How Can I Control My Dogs Allergies
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This is a huge question, with a wide variety of opinions, approaches, and suggestions.
You have to find the approach that resonates with you, your philosophy about health, and your approach to pet ownership, then give it a try.
To fully understand the different approaches, you need to differentiate between a dog allergy symptom and a dog allergy cause. Home remedies for dog allergies primarily focus on the cause. The goal is to heal the body so that the underlying cause ceases to exist.
There are also home remedies for dog allergies that focus on relieving symptoms. You will use a combination of remedies in order to relieve your dogs symptoms while healing the core issue causing the allergies.
Conventional medications tend to do one of two things. Some, like Benedryl, block the production of histamine , so you will have to use them for life because they dont address the core issue.
Others, like Apoquel, focus on suppressing the itching by inhibiting one part of the immune system. This reduces allergy symptoms, but also inhibits certain important functions in the dogs immune system. A partially functioning immune system leaves your dog vulnerable to other diseases and illnesses.
Use Turmeric While Cooking
Turmeric is one of the most common spices found in an Indian kitchen. The spice contains, curcumin, which may work as a decongestant. It can help ward off minor ailments like cold and reduce the allergic reactions. For some conditions, turmeric is as effect as the drug used to treat that condition. .
These were the ways to get rid of your allergy symptoms, but if you want to prevent their onset, you need to know about certain food rules associated with allergy. Watch this video to know about them.
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What Is An Allergic Reaction
Food allergy symptoms typically appear within a few minutes to two hours after consumption of the allergen. Allergic reactions can include:
- hives
- difficulty breathing
- loss of consciousness
People with a known allergy who begin experiencing symptoms while, or after, eating a food should initiate food allergy treatment immediately, and if symptoms progress, they should go to a nearby emergency room.
Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening form of IgE-mediated food allergy that requires prescription of self-injectable adrenaline. This can lead to constricted airways in the lungs, severe lowering of blood pressure and shock , and suffocation by swelling of the throat.
When you struggle with an ongoing, unidentified food allergy or sensitivity, your body constantly sends out inflammatory responses that can cause harm in multiple ways. Food sensitivities and allergies are correlated with an increased chance for developing:
- chronic pain
- kidney and gallbladder problems
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Food Allergies Vs Food Intolerances
I want to quickly touch on this to help people distinguish which issue their dog is dealing with.
A food allergy will cause an immediate reaction that you will see within hours of eating the offending food.
A food intolerance, however, causes a delayed reaction called an IgG reaction that can take one to three days to occur.
Although intolerance sounds milder, that is not always the case.
As the owner of a dog who would morph from a sweet dog into a dog with major aggression directed at his fellow dog housemates, I struggled for years trying to figure out his behavior issues until a chance diet change helped me understand he had a food intolerance that was manifesting behaviorally.
Ticos story:
At the recommendation of Ticos veterinary acupuncturist, we added oatmeal to his diet. Within days, his behavior changed from normal to on alert and amped-up, to physically attacking one of our other dogs when the dog would enter the room.
This continued for days until, out of desperation, I eliminated the oatmeal doubting it would help, but it was the only change I could think of that had occurred before the behavior worsened.
Within days the aggression began to subside, and I realized that the behavioral issues we were dealing with were due to his bodys response to his diet, and possibly other environmental factors.
Down the road I will be devoting an entire article to behavioral issues caused by food and environmental intolerances.
Build Up Your Dogs Immune System Heal The Gut
When we heal the gut, we strengthen the immune system. A strong immune system will learn not to respond to foods or environmental conditions that previously produced an allergic reaction.
Once the immune system is balanced, many allergy symptoms will subside or disappear.
There are many ways to strengthen a dogs immune system, ranging from the foods you feed your dog to beneficial supplements you can add to their diet. Learn how to naturally strengthen your dogs immune system in my article discussing immune system boosters for dogs.
Recommended Reading: Can You Suddenly Develop Food Allergies
How Do I Know What Im Allergic To
If youve got an allergic reaction to certain areas of your body, think about what things may have come into contact with these areas. The list can be pretty exhaustive and you should think of all possibilities.
For example, if youve an itchy, sore scalp it is possible that you could be allergic to:
- your shampoo
- shampoo used by your hairdresser
- hair products
- hair coloring
- a hat
- a washing powder youve used to wash your hat
- fabric softener
Natural Allergy Relief Options
What helps relieve allergies fast? Watching what you eat, getting plenty of fresh air and drinking enough water are some of the natural remedies that can relieve allergies by improving functions of the immune system.
It may take several weeks for your symptoms to subside, but they are likely to be better kept under control when you tackle the root causes. Here are nine ways to get natural allergy relief.
1. Eat an Anti-Inflammatory, Alkaline Diet
First and foremost, start eating an anti-inflammatory diet to reduce your risk for allergies and many other health problems. Caring for your body with nutrient-dense foods gives your immune system the ability to repair itself, bringing it back into balance so it can fight off common allergies in your environment.
