Top 10 Allergy Fixes for Dogs – What Can I Give My Dog for Allergies?
If you have a pet dog, chances are that you’ve noticed that your four-legged friend is not immune to allergies. In fact, if you search for the term ‘dog allergies’ in any search engine, you will get millions of different page results.
The main downside about your dog having allergies is that they are unable to tell you what is causing them. This makes it extremely difficult for you to figure out what the culprit is. There have been people who have spent months upon months, working with different holistic veterinarians, trying to solve the big mystery of what it is causing their dog’s allergies. But even after you find out what the cause of the allergies are, you still need to find a way to prevent them from coming back.
Whether your dog is affected by allergies in the form of digestive problems such as chronic diarrhea, itchy skin forming on their feet, skin or ears, your dog’s allergies can really make their life miserable, as with yours.
Like for any type of condition, there are a few pharmaceutical companies who have created several different medications to help dogs fight their allergies. However, these pharmaceutical companies allergy medications are not necessarily what you want to be giving to your dog. You should definitely think twice if you are considering this route.
Why to Avoid Medicated Treatments for Dog Allergies
When your dog is showing signs of allergy symptoms, it is due to your pups immune response system not working correctly. This means that most conventional treatments will involve some type of drug to help suppress their immune function.
While the type of drug in the medication will vary, they have the potential to include anti-allergy drugs such as Apoquel or Atoopica, or even asteroids. While there is some temporary relief with these drugs, they are also highly risky for dogs, as they are going to suppress the immune response of your dog, while increasing their susceptibility to other, more serious diseases such as cancer.
Some veterinarians also like to suggest trying an expensive hypoallergenic prescription dog food to help limit and prevent allergies. However, most of these types of ‘allergy foods’, usually contain several different dubious ingredients that you don’t want anywhere near your dog.
One of these ingredients is known as hydrolyzed protein, or monosodium glutamate (MSG). Too much of this and you will be putting your dog’s life at risk as it has been scientifically proven that it is directly related to causing brain damage. Plus, hydrolyzed proteins have no scientific data supporting their effectiveness in regards to fighting allergies. There have been no successful clinical trials when it comes to MSG and fighting allergies, with the only real results coming in the form of worse skin symptoms for your dog.
These types of foods are also very starchy, meaning that they have a better chance of aggravating your dog’s allergies, as opposed to treating them. These types of foods usually contain lower quality oils that quickly become rancid. As if that weren’t enough to not feed hypoallergenic prescription foods to your dog, most of these foods normally contain fillers such as powdered cellulose, also know as sawdust.
If you are serious about feeding your dog truly hypoallergenic food, the best thing you can do is to make the dog food yourself. This way, you will know exactly what is in it.
So if you can’t get excited about using prescribed drugs that only cause temporary relief for your dog’s allergies, or you don’t want to waste your hard earned money on low quality prescription dog food, how are you suppose to help your dog relieve their allergy symptoms?
Luckily, there are several natural solutions available to you that will help you get rid of and keep away your pup’s allergies. Here are some of the best, most efficient, all-natural allergy relieving foods you can feed to your dog.
Best Natural Relief of Allergies for Your Dog
This is a list of foods, herbs and even some topical fixes that you can use to help relieve the overall allergy symptoms of your dog. While the food and herbs can be eaten by your dog, the topical fix can be placed on any itchy skin and is more than likely something that you already have in your bathroom or kitchen.
#1 CBD
CBD is one of the safest, most natural remedies that you can use to help relieve symptoms of several skin conditions for your dog. How do you know if your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction that is affecting their skin? The most obvious sign that your dog is experiencing allergies is by itching.
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If your dog is experiencing skin allergies, they are going to do whatever they can to make that itch go away. This can include things such as chewing, licking, and scratching at the itchy areas of their skin, often times leading to some sort of skin damage.
The most common parts affected by skin allergies are:
- Feet
- Underarms
- Face
- Belly
- Ears
- Ankles
- Groin
- Muzzle
While most medicated allergy solutions have side effects, some of which can be serious, CBD is non-toxic, all natural, has no side effects and is even tolerated extremely well. But, how does CBD Oil for Dogs with Allergies work?
This is good, as studies have shown that CBD is proven to increase the amount of essential fatty acids that lay within your dog’s skin. Even better when it relates to the symptoms of allergies on your dog’s skin, this same CBD helps to relieve any itching and dryness on the skin. On top of that, with the continuous use of CBD, the need to use traditional allergy medication diminished, proving that the CBD was able to provide significant relief of the itchy skin.
Currently, there are a total of 4 ways to utilize the allergy relieving effects of CBD in regards to your dog. They are CBD oil, Cannabis Dog Treats, CBD capsules, and CBD topicals.
While it is up to you how you decide to administer the CBD to your dog, the most recommend ways for itchy skin relieve is either the CBD topicals or CBD oil.
