Natural Remedies for Dogs With Allergies

Spring is in the air, and with flowers beginning to blossom on trees after a long winter, we are excited for the warm weather to come. But one thing crosses our mind when it comes to spring that many of us are not excited for, allergies. For many of us, spring is an uncomfortable time of runny noses, itchy eyes, and aching sinuses. In this day and age, the allergy remedy options for humans are endless. But what about allergy remedies for dogs?

Dogs can experience allergic reactions when they are exposed topically to different substances in their environments and when they ingest certain foods. Unlike people, dogs can’t communicate to describe their symptoms, so many dogs with allergies go untreated.

Our pet experts at Bone & Biscuit have put together this guide to natural remedies for dogs with allergies so you can learn to recognize when your dog is having a reaction and treat it accordingly, without an expensive trip to the vet.

Recognizing Allergy Symptoms in Dogs

The first step in your dog’s road to recovery is learning the causes and symptoms of allergies in dogs. The most common and most recognizable symptoms are skin related. Red, hot, itchy skin on your dog’s belly, in between their toes, around their eyes and in their ears are signs that your dog is experiencing an allergic reaction. If your dog is constantly scratching or licking an area on their body, take a close look at that area and monitor it to see if redness and swelling develop. Here are some more symptoms to watch out for:

Common Allergy Symptoms in Dogs

• Red, hot, itchy skin
• Excessive itching
• Excessive licking or biting
• Sneezing
• Runny eyes
• Hives
• Ear infections
• Yeast infections
• Gastrointestinal upset (chronic gas, vomiting, diarrhea)

If allergy symptoms are left untreated your dog can develop chronic inflammation, leaky gut syndrome, or yeast overgrowths. These types of issues tend to develop when the bodies own defense mechanisms become overworked and confused, eventually turning your dog’s immune system against itself. Long term exposure to allergens places a lot of stress on the body and should be avoided as much as possible.

Treating Allergies with Natural Remedies

At Bone & Biscuit, we believe in the natural solution. That’s why we recommend natural remedies to treat dogs with allergies. Not only are natural remedies better for your dog’s health, but they’re also simple, effective, and easy on your wallet.

Before selecting a remedy for your dog’s allergies, you should first try to uncover what’s causing the reaction. One factor to consider is whether the reaction occurs year-round, or if it only happens seasonally. If it’s a year-round struggle then look at things your dog is constantly exposed to like the food they eat every day. If allergy symptoms suddenly appear, consider any changes made to your dog’s environment, including changing of the seasons, having your carpets cleaned or lawn treated, using a different shampoo, switching food or introducing new treats. If you can narrow down the source of the allergen, and avoid it in the future, it is the best way to ensure your dog’s health.

With food, it can be tricky to identify which ingredient your dog is ingesting that’s causing the reaction. Our solution is a process called the elimination diet using single ingredient foods to test your dog’s reactions.

Many dogs are allergic to common ingredients in dog food like wheat, grain, chicken, and beef. By switching to a single ingredient or single protein raw or dry dog food you can easily identify which one is causing problems for your dog. Talk to your local Bone & Biscuit about the elimination diet and our pet experts will help you find a food that’ll give you the best chance of success for your dog.

Our Favourite Natural Remedies for Allergies

A Biologically Appropriate Raw Diet

Raw diets are one the easiest ways to narrow down allergies because the ingredient lists are so limited that there isn’t much guesswork involved regarding what your dog might be reacting to. When doing an elimination diet we would recommend trying a novel protein that your dog likely hasn’t had before (like rabbit, duck, llama, goat or lamb) for 30 to 60 days so that any previous allergy symptoms can clear up, this means all food and treats need to be the same protein. Once clear you might consider trying to introduce single ingredient foods back into the diet one at a time and monitoring for reactions. An interesting point to consider is that many dogs will react to a certain protein when cooked but not when it is in its raw, natural state. Not only is raw dog food great for their limited ingredients but they also help to reduce overall inflammation in the body, heal damage to the gut and allow for optimal nutrient absorption.

Adored Beast Liver Tonic

Adored Beast Liver Tonic is a natural supplement to support your dog’s liver, kidneys, gallbladder, and pancreas. It helps regenerate healthy liver cells and boosts the organ’s ability to filter toxins from the blood. It’s also aids in the proper function of histamines, the natural chemicals that occur in the body to trigger allergic reactions.

Adored Beast Pre and Probiotics – Lovebugs

“Friendly” bacteria act like the gut’s defense system against “bad” or dangerous bacteria. A gut that has a bountiful amount of this healthy friendly live bacteria enjoys wonderful health benefits. Prebiotics are essential in the growth and health of probiotics, and probiotics (friendly bacteria) can help reduce inflammation, a symptom of allergies.

NaturPet Paw & Skin

NaturPet’s Paw & Skin is a lick safe cream for dogs. The paws are often a gateway for allergens your dog is exposed to in its environment. Dogs with sensitive paws and allergies can experience redness, itchiness, cracked and brittle paws. Paw & skin is a light, quickly absorbed cream that helps treat paws and hot spots for their symptoms.

Scouts Honour Probiotic Shampoo

Scouts Honour Probiotic Shampoo is great for providing topical relief for your itchy pet who’s going through an allergic reaction. Infused with a live, colony-forming probiotic kefir culture, the good bacteria in this formula serve as a natural defense against the environmental damage and inflammation commonly associated with excessive shedding, itching, dryness, infection, and odor.

Vet’s Best Seasonal Allergy Support

If your dog is suffering from environmental allergies consider trying Vet’s Best Seasonal Allergy Support. It’s formulated with natural ingredients like Nettle Leaf, Vitamin C and Quercetin to calm allergic reactions and a soothing antioxidant blend to promote skin health.

Do you have an allergy remedy that works? Share your story below in the comments section!

Article Submitted By Bone & Biscuit Legacy

Bone & Biscuit Legacy is a family owned and operated business located on 1625 – 210 Avenue SE , #118 in Calgary, AB.

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