# 3 Quercetin And Dog Allergies
Quercetin is a phytonutrient found in fruits and vegetables. Its an antioxidant and it also antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
Quercetin is called Natures Benadryl because it can turn off histamine production. Histamines are chemicals that cause allergic reactions. Research has shown that quercetin prevents immune cells from releasing histamines. Quercetin is in foods like broccoli and apples. But its best to give your dog quercetin in a supplement, so you get the concentrated benefits.
How Much Quercetin For Dogs With Allergies?For a convenient way to give your dog some allergy relief, try a quercetin supplement. Quercetin supplements come in pill, powder or capsule form. They often contain bromelain, which is an enzyme that makes quercetin more effective.
Quercetin is best given on an empty stomach. The recommended dose is 8 mg for every pound of your dogs weight.
- For a 20 lb dog, give 160 mg
- For a 50 lb dog, give 400 mg
Groom Your Pet Regularly
Let`s face it, most dog owners do not bathe their dogs as required, usually due to a lack of time, or not enjoying the chore of grooming.
Either way failing to bathe your dog will contribute to the build-up of allergens in your dogs coat.
Regular brushing can also be great to loosen and remove dead skin cells, but if you already have allergy symptoms then breathing the loosened particles can give you a nasty reaction so wear a mask while you brush.
According to the Humane Society, bathing your dog at least once a week is sufficient to reduce the number of allergens in your dog by 84%.
Though a simple dip and scrubbing with plain water can do, it`s recommended that you bathe your dog using the a good dander shampoo.
Shampoo is not only essential for removing dander, but some have ingredients to improve your dogs skin, which in turn lowers the amount of dander produced.
Read our article about anti-itch shampoos for dogs to find out more.
What Are The Symptoms Of Allergies In Dogs
In the dog, the most common symptom associated with allergies is itching of the skin, either localized or generalized . In some cases, the symptoms involve the respiratory system, with coughing, sneezing, and/or wheezing. Sometimes, there may be runny discharge from the eyes or nose. In other cases, the allergic symptoms affect the digestive system resulting in vomiting and diarrhea.
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Natural Home Remedies For Itchy Dogs
Ditch the itch with these natural skin soothers
Jillian Dara is a fact checker for The Spruce Pets, reviewing articles about pet care and pet products for factual accuracy and consistency. She has more than five years of experience in lifestyle editing and media and has been published in a variety of prestigious outlets.
The Spruce / Ellen Lindner
Think of how miserable it is to have a persistent itch, whether from dry skin, a bug bite, or a rash. It’s hard to focus on anything other than the itch, and while scratching might provide momentary relief, it can ultimately make the itch even worse. Your dog feels just as miserable when an itch just won’t quit. Luckily, there are several home remedies to relieve your dog’s itchy skin.
Not every cause of itchiness requires a prescription medication or treatment. Colloidal oatmeal baths, fish oil, and baking soda are among the items you can use for home remedies. But though you can offer some relief and lessen the urge to scratch, it’s important that you eventually treat the underlying cause of a persistent or chronic itch, whether it’s an allergy, flea bites, or an autoimmune disorder.
What Is Inhalant Allergy And How Is It Treated
The term inhalant allergy in the dog is often used as a synonym for atopy. The main inhalant allergens are tree pollens , grass pollens, weed pollens , molds, mildew, and house dust mites. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites occur year-round. When humans inhale these allergens, the resulting allergy primarily manifests with upper respiratory signs: runny eyes, runny nose, and sneezing . Although sometimes the symptoms of allergies include allergic rhinitis or bronchitis, in most dogs, inhalant allergy manifests with itchy skin . Due to these clinical signs, the condition is also called inhalant allergic dermatitis. The dog may rub its face, lick its feet and scratch the axillae .
“Symptoms of atopy can be controlled but a permanent cure is not usually possible.”
Most dogs that have inhalant allergy start showing signs between one and three years of age. Affected dogs will often react to several allergens and often experience concurrent flea or food allergies. If the offending allergens can be identified by intradermal skin tests or blood tests, the dog should be protected from exposure to them as much as possible. Because most of these allergens are environmental, this is difficult and recurrent bouts are likely. Symptoms of atopy can be controlled but a permanent cure is not usually possible.
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Ways To Help Your Itchy Dog With Allergies
Nehru Sulejmanovski / EyeEm
Redness, scratching, and chewing are all signs of skin problems in dogs. Allergies are a common cause of skin problem in dogs. Fortunately, there are several ways to manage itching and allergies in dogs. Sometimes you can do certain things at home to prevent or ease mild itching while in other cases, you will need to consult with your veterinarian. Failure to manage your dog’s allergies can lead to other issues, such as hair loss, skin infections, and severe discomfort. Here are the best ways to manage allergies in dogs.
Cat Allergy Management And Treatment
Avoidance is the best way to manage a cat allergy. If you have a cat and are allergic to cats, consider removing the cat from the home.
