Allergies in dogs might seem like a ridiculous thought, but just like humans, our furry friends suffer from environmental factors messing with their immune systems. Untreated allergies in dogs can lead to annoying habits like constant scratching and licking and, worse, discomfort for them. If you suspect that your fur-child may have allergies, it might be time to consult with your vet. If you need more convincing, we have some information to lead you in the right direction with everything you need to know about dog allergies.

Types of dog allergies

Just like humans, allergies in dogs can come from various environmental sources. Think of that one person you know who seems to be allergic to the most random thing. This can be the case for your furry friend. Allergies in dogs are broken up into three main categories.

Food Allergies

Food allergies in dogs are different than food allergies in humans. When a dog has a food allergy, they do not typically experience the hives or swellings that humans experience. Instead, dogs experience more gastrointestinal issues like vomiting or diarrhea. There are some skin issues that can come from dogs having allergies, so if you see your pup scratching themselves frequently or having a poor coat appearance, then your dog may have a food allergy.

If your dog has a food allergy, then it is likely due to an intolerance for what they’re eating. The best way to help a food allergy in your dog is to switch their dog food to a high-quality brand that helps with food insensitivities.

Skin Allergies

Skin allergies are the most common type of allergies seen in dogs. The type of food that you’re feeding your dog (which we’ve already covered) can lead to skin allergies, but the most common form of skin allergies in dogs comes from fleas. If you are not giving your dog flea medicine every few months, then that means they are more susceptible to the saliva from fleas which affects your pup. When your pup is exposed to fleas, this is when you see the constant itching, redness, and possibly even fleas themselves. Flea allergies are easy to prevent by picking up flea and tick medicine from your vet and making sure you bathe your canine regularly to wash them off. 

Speaking of keeping your dog clean, environmental factors are another reason how your dog may develop skin allergies. Dust, pollen, and mold are notorious factors for giving your dog skin allergies and causing them to itch. With environmental factors affecting your dog’s allergies, some of this may be seasonal, depending on the weather and air quality. If that’s the case, then your vet may be able to provide some medicine for those time of years.

One important thing to remember with skin allergies is that if your dog is left untreated, then they could run the risk of contracting yeast infections. Yeast infections occur typically in a dog’s paws or ears since these places are never able to dry out and are dark and wetter. If your dog has a skin allergy, make sure they do not keep biting or licking at the infected area so they can keep the risk of having a yeast infection down.

Acute allergic reactions

If a dog experiences an acute allergic reaction, like a bee sting, and the reaction is severe enough, then they can go into anaphylactic shock if the allergy is left untreated. These types of reactions are rare in dogs, but you should still keep a watch on them when they are given new food or if they experience a bee sting.

Symptoms of dog allergies

Itchiness, vomiting, diarrhea, ear infections, and licking are common reactions to allergies. While these are “typical” symptoms of other issues that may be happening with these symptoms, you can tell if a dog has allergies based on how long these symptoms are occurring. Your dog may experience other symptoms of allergies such as sneezing, face or body swelling, and itchy, runny eyes.

What to do if your dog has allergies

If you think your dog may have allergies, then it is best to consult with your vet. Your vet will ask you questions and test your dog to make sure they can rule out any other situations. If your dog is experiencing a certain type of allergy, then your vet will give your medicine or instruct you on what to do, like switch your dog’s food or give them a pill to take at dinner.

 Allergies are simple to treat with dogs; the key is catching them quickly and taking them to see the vet so your beloved furbaby can assess the problem and get the allergy under control as soon as possible.

One of the best parts of having a dog is the fact that they keep us company. Even better, they look at us with those adoring eyes and give us love no matter how badly the day went. With that said, being a pet parent has some responsibilities. Exercise, a comforting dog bed, and vet care all require our attention on a regular basis. And food. Let’s not forget food. Other than the kibble or canned diet, most dogs love their treats. Commercial treats are, of course, available. But should we give in when Fido really wants people food? Here’s what you need to know.

Some people food can be healthy

Here’s the one thing which everyone can agree on: commercial dog food is made with many of the same ingredients as people food. In particular, the typical dog food will have some mixture of meat, grain, and vegetables. From this vantage point, we can start to get a picture of what’s safe for our fur babies. However, it’s a bit more complicated than this, because some choices are better than others. Furthermore, some of the foods we consider healthy for humans are toxic to dogs.

Say yes to lean meats

One thing which experts approve of is lean meat. In fact, some dog trainers use small pieces of cooked chicken as a training aid. This chicken should be cooked with the minimum oil to prevent sticking (read, cooking spray) and have all skin and fat trimmed off. You should also take it off the bone. Similarly, lean pieces of beef or pork can be used.

Fish? That’ll work too

Similarly, many dogs get off their comforting dog bed for small pieces of fish. With the exception of sardines, the bones are a choking hazard and must be removed. Also, ensure that the fish is well cooked to prevent possible food poisoning.

Some veggies and fruits can be good

Like people, dogs can benefit from the vitamins and minerals in fresh fruits and vegetables. In particular, baby carrots, green beans, potatoes, and peas offer healthy options for vegetables. Fido-favorite fruits include apples, bananas, and even watermelon. So, if these appeal to your pet then they’re an appropriate treat.

A few foods are toxic

Unfortunately, there are plenty of people foods that are toxic or dangerous to dogs. If your buddy eats the items on this list, you should get him off that comforting dog bed and off to the vet. Nobody wants this to happen, right?

