Itching, Biting, Chewing, Scratching - Part 3 - Allergies!
You've ruled out a parasite (flea, tick, mites, etc.), changed your dog's shampoo, spent a fortune on their new food, and they are still scratching. What to do?
If your pet did have a flea, the scratching may be from the saliva left on your dog by the flea! Yes - those little critters have saliva. If this may be the case, try applying some aloe vera on the area to see if that helps or give them a bath with 4-Legger (of course)!
If your dog's scratching isn't caused by a parasite it may be time to look at ALLERGIES!
Yes, just like humans, your dog can suffer from allergens like mold, pollen, perfumes, smoke, medication, shampoo, and food. Allergies can make your dog's eyes runny, their skin dry/itchy or the opposite - greasy and oily - both resulting in itching, biting, chewing, and scratching! It can also cause sneezing, vomiting, diarrhea, swollen paws, and even snoring caused by an inflamed throat.
What might your dog be allergic to?
- Grass, tree, and pollen
- Dust and dust mites
- Dander
- Feathers
- Cigarette smoke
- Fabrics
- Perfumes
- Cleaning products
- Dog shampoo ingredients
- Food ingredients (beef, chicken, pork, corn, wheat, soy)
- Prescription drugs
- Rubber and plastic materials
- Flea and tick control products
You could go to a veterinary dermatologist who specializes in skin problems to do allergy testing. There are also some saliva testing kits that you can utilize to do testing. Check with your veterinarian for more information.
If you prefer to go about it on your own, you may have to put on your Sherlock Holmes cloak and try the process of elimination. Start with the easy substitutions - their shampoo, treats, and food. Eliminating possibilities and slowly introducing them back into their lives will give you clues to solve the mystery! Also, just because your dog didn't have an allergy to wheat last year, doesn't mean your dog hasn't acquired a reaction to it.