If you have a cat but dont want to find it a new home, or if your family wants a cat even though someone in the household is allergic, here are some strategies that may help keep symptoms at bay:
- Keep the cat out of your bedroom and restrict it to only a few rooms. Be advised that keeping the cat in only one room will not limit the allergens to that room.
- Dont pet, hug or kiss the cat if you do, wash your hands with soap and water.
- High-efficiency particulate air cleaners run continuously in a bedroom or living room can reduce allergen levels over time.
- Regular use of a high-efficiency vacuum cleaner or a central vacuum can reduce allergen levels.
- Giving your cat a bath at least once a week can reduce airborne cat allergen.
Treatments for cat allergy vary, depending on the symptoms.
Your allergist can help determine what treatment would be best to treat your cat allergy. Nasal symptoms often are treated with steroid nasal sprays, oral antihistamines or other oral medications. Eye symptoms are often treated with antihistamine eyedrops. Respiratory or asthma symptoms can be treated with inhaled corticosteroids or bronchodilators to either prevent or relieve respiratory symptoms.
Allergy shots are an effective treatment of allergies by building tolerance over time through gradually injecting increasing doses of an allergen.
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Oatmeal For Itchy Skin
If youve had the chicken pox, you may have taken an oatmeal bath to soothe your itchy skin. Oatmeal contains chemicals called avenanthramides and phenols, which have anti-inflammatory properties, Morgan explains.
Pets with skin allergies and superficial infections get immediate relief from oatmeal, says Khuly, who is a general veterinary practitioner. Its especially helpful for dogs with really itchy feet. Plus, its 100 percent non-toxic and delicious, too.
To create your own remedy, Morgan suggests grinding the oatmeal to a fine powder and mixing it with water to apply as a poultice on hot spots or inflamed areas. If your dog tolerates baths, you can add the oatmeal formula to warm water, and let your dog soak for five to 10 minutes.
Epsom Salts For Wounds
You might use magnesium-rich Epsom salts to relieve sore muscles. They have anti-inflammatory properties and are also useful for soaking and cleaning wounds, Morgan says. They cause abscesses to open and drain, relieving pressure in the wound and allowing healing. We use these a lot for soaking feet of horses and also dogs with inter-digital sores.
To create a soak for your dog, Morgan advises mixing the Epsom salts with warm water and applying the soak on your dog for five to 10 minutes, three times a day.
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Ways To Relieve Your Dog’s Allergies
Are allergies making your dog miserable?
Do you hate seeing them suffer with itchy ears, runny eyes, and inflamed skin?
We feel your pain. Were dog people here at WINPRO Pet, and we cant stand seeing our dogs uncomfortable.
Heres the problem: treating animals can be trickier than treating humans. For one thing, dogs cant tell us whats wrong, and that makes it a lot harder to figure out where the problem lies.
Theres also the issue of medications.
You need to be careful when giving any sort of human drug to your dog. Dogs can react differently to medications than we do. On top of that, you have to be mindful of the dosage, since dogs generally weigh less than we do.
So with that said, whats the best way to treat your dogs allergies?
Well, weve done the research and compiled what we believe are the 7 most effective treatments for allergies in dogs. In this post well share all 7, in order from least recommended to most recommended.
Before we get into the details, heres a chart summarizing our results:
Or read on to learn more about all 7 treatments for allergies in dogs:
Bathe And Brush Pets Regularly
Have a non-allergic family member take your canine family member outside and brush him or her thoroughly at least once a week. Regular brushing and bathing can minimise dander levels on your dog and therefore deposits around the house, so make sure your pet is well washed and groomed. However, its important to note that if washed too frequently your dogs skin and coat may dry out, so try to only bathe them when necessary to avoid skin issues. If you are worried about how often you should be bathing your dog, its recommended that you speak with your vet for their advice. Use a hypoallergenic or oatmeal-based dog shampoo for best results, and remember to wash their bedding at the same time.6
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Can You Reduce Symptoms
In general, allergy symptoms will continue to worsen when an allergic individual is exposed to greater amounts of their trigger allergen. For this reason, reducing exposure to allergens is the natural solution to minimize the severity of the symptoms of dog allergy.
In short, that means the most effective way to reduce or prevent dog allergy symptoms is to avoid exposure to and contact with dogs.
However, avoiding allergen exposure completely can be difficult. A dogs dander can linger on furniture, clothing, or in the air. So even if youre not around the animal, you can still experience symptoms by inadvertently coming into contact with dander.
If you have known pet allergies, regular vacuuming, dusting, washing your clothes, and showering can help reduce your allergy trigger.
# 6 Licorice For Your Dogs Allergies
Licorice is an easy to find herb. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine have used licorice as a harmonizer for allergy patients for thousands of years. In traditional Chinese medicine , licorice tonifies the spleen, benefits the Qi, moistens the lung stops coughing, clears heat, detoxifies Fire Poison and soothes spasms .
