Many dogs can suffer from allergic reactions to various things. Breeds such as Bulldogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Schnauzers, and Terriers may be genetically pre-disposed to allergies, specifically, allergies caused by ingredients found in food.

Some symptoms of food allergies in dogs and cats are their skin becomes itchy and irritated on their face, feet, ears, forelegs, armpits and the area around the anus. Additional symptoms include frequent ear infections, hair loss, excessive scratching, hot spots, and skin infections that respond to antibiotics but reoccur after antibiotics are discontinued. Dogs with food allergies may have an increased incidence of bowel movements. Dogs without allergies tend to have around 1.5 bowel movements per day where some dogs with food allergies may have 3 or more per day.

Ingredients in dog food such as preservatives, additives, peanut butter and tomatoes cause allergic reactions. Peanut butter is sometimes an ingredient in dog biscuits, while tomato paste is sometimes an ingredient in dry dog food. Dogs can also be allergic to protein, such as chicken, beef, or carbohydrates such as wheat and corn. Veterinarians recommend a diet of lamb and rice for dogs with allergic reactions.

You can prepare allergy free pet food for dog at home. Remember, dogs love fresh vegetables such as carrots, broccoli and cauliflower. Keep in mind that vegetables also provide additional benefits that will help your dog or cat live a longer more healthy life. Be sure to change your dog’s diet gradually as to avoid stomach problems.

Many dog allergies are initiated by air-borne and environmental factors. Dogs are often times allergic to trees, grass, pollen and fabrics made of wool or nylon. Other common substances that cause allergic reactions in dogs include plastic, rubber materials, mites, flea bites or insects. After direct contact with these substances, their body responds to these allergens by becoming itchy. Because of the dogs constant scratching they may develop sores which create an optimal location for an unwanted bacterial infection. Dogs sometimes experience symptoms of an allergic reaction yet they did not come in direct contact with the allergen itself. Veterinarians diagnose this as Atopy which is dermatitis caused by inhalation rather than physical contact. This normally occurs as a result of your dog inhaling pollen, dust, mold, or another allergy substance in the air.

Dog paws, ears, and face are likely to become inflamed by allergies. Talk to your veterinarian about controlling pet allergies. Some treatments such as fatty acid supplements, hypoallergenic shampoo and hydrocortisone creams are used to heal sores on a dog’s body. Antihistamines are also used in veterinary medicine to relieve the dogs itching and make life more comfortable. Since there are side effects when using an antihistamine such as: sleepiness, hyperactivity, constipation, dry mouth & lack of appetite, be sure you have consulted your vet.

When dogs have allergies, the allergy usually manifests itself on the back or belly as sores forcing the dog to lick or scratch the area which sometimes causes their hair to fall out. Food and/or environmental culprits can make your dog miserable. Identifying the source of the allergy will make your pet’s quality of life 100% better!

Similar to people, dogs can experience from the effects of allergies. By contacting your veterinarian, they can be controlled. In addition Joanne Gallagher recommends checking out Jakes Dog House for all natural, holistic dog treats, glucosamine dog food and organic dog biscuits.

Many pet owners are turning to holistic health care as an alternative to help their well-loved pets live healthy, long and happy lives.

Your dog’s nutritional needs may be the most important aspect when it comes to a dog health diagnosis, as nutrition is the basis for health. Dogs neede a certain balance of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients to ensure everything from the digestive systems to the bones, joints, and organs as well as the skin and coat are as healthy as possible. Dogs’ nutritional needs differ to our own. A diet of meat, vegetables, and whole grains without any processed foods or unnecessary fillers is usually recommended when thinking about holistic dog health.

Once you have a dog health diagnosis, you can go the conventional treatment way, or use a combination of various essential oils, flowering essences, plant extracts, and certain herbs. You can consult with a holistic veterinarian, or you could do your own research on holistic dog health care and run your ideas past your vet before embarking upon a holistic treatment regime. These ancient healing practices have in recent years found their way into pet care and are now becoming increasingly popular as more and more dog owners are looking for safer, healthier, and less invasive alternatives to treating their pets.

Canine herbal remedies include calendula and chamomile for treating wounds, with chamomile used to give relief for respiratory compaints as well. Flaxseed mixed with lots of water may help cure dogs who are constipated or have other bowel problems. Oats may help soothe your dog’s dry, itchy skin, and smelling lavender may help your pooch get some shut-eye if he is having difficulty sleeping.

