| Parasites | | | | Environmental allergens are usually treated with |
| The most common reason dogs continuously lick, itch | | | | anti-inflammatories or other prescription medication |
| and scratch is fleas, ticks and mites, which is also an | | | | from your vet. |
| extremely easy problem to treat. Fleas can cause | | | | Food Allergies |
| unnecessary discomfort for a dog, and it is a simple | | | | Chewing the feet can be an indicator of food |
| treatment to prevent them. If untreated, fleas can | | | | allergies. Although food allergies are less common in |
| also cause anemia and tapeworms. | | | | dogs, they can become severe. I believe either |
| With so many different choices to protect our pets | | | | feeding an all natural organic premium dog food or |
| from fleas and ticks, veterinarians still see many dogs | | | | using recipes and making your dog's meals will help |
| with flea problems on a daily basis. Spot treatments | | | | eliminate food allergies. Don't give a large variety to |
| are the most common and seem to be the most | | | | start with, and slowly introduce any new foods over |
| effective way to control fleas, ticks and mites. Avoid | | | | a period of several weeks to see if the chewing |
| dog skin problems caused by fleas and ticks by using | | | | increases or decreases. Keeping a careful watch of |
| spot treatments regularly, or as directed by the | | | | what your pet eats, and noting any changes in |
| manufacturer or your vet. | | | | behaviour shortly after the change, makes all the |
| Canine Allergies | | | | difference in catching an unknown food allergy. |
| My Black Lab "Lady" suffered with dog skin allergies | | | | So What Really is The Cause? |
| since we brought her home as a rescued puppy over | | | | The first priority for owners tackling dog skin |
| 11 years ago. Over the years, I have learned that | | | | problems or dog allergies should be to immediately to |
| allergies can be just as difficult to pinpoint in dogs as | | | | switch to an organic based diet, whether home made |
| they are in humans. Allergies occur when the bodys | | | | or a premium brand name. A certification of over |
| immune system is weakened, which can be caused | | | | 70% organic products used should be on the label to |
| by improper or insufficient nutrition. Feeding home | | | | ensure you are buying a high quality, premium food |
| made organic dog food with added nutritional | | | | for your dog, with the first ingredient being meat, of |
| supplements or the top of the line organic dog food | | | | course. An organic certification of 95% (of which |
| is the simplest way to determine if the allergies are | | | | there are a few) is equal the human grade food. This |
| caused by an immune deficiency. Giving a higher | | | | is something that definitely will not harm your pet, |
| nutritional organic diet is what stopped my Lady's | | | | and is the easiest and least expensive way to start |
| allergies altogether. The continuous paw licking | | | | figuring out what is causing the licking and allergies. |
| stopped completely because her immune system | | | | Remember, just because your dog doesn't do well on |
| was increased, which in turn caused her allergies to | | | | lamb doesn't mean that he won't do well on a |
| be eliminated. There was also a drastic improvement | | | | chicken based food. The premium organic dog food |
| is her overall health, well being and activity level. | | | | that I buy for my Lady is specifically marked for |
| Seasonal Allergies | | | | dogs with skin allergies, and this is what I believe |
| If you notice your dog chewing and scratching more | | | | cured her itchy skin problem. This had been ongoing |
| in the mornings after he/she comes in from outside, | | | | for years, with medical treatments of prednisone, |
| then it's possible he's/she's sensitive to pollen, mold, | | | | antihistamines, and costly vet bills for expensive |
| ragweed or other environmental factors, just as we | | | | allergy testing and after all that, the diagnosis was |
| are. Also, allergies can include a sensitivity to dust, | | | | inconclusive. The real key is to observe your dog's |
| and some dogs are allergic to dust-mites. | | | | patterns. |