A study of a substance in licorice called glycyrrhizic acid showed that it has a codeine-like effect. Licorice can also relieve inflammation in the digestive tract and helps remove mucus from the respiratory tract. Just what the doctor ordered for allergy sufferers!
Giving Licorice To DogsTilford and Wulff recommend working with your vet. This is because dosage varies widely, depending on your dogs condition. But they suggest starting with 12 to 20 drops per 20 lbs of body weight twice daily, using a low alcohol licorice extract. If youre using a tea, triple that dose.
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Pet Seasonal Allergy Symptoms To Look For
Dogs and cats show similar allergy symptoms as humans, yet they experience them most through their skin. Excessive scratching likely means itchy, irritated skin. Here are a few more symptoms to watch out for:
- Scratching and biting their coat or skin
- Red, inflamed, or infected skin
- Excessive shedding
- Compulsive paw licking in dogs
- Chronic ear infections or red, waxy ears
- Respiratory issues, such as difficulty breathing, coughing, or wheezing
How Are Dog Allergies Treated
Unfortunately, there is no cure for allergies, but treatment is possible.
Its important to remember that treatment means managing allergies, not curing them. Keeping this goal in mind will help you set realistic expectations, avoid frustration, and plan the most effective long-term management strategy.
Below are some treatment strategies.
Other things you can do for your allergic dog, including home remedies, include:
- Watch the pollen/allergy counts and avoid keeping your pup outside for too long when counts are high.
- Keep the home clean and change air filters regularly.
- Bathe your dog with pet allergy shampoos, such as soothing aloe and oatmeal, or medicated with allergy-relieving ingredients.
- Skin ointments or creams for small flare ups. Check with your vet for safe options.
- Skin and allergy supplements, such as omega fatty acids or probiotics.
- Wipe your dogs paws and belly with a clean cloth or pet wipe after their walks to remove pollen and other allergens.
- Use antihistamines such as Benadryl. Check with your vet for a safe formulation and dose for your individual pet. Never buy products that also contain decongestants or other ingredients.
Allergies can be frustrating both for you, and for your pup who cant seem to find relief from their itchiness.
Fortunately, with patience, vigilance, and the right treatment plan for your individual furkid, you can really make your pup feel better so they can enjoy all their favorite activities with you itch free!
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Why Isnt Everyone Allergic To Dogs
Why isnt everyone allergic to dogs if this Can f1 protein is so troublesome? Well, the immune system is a complex thing. What causes it to go into fight mode in some people barely registers a blip with others. To put it simply, some peoples immune systems do not consider the Can f1 protein harmful and just ignore its presence.
Children are more susceptible to developing allergies than adults since their immune systems are developing. Ironically, however, emerging research hints at lower rates of allergies in children aged 7 to 9 when they are exposed to pets from infancy.
How To Keep A Dog’s Seasonal Allergies At Bay
You’ll also want to limit your dog’s exposure to allergens. After outside playtime, use a baby wipe on their underside, paws and legs before letting them inside this can remove allergens from your dog’s skin.
Weekly baths with oatmeal shampoos can also be helpful, but make sure the water is lukewarm, as hot water can dry and irritate their skin. Dogs tend to respond well to a bath with a medicated shampoo that contains antihistamines or steroids. Prescription-strength lotions and sprays are also available.
While seasonal allergies are a thing every single year, their impact on your dog’s well-being can be reduced with proper treatment and active prevention measures. Not every approach will be right for every dog, but with a little trial and error, you can figure out how to keep seasonal allergies from slowing your pet down.
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Relieving Your Dogs Allergies At Home
While there isnt necessarily a cure for allergies, there are ways to alleviate symptoms and provide supplements to help your dog’s immune system. No matter what is making our sweet fur baby have an allergic reaction, relieving their agony is the number one goal.
Here are some ways to relieve your dogs symptoms with products you probably already have at home. Not surprisingly, most of these are solutions you have probably used on yourself.
Dog Pollen Allergy Symptoms
So, how to tell if your dog has a pollen allergy? There are several pollen allergy symptoms to look out for. While hay fever in humans mostly causes a runny nose, sneezing and itchy, watery eyes, in dogs it usually affects the skin. So if you notice your dog itching, gnawing or rubbing certain parts of their body like the paws, legs, groin, ears or muzzle, it may be a dog pollen allergy.
However, keep in mind, if your dog displays any of the symptoms below, they could also be suffering from another medical condition, so talk to your vet before diagnosing hay fever in your dog.
Pay attention to your dogs behavior during pollen season. Keep an eye out for any of these symptoms and talk to your vet if you are unsure about your dogs health.
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Tips To Reduce Pet Allergies
Your physician can best guide you about the best medical treatments to control your allergies. Just be sure you convince the doctor of your commitment to keeping your pet. There are steps pet owners can take to feel better, without having to give up their special cat or dog. There are also effective steps you can take in caring for your pet and your home to reduce the presence of pet allergens.