Here are some of the best foods and ingredients to incorporate into your diet to help you beat allergies:
Although its not abundant in many foods, vitamin D is also important for immune function and may help manage allergy symptoms. In fact, certain studies have shown that children who live farther from the equator are more likely to develop allergies and suffer higher rates of hospital admissions due to allergic reactions.
You can get enough vitamin D by spending about 15 minutes in the sun most days without sunscreen and by eating foods like whole milk and some mushrooms for natural allergy relief.
2. Local Raw Honey
3. Apple Cider Vinegar
4. Quercetin
5. Neti Pot
6. Stinging Nettle
- Ginger
- Horehound
8. Probiotics
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What Are Allergies Anyway
Seasonal allergies occur when a person breathes in air containing pollen particles, and their body perceives it as a threat. Your local Queen Creek allergy doctors will explain that when the pollen gets breathed in, it releases water-soluble proteins on the respiratory lining in the lungs. While these proteins are actually harmless, some peoples bodies mistake them as a threat and begin making substances known as IgE antibodies. Essentially, these IgE antibodies attach to mast cells inside the body, triggering them to release histamine, which causes allergy symptoms. This is why allergy medications prescribed by Mesa allergy experts are called anti-histamines, because they suppress the histamine response in order to provide Gilbert allergy relief.
There are many different types of pollen, and those vary according to the area and climate. Various trees, flowers, grasses, hay, and weeds will often trigger allergies, although every person will react differently. Many people are not bothered at all by pollen, while others are bothered by some or all types.
If someone is unaware of which type of pollen they are actually allergic to, they can see a Chandler allergy doctor to receive a test. A Mesa allergy test will use a special process to indicate which type of pollen a person is allergic to, and allow them to be prepared with an anti-histamine or home remedy when that particular plant begins to bloom.
Wash And Cover Pillows
After a long day, everyone looks forward to snuggling into their pillow.
You know what else loves pillows? Dust mites. The horrifying factoid that pillows and mattresses get heavier over time from dust mites and their droppings? It’s true, says Dr. Sinha.
Washable pillowcase dust covers are a must. Wash those and your usual pillowcases every 3 weeks. Depending on the kind of pillow you have, it can be washed or dry cleaned every 3 to 4 months.
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Avoid Exposure To Allergens
Whether you have severe or milder allergic reactions, knowing what triggers your allergies is important so you can avoid them. Avoidance is the most effective way to prevent any allergic reaction, including anaphylaxis. Develop an avoidance plan with your doctor thats customized to your age, lifestyle and home environment.
Carefully read food labels and labels of other products that could contain allergens. And be aware that fragrances and dyes can irritate your skin.
Look Into Alternative Treatments
Some allergy sufferers swear by alternative home remedies for seasonal allergies. These include butterbur , acupuncture, spirulina , stinging nettle, eucalyptus oil, and bromelain . There isn’t too much evidence on these treatments, so it’s best to conduct your own research and consult a doctor with any questions.
- RELATED: When Is Allergy Season?
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Consider Apple Cider Vinegar
Apple cider vinegar is purported to boost the immune system, help break up mucus, and support lymphatic drainage. Experts recommend mixing one to two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a glass of water and lemon juice three times a day to relieve allergy symptoms. These tips on how best to use apple cider vinegar will provide additional guidance.
How To Stop Coughing Conclusion
We have outlined above all of the best ways of how to stop coughing as well as some of the possible causes of your cough. Although we have tried to outline all of the best ways of how to stop coughing, every condition is different and each of the methods listed above will affect different people in different ways. It is a good idea to try out a few methods and see which works best for keeping your particular cough at bay.
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Natural Remedies For Seasonal Allergies
At this time of year, many people are suffering from seasonal allergies. The symptoms can include itching, sneezing, congestion and runny nose, headaches, red or watery eyes, and so on. They can vary from mild to severe, acute to chronic.
Seasonal allergies, sometimes referred to as hay fever, result from exposure to spores or pollen released into the atmosphere by fungi, grasses, trees, and other plants. That plant material is mistaken for an invasive protein by your bodys immune system, leading to the production of chemicals like histamine. Histamine attempts to attack or expel the invader, resulting in the bothersome symptoms described above. Those who experience seasonal allergies are also intolerant to certain foods which they cannot easily digest. The poorly digested food is often regurgitated back into the respiratory tract leading to many of the allergy symptoms noted above. The big food culprit is dairy products followed by eggs, poultry, red meat, bread/wheat, certain nuts, and alcohol. With the immune system becoming increasing compromised with continued consumption of the biggest food culprits, the person become more sensitized to other food triggers and environmental triggers.
