Allergy season is upon us, so I thought I would post some basic care tips to help you get through the season more comfortably. Most of these tips can also be used year round to keep your pups in excellent health.
- FOOD: Is your pup eating a quality, limited ingredient food? If not, take a list of your dogs food allergens with you to the pet store and spend some time shopping for the best food that you can afford that doesn’t contain any of your pups allergens. If you’re not sure what your pup is allergic to, find a limited ingredient food – 1 meat , 1 carb – and try a small bag. Continue to try different brands until you find the right one for your dog. Remember: Just because it says allergy formula on the bag, doesn’t necessarily mean it will work for your dog. There are many “allergy formulas” that my girls can’t eat.
- PROBIOTICS & DIGESTIVE ENZYMES: I highly recommend the Miracle Pack from Nusentia. We have had great luck using that for our dogs. Probiotics and digestive enzymes helps to balance the digestive system, boost the immune system, improve skin and coat condition, relieve gas, and reduce allergy symptoms. This formula contains Bromelain which is a natural antihistamine & anti-inflammatory. The powder can be easily added to food at each feeding.
- SUPPLEMENTS: Organic Virgin Coconut Oil has been very helpful to Emma and Phoebe during allergy season. My dogs LOVE to have the coconut oil added to their food. It is great at fighting yeast, boosting the immune system and improving the skin and coat. Along with adding it to food, it can be used topically on hot spots and in ears. Dosage is 1 tsp per 10 lbs or 1 TBS per 30 lbs AM & PM. Coconut oil melts at 76 degrees. You can feed it in solid or liquid form. You can find Coconut Oil in the natural foods section of your grocery store.
- BATHING: Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly bathing can be a great help you your dog with allergies. We bathe the girls weekly during allergy season or they end up with skin infections. A gentle, castile based shampoo works best. If you have a larger dog that is harder to bathe but likes to swim, that is also a great option. We take Emma swimming quite a bit. It’s a great way to remove allergens from her skin and coat, and I’m sure the cool water feels great on her irritated skin.
I hope these tips are helpful to you and your pup. I’m always here if you have questions. Remember, I’m not a vet or even an expert. Just a gal with two dogs with allergies. If you haven’t been over to our Facebook page, be sure to stop in and share your story. If you’re in need of help there are lots of great people to offer advice. Take care and I’ll talk to you soon!
Andi
Tags: allegy season for dogs, coconut oil for dogs, digestive enzymes for dogs, limited ingredient dog food, probiotics for dogs
Hi, I’m so happy that you have this site up* I have a Tibetan Terrier (has hair – not fur) who has sensitive skin & stomach, sneezes & swallows alot. After moving to a high allergy area & going thru 3 years of this…I finally realize that his stomach problems are related to his nose rubbing & sneezing. Because of allergies he gets post nasal drip and then swallows alot; he must have GERD / stomach acid. I have always given him ‘few ingredient’ foods because of a possible allergy here. But I pretty much know his allergies are due to grass & pollens. So…like I said, I am very happy to find this site!
Few questions: how was your trial with Allergy Itch Ease? how was your trial with the Spring Tonic? as well as the trial with Oregano Oil? & have you ever tried Fish Oil?
I’d like to try the Nusentia combo, although the few times I have given him digestive enzymes or even vitamins, he gets an upset stomach. Maybe adding this VERY slowly will work.
If you have any info on allergies with hair vs. fur (if there is any difference?!) I’d love to check it out. Thanks so much*
This is great information for parents of pets with allergies. I had never heard of the use of coconut oil – I’m definitely going to try it! Thank you so much!
Hi Darby! I am way late on this reply & I’m terribly sorry. I hope your terrier is doing well. We got some relief from both the Allergy Itch Ease & the Spring Tonic, but it didn’t make a huge difference. All dogs respond differently though, so it might be worth a try for your pup.
We haven’t had much luck with fish oil supplements, but I have always used the capsules from Target or Walmart. I’ve been thinking about ordering some of the Grizzly Salmon Oil since I have heard so many good things about it.
As for probiotics, I think adding small amounts very slowly could help with the stomach issues. You could also try the probiotic/emzyme tablet. http://nusentia.com/probiotic-tablets.html Maybe he would have an easier time with that.
As far as fur versus hair, I have not come across any information on that. I will have to see if I can come up with anything. Take care & let me know if there is anything else I can help with.
- Andi
Hi Andi, Thanks for writing. Even if the blog has info added every 6 months, it’s still a wonderful asset for everyone! This past summer started with a bang by having to get a cortisone shot for my dog Mook, and also flea bombing the house. I took your advice on the probiotic & he gets a tiny amount now, along with regular rice or oatmeal with his food.
During a vet visit I learned of an antifungal product called Malaseb Pledgets (a pre-moistened wipe). This is a non-profit vet that I go to so I knew she wasn’t just trying to sell me something. She said that just walking through the grass they can pick up a microbial situation that doesn’t just wipe away. I live in an apartment complex where weed killer is constantly used, grass is mowed weekly & there are woods that we walk by that has poison ivy – and the chipmunks are always enticing Mookie in* But… I did find a method that ended up helping the allergies. Although tedious, I gave Mook a foot bath every time we got back from a walk using a natural sensitive pup shampoo. If I couldn’t do that – I used the Pledgets.
I also read a lot about Ex-Virgin Organic Coconut Oil. Great for dogs (& cats) stomach & coat & also for their feet. I was worried about over drying his feet, so I would put the oil on & in between his pads. It would soften his pads & also he licked it like crazy so it was good for his stomach. When he gets itchy & dry around his head, I’ll use the oil there as well and I can see him quickly give a sigh of relief. Mook just turned 6 and I think I finally know how to care for him! He still sneezes in the morning so there’s an indoor allergy – and I’ll keep checking back on your site to see if there’s anymoreadvice on this…but I think I will try a bit of Grape Seed Extract & also Quercetin this winter to see if that will help.
Thanks so much for starting this blog!! Darby & Mookie
A few pages:
http://www.bullwrinkle.com/ShoppingPages/malaseb-pledgets.htm
http://www.katberard.com/hea_allergies.htm
http://www.barleans.com/literature/misc/113-natural-pet-doctor.html