos
There are different sprays or shampoos that you can buy for your pet to help to relieve itching. This will also make sure that they don’t get a secondary infection from constantly scratching and itching at the same place.
Regular Bathing
Giving your pet regular bats will also help to make sure that you wash any allergens or irritants away from them.
Use the shampoos that we mentioned above to help prevent future infections as well. Some of these shampoos may contain things that help calm them.
However, while regular bathing is important, just make sure that you don’t wash them too much because this can actually cause irritation as well.
Oat Baths
Oat baths can actually be really soothing for your dog, but you should not do this if you are trying to treat a yeast infection.
If your pet cannot stop scratching themselves, an oat bath may be a natural way to calm them and help heal them.
This will also help reduce the itching and get rid of any lingering allergens that might still be on their fur, waiting to cause them more symptoms.
What to Give Dogs for Allergies: A Guide
It can be difficult to figure out what to give dogs for allergies, but some of these may help relieve your dog’s symptoms.
There are things you can do to help your pets outside of their allergies as well.
Read this post to see how you can do that.
Good to know, cats might have this issue too