1) Hydration through Water
When the respiratory and digestive systems are dehydrated, the immune system will cause a rebound effect leading to nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, and/or coughing. Do the following in order to optimize your hydration:
2) Saline nasal rinses
- wounds
How To Stop Coughing Now
Is your cough keeping you up at night? Are you missing days of work because you cant talk without coughing? Are your body and head starting to ache from a hacking cough? If your coughing is non-stop, you need and deserve relief immediately.
While many people rely on expensive cough medicine to get rid of their cough, its often ineffective and filled with ingredients you dont need. We will share natural ways to stop coughing so you can get on with your day and sleep well at night.
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Natural Remedies For Allergic Reactions
Many traditional medicine systems use herbal supplements and extracts to both treat and prevent allergic reactions, especially seasonal allergies.
Though there is little scientific evidence to support the use of most alternative or natural remedies, some people may find that some can provide relief from their symptoms.
The American Association of Naturopathic Physicians recommend the following natural treatments for allergies:
- Dietary changes. A low-fat diet high in complex carbohydrates, such as beans, whole grains, and vegetables may reduce allergy reactions.
- Bioflavonoids. These plant-based chemicals found in citrus fruits and blackcurrants may act as natural antihistamines. These can also be taken as supplements.
- Supplements. Flaxseed oil, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and E are suggested to improve allergy symptoms.
- Acupuncture. Acupuncture treatments may help some people to find relief from their symptoms.
A very severe allergic reaction can lead to a condition called anaphylaxis, or anaphylactic shock.
Anaphylaxis occurs when the bodys immune response to an allergen is so severe and sudden that the body goes into a state of shock.
Anaphylaxis can impact multiple organs and if left untreated lead to coma, organ failure, and death.
The early symptoms of anaphylaxis can be fairly mild and similar to those of minor to moderate allergic reactions, but they often rapidly worsen.
Symptoms unique to anaphylaxis include:
First aid for anaphylaxis includes:
Supplement Your Dogs Diet
Diet supplementation can involve products that build the immune system, heal the gut, reduce inflammation, and more.
DONT go out and buy every supplement on the market what you add will depend on the specific needs of your pet. Work with your holistic vet to determine which system needs strengthening .
Here is a sampling of things used to help dogs with allergies:
- Omega-e fatty acids decrease inflammation throughout the body. Common sources are salmon, tuna, anchovy, and other fish oils, as well as raw egg yolks.
-
Quercetin, Bromelain, and Papain: Quercetin has anti-inflammatory properties and suppresses histamine release. Bromelain and papain also suppress histamine production, and increase the absorption of quercetin.
This product contains both quercetin and bromelain, and is formulated in dosages meant for dogs:
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Will We Be Walloped By Flu Season This Year
To be on the safe side, if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, dont take any herb unless prescribed by your doctor, says Los Angeles otolaryngologist Murray G. Grossan, M.D., who specializes in natural care for sinusitis and allergies. Here are 6 effective natural allergy remedies that may help curb your sniffling and sneezing: 1. Stinging nettleGardeners may consider stinging nettle a pesky weed, but the mineral-rich green plant is one of the best herbal cures for runny nose and itching eyes. Because its active ingredient, scopoletin, is a natural antihistamine, nettle extract helps prevent hay fever symptoms such as sneezing, nasal congestion and itchy, watery eyes, according to a 2009 University of Miami study published in Phytotherapy Research. The beauty of this herb is that it doesnt speed you up or dial you down, Steelsmith says. You feel normal on it, but the antihistamine effect is great. How to take it: I recommend freeze-dried nettle in capsule form, Steelsmith says. Take two 300-milligram capsules, 3-4 times daily.You can also brew 2-3 teaspoons of dried leaves in a pint of hot water to make nettle tea. Watch out: Dont pick it yourself. As the name implies, the plant has tiny thorns that sting and cause a nasty rash.
Instant Allergy Relief Tips You Can Do At Home
Though you want to enjoy life, seasonal allergies may dampen your spirit. Instead of reaching out for pharmaceutical drugs, why not take some precautions and try natural therapies?
Below are 20 useful methods for reducing the symptoms of allergies as well as preventing them from happening in the first place.
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How Does Allergic Reaction Occur
Your immune system protects your body from invaders such as bacteria and viruses that mean you harm. But when it fights with substances that shouldnt matter thats an allergy. The substances that cause allergy are termed as allergens. Peanuts, pollen or eggs can trigger a reaction. They are good examples for allergens.
During an allergic reaction, your immune system releases antibodies called Immunoglobulin E . These antibodies proceed to cells that release chemicals causing an allergic reaction. This allergic reaction usually causes symptoms in the throat, nose, lungs, ears, sinuses, lining of the stomach or skin.
These antibodies are single-minded, or in other words, they have specific radar for each type of allergen. Some people have allergic reactions to multiple allergens because they have much more types of IgE. Experts believe that your family history may play a part if you have multiple allergies.