Simply apply the topical or oil to the skin directly and wait for it to work its magic. As if relieving your dog’s itchy skin weren’t enough, the topical and oil treatments are also great when it comes to treating a certain spot as well.
Just be sure to always follow the directions and to speak with your veterinarian to make sure that what you are doing is approved. Remember, safety first.
#2 Colostrum
Naturally found in all mammalian milk, colostrum is a key component in the development of a newborn’s immune system, helping to protect them against contracting any diseases.
As it turns out, bovine colostrum, which is generally extracted from the milk of a cow, can be extremely beneficial to adults when ingested in supplement form. One of the main affects of this colostrum is that it helps to alleviate allergies.
Containing the ingredient PRP (praline-rich polypeptide), colostrum is able to help improve, and in some cases eliminate the symptoms of allergies. This is due to its ability to help control an immune system that is overactive. This is important, as an overactive immune system is exactly what causes allergic reactions in both humans and dogs.
Bovine colostrum will provide your dog with the antibodies it requires to fight off common allergens. The antibodies are built up in the cows over time, as they are also affected by the same allergens. When your dog supplements with colostrum, they will then have these same antibodies and will be better equipped to respond to any allergens.
#3 Quercetin
Quercetin is considered a phytonutrient that can be found in vegetables and fruits. It contains antihistamines, anti-inflammatories, and antioxidants. It is often referred to as Nature’s Benadryl, as it has the ability to shut down histamine production, while managing itching and inflammation.
Histamines cause allergic reactions and quercetin helps to prevent the release of these histamines, meaning your dog’s allergy symptoms will be reduced. You can find quercetin in foods such as broccoli, apples and green tea, so by mixing those foods into your dog’s daily diet, you will be greatly helping their ability to fight off symptoms of allergies. If this is not practical, you can always find quercetin in supplement form as well.
#4 Sprouted Seeds
Sprouted seeds contain extremely high amounts of vitamins, enzymes, probiotics and minerals. These all help to support the healthy gut flora of your dog. This is important when it comes to fighting allergy symptoms, as it is the immune system is strongly influenced by the gut. When you balance the gut bacteria in your dog, you are allowing their immune system to alleviate any allergy symptoms.
By implementing sprouted seeds into your dog’s diet, they will have the exact same prebiotics and probiotics that a dog would receive when it were to forage in natures, helping to benefit its own gut bacteria.
#5 Nettles
Nettles are considered to help manage the allergies that your dog is suffering from. With nettles, your dog’s body is going to stimulate higher histamine levels in order to help protect itself from being attacked by allergens. Think of it like when you get the flu shot. With a flu shot, you are injecting a small part of the flu inside yourself, which then strengthens your body’s immune response to that particular bacterium.
Since nettles contain a higher amount of histamines, when they are ingested, it will help strengthen your dog’s immune system through the ‘like cures like’ idea.
#6 Licorice
While licorice has a list of health benefits too long to list, when it comes to your dog and their allergies, it helps to relieve excess inflammation from within the upper part of the digestive tract. It also helps increase your dog’s anti-inflammatory effect, as well as eliminate excess mucus from building up in the respiratory tract. This is what makes licorice the perfect ingredient to help relieve the symptoms of dogs who suffer from allergies.
#7 Green Tea
Green tea can be applied to any itchy areas your dog may have to help soothe and relieve them. Packed full of polyphenols, green tea has many anti-inflammatory, as well as antihistamine effects that help to soothe the dry, inflamed, itchy skin your dog is suffering from.
#8 Aloe Leaf
Aloe leaf is a great plant to have around the house as it can be used for various skin ailments. From sunburn to the itchy skin your dog’s suffering from, aloe leaf can be applied right to the itchy area and will work in seconds to help calm and cool the itchy skin. The fresh gel will also help to decrease any inflammation that may be in the area as well. Just be sure to use fresh aloe leaf and not the store bought gel that doesn’t work as well.
#9 Baking Soda
Found in just about any kitchen in the world, baking soda works great at calming red or itchy skin that is inflamed. Simply mix 1-tablespoon baking soda with a little water to create a paste, and then apply that paste to the itchy area of your dog.
If the paste is not for you, you can also mix 1-tablespoon of baking soda into 8 oz. of water in a spray bottle. Simply shake and spray the infected area of the skin, as you deem necessary.
#10 Cabbage Leaf
Cabbage leaf is an older remedy that will help remove inflammation and heat from your dog’s skin. All you need to do is break the surface of a fresh cabbage leaf by pounding it until the juices start to ooze out. Once this happens, just hold the leaf over the inflamed area of the skin. You will actually feel the cabbage leaf start to warm up as it is going to be drawing out the inflammation. After several minutes, simply toss the cabbage leaf into the trash or garbage disposal.
Here are the top 10 allergy fixes for your dogs that are all natural, have no side-effects and can be done from home without the use of dangerous drugs.