Chocolate

Chocolate is toxic to dogs, and the more cocoa it contains the more likely you’ll have problems. Many doggies have stolen chocolate from their kid’s Halloween candy stash only to spend days at the animal hospital. To that end, if you love both Fido and chocolate, the latter should be carefully secured.

Onion, garlic, and spices

Any type of onion or garlic should be avoided. These too have caused pets to get very sick, and even die. Other spices, such as nutmeg, are also toxic. Besides the poisonous ones, many spices are irritating to your dog’s stomach or respiratory tract. Don’t feed your buddy anything with spices on it.

Grapes and fruit seeds

While many of us love grapes and their products, doggies don’t. In fact, many dogs must leave their comforting dog bed after eating them. The reason? Grapes contain chemicals that can cause kidney failure and death in pets, so any ingestion of these calls for an immediate trip to the vet. Likewise, although many fruits with seeds are OK for dogs, some of their seeds contain cyanide. Examples include apple seeds and stone fruit pits, such as cherries or peaches. In addition, seeds are a choking hazard. Don’t forget to remove them.

Calorie intake is a concern

When giving a dog “people food,” you need to think about calories. Even “healthy” options like boneless, skinless chicken breast pieces need to have their calorie intake counted. Dogs are much smaller than their humans, so what seems like a little bit for us can be a cheeseburger to dogs.

One way that dogs are just like people is that they need to keep their body weight healthy. While part of this is always getting them adequate exercise before they cuddle on that calming dog bed, calories always play a role. To that end, when you give your pet people food, make sure that it isn’t loaded with unhealthy fats. Poultry skins and fat from your steak should always be avoided, for example. Dogs can and do develop obesity and pancreatitis from excessive dietary fat.

People food can be good

Besides their use as training tools, there are situations where people food can be advantageous. One of the more famous with experienced dog owners is when a dog needs to be medicated. Many pets refuse to take capsules or unflavored tablets without coaxing. Pet food companies have developed pill-encasing treats in recent years, but an old reliable option is peanut butter. It’s high in fat, though, so be careful.

Another great use of people food is as medicine. Sometimes vets will recommend a plain dish such as chicken or hamburger with rice if the dog is experiencing an upset stomach. Likewise, canned pumpkin is a great remedy for diarrhea and other digestive issues. In both cases, a vet visit is recommended unless you know the cause of Fido’s problem.

Don’t allow bad behavior

Lastly, one of the bigger concerns with feeding people food is the risk of bad behavior from your pet. While “those puppy eyes” are cute to you, it can be an issue if they’re begging for table scraps. All the uses for people food mentioned above are appropriate in a controlled environment, such as pill giving or training sessions. Dogs should never be fed directly from the table.

For decades the pet community has been divided over the topic of people food. One reason for this is the mixture of risks and benefits for our fur babies. Hopefully, this article will help you decide what to give your dog, if anything. And as always, the advice of a vet is indispensable.

Whether you’re getting a new puppy or gave in to those sad eyes at the shelter, socializing your dog is important. Poorly socialized dogs tend to be fearful and standoffish or worse, aggressive. Think about the dog that won’t stop barking at everybody and everything when being walked. Or the one that’s always hiding from visitors. Fortunately, with proper socialization your dog can be the pup that everyone loves to greet every day. Here’s how to accomplish that task.

Socialization requires handling

If you’ve had a dog before, chances are you’re aware there’s more to loving your pet than giving him an anti-anxiety dog bed. Dogs love to snuggle up in their beds, but human touch is the key to bonding with your pet. To that end, you need to give him lots of petting. When you get home from work, reassure him of your affection.

Reassure him, then handle his ears

However, simply rubbing your fur baby’s back isn’t enough for proper socialization. Lots of dogs love to get their ears scratched. When Fido wants an ear scratch, be sure to handle the ear more intensively on occasion. If he has floppy ears, then flip the fold of the ear up and rub both sides gently. This will help him learn to tolerate handling and make ear cleaning easier in the future. For pointy eared dogs, you won’t have to “open” the ear but should still handle it.

Play with his paws, mouth, and tail

Similarly, it’s important that your pet learn to tolerate your playing with his paws. While your dog is relaxed, go over and rub his paws a bit. Touching those paws can also involve removing mud before it gets tracked onto his anti-anxiety dog bed. Be gentle, of course. Over time, your dog will learn to trust you with his feet, as well. This will help in several situations, such as when you need to clip his nails or have younger people over to visit.

Another place that dogs often dislike being touched is on their nose or mouth. While many dogs don’t mind giving out puppy kisses, sometimes having their people stroke them there puts them on the defensive. We don’t want that. So, when Fido is begging for attention the mouth should be touched on occasion. The same goes with his tail. A lot of kids get bitten playing with puppy tails, but if tail handling is normal for him, it’s less of a concern. If needed, reward him with treats. Before long, he’ll associate these types of handling with yummy treats.

Take him out in public

The next part of dog socialization is getting him out of his anti-anxiety dog bed, or even the yard, and out into the world. To that end, it’s important to expose your buddy to as many experiences as possible. Just be sure to take it slowly enough that he doesn’t overload. This can backfire.

Go for a walk

Everyone should be walking their dogs every day, and this is one of the best ways to socialize a puppy. When walking down the street, there will be people, other animals, and a wide variety of vehicles to experience. Take some treats with you, in addition to the required cleanup bags.

When someone comes along, teach your dog to sit. This keeps Fido from jumping up and knocking the person over.