Your vet can provide valuable input and recommendations in relation to holistic dog health care, but if you have a vet who is not interested in discussing alternative health methods with you, you should do your own research, as well as consider finding another vet who is willing to listen to your views about the use of alternative treatments for your dog.

Nowadays, many veterinarians are developing faith in a holistic dog fitness approach, and are using it as a way to augment their practices. A veterinarian who practices holistic pet care treats animals as a whole, rather than identifying a certain problem and prescribing one type of treatment related to that specific injury or illness.

For example, your dog has suddenly come down with a red, irritating rash and has started losing some fur. A “regular” vet would most likely prescribe a topical ointment and an antibiotic medication to stop the infection and itching.

A holistic veterinarian will be more concerned about the source of the rash and why it happened even though they may still prescribe the two remedies. Keeping holistic care in mind, the dog’s indoor and outdoor environment, its daily lifestyle, eating habits and nutritional intake are all to be considered before diagnosing or treating the animal.

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The relationships we share with our pets are often irreplaceable. Their companionship and constant presence can be both soothing and invigorating. Unfortunately, pets suffer health issues and occasionally require costly medical attention in the same way people do. When an emergency occurs and it becomes necessary to visit the veterinarian, many owners are stunned by the costs of performing tests and procedures. If they are unable to afford it, the alternative can be heartbreaking. Pet insurance was created to provide owners with an alternative.

Today’s article will focus on how this unique breed of coverage works. We’ll describe what you can expect after investing in a policy for your dog and how it can reduce the costs of veterinary care.

How It Can Reduce Veterinary Costs

Medical care for canines has come a long way over the past 20 years. Many procedures that are common today were not even possible a few decades ago. As a result, dogs can live longer, healthier lives and receive treatment for a variety of illnesses and disorders that would otherwise have deadly consequences. Of course, as with medical attention for people, the costs of veterinary care have skyrocketed.

For example, a condition called “bloat” (also referred to as gastric torsion) might cost more than $5,000 to treat. Because the condition is life-threatening, an owner who cannot afford treatment may be forced to euthanize his canine. Even a relatively minor leg fracture can cost several hundreds of dollars to set.

To be sure, performing tests and providing treatment for your pooch can be expensive. That is the reasons dog health insurance was created. It allows owners to invest in a policy that helps allay the high costs of veterinary treatment. If your dog becomes sick or is injured, the policy covers the expense.

It works in a similar manner as your health insurance policy. When you visit your veterinarian, he or she will present you with a bill covering the procedures that were performed on your canine. After you pay the bill, you would file a claim with your pet insurance provider. Your provider would then review your claim and send you a check to reimburse you for the treatment provided by the veterinarian.

Is It The Right Decision For You?

Only you can know whether your budget is able to accommodate the premiums attached to a dog health insurance policy. In truth, the premiums are usually slight, especially when compared to the amount of coverage a policy offers. Given that a large portion of veterinary care is attributed to unexpected circumstances (i.e. injuries, sudden onset of illness, etc.), it’s an investment that every owner should at least consider.

The worst possible scenario is to find yourself in a situation that forces you to choose between absorbing a significant veterinarian bill or allowing your pooch to perish. A dog health insurance policy can help you avoid that tragic circumstance.

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All ear infections, regardless of the cause, may have the same symptoms. Some symptoms to watch for at home that might mean your dog has an ear infection are:

Continous Shaking of the Head

Scratching at the head or ears

Constant rubbing of the head and ears on the floor or ground

A distinct redness or irritation in the ear canal

Discharge coming from the ears

A brown or yellowish discharge present in the ears

Foul odor coming from the ear

Pain when the head or ears are touched or petted

Veterinarian Visit – The Diagnosis

When you first notice symptoms of an ear infection, it is important to take your dog to see your veterinarian. You should be careful about putting anything into your dogs ears before a veterinary examination. If your dog has a ruptured eardrum, putting anything in its ears could lead to more severe symptoms including a head tilt, walking in circles, or other neurologic symptoms.

For those dogs that experience frequent ear infections or ear infections resistant to treatment, it is highly imperative to seek out the underlying cause. In most cases, a physical examination can deliver this information. Upon examination, small ear canals, excessive hair in the ear and floppy pinnae can easily be seen. In addition, foreign objects or tumors are also easily visualized with a physical exam.

In order to rule out an allergy to food, the veterinarian will put your dog on a hypoallergenic food for a period of about eight weeks. During this time you will monitor your dog and keep a journal of any receding symptoms, increasing symptoms or no change in symptoms at all.

Blood tests and skin tests are used to rule out Atopy or seasonal or inhalant allergies. These are performed just as they are in humans and can provide specifically what your dog is allergic to.

Blood tests for endocrine related diseases will be performed. These tests show the veterinarian if a certain endocrine organ is functioning properly. If there is an endocrine problem, other symptoms will present themselves besides ear infections.

Ear Infection Treatment

Discovering the root cause of the ear infection is first and foremost, followed by treatment. In dogs with a food allergy, those foods should be avoided; those with Atopy will be required to take medications in order to control their symptoms and will most likely be on these medications for the rest of their lives. These medications commonly consist of corticosteroids, antihistamines, omega-3 fatty acid supplements and cyclosporine.

In addition to the earlier listed medications, others such as antibiotics and antifungals along with shampoos and rinses may be needed to control symptoms. It is important to note that each dog varies and the treatment will be based on the severity of their symptoms.

In general, an ear infection can be cleared up with a combination of oral medication and medication inserted in the ear. However, it is imperative that you clean your dogs ears once or twice a week to remove excess buildup of medication which can retain debris and impede the healing process. An ear infection is usually treated for two weeks, although some cases may take longer. If the infection does not clear up, a swab or ear culture may be needed for further testing.

How to Prevent Ear Infections

Treat all underlying diseases present in your dog

Dry your dogs ears thoroughly after bathing

Dry your dogs ears out every time it swims.

Do not use water or cleanser in your dogs ears unless absolutely necessary and always make sure to dry them completely when you do.

Always remember: Keeping dogs ears dry is the key element to prevention and treatment of ear infections.

An experience veterinarian with great passion for writing, Heather Fox loves to share her knowledge about Dog Illness Diagnosis with fellow pet lovers. You can find more of her lessons including Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis Prevention on Clivir.com.

Pet owners everywhere are at one time or another faced with the issue of how to get rid of fleas! When your pet gets infested with fleas it can be a terribly frustrating experience for both the owner and pet. Our local pet food store sells an assortment of flea collars, flea powders and flea shampoo including Frontline for fleas. Even though the staff are helpful, it is pretty hard to know which product to use and almost impossible to know all of the active ingredients of these dog flea products. There can be some hazardous side-effects of those well known but potentially highly harmful dog flea products. The chemicals used in some of the household name products and major national popular brands on the market may be poisoning our pets and marginalizing our own family?s health at the same time. So the question is, how to get rid of fleas safely?

More recently, dog owners are seeking homeopathic or all-natural alternatives to the issue of how to get rid of fleas. Some of the more popular all-natural dog flea remedies are outlined as follows:

1. Household salt remedy. Sprinkle it all over the house and particularly where your dog likes to snooze. Let the salt sit for a week or more. It seems that fleas don?t seem to like salt. Your dog will lie down on the carpet and the salt will also get on to his fur. A few days later and presto the fleas are gone.

2. Baking Soda to get rid of fleas. Cover your dog with baking soda. The baking soda will smother the fleas and kill them. This all-natural flea remedy is often recommended for puppies and kittens who are too young to be exposed to any flea remedy chemical. You can also use talcum powder or baby powder.

3. Olive oil solution. For the fleas on adult dogs, you might want to try an olive oil solution. Start from the dog?s head and work your way to his tail so the fleas don’t move to the face. People say that the fleas just drown in the olive oil and fall out. Then just shampoo the dog fleas down the drain. This can be a pricey solution and your dog will smell like a salad..

4. Other people think garlic is the only way to go in the battle against dog fleas. Use fresh garlic diced in a food processor or by hand. You can put a dab of oil into it in order to make it more paste-like plus the oil will make for a nice shiny coat. Some people use a garlic pill supplement while others use freshly chopped garlic and mix it into the food.

There seem to be many all-natural alternatives to treating dog fleas. Some are bound to work better than others. These treatments will likely work best for a small infestation. For a really major case of fleas you might want to try a stronger dog flea remedy available at the pet store or vet?s office. In figuring out how to get rid of fleas its best to do some homework. However, with all matters pertaining to the health of your dog, please check with your vet about potential bad side effects.