Nobody likes an itch\u2026especially not puppies. But the fact is, puppies can and do get allergies, or become allergic to certain things. These allergies can range from mild irritations to serious reactions and health problems. Environmental, or food-related allergies can be quite common, but how do you know if your dog has allergies?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In this article, we\u2019re going to scratch that itch for you, and help you learn about dog allergies. By the end, you\u2019ll be able to tell if your dog has allergies, the most common allergies for puppies and dogs, learn about puppy allergy medicines, and the best food for dog and puppy allergies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Download the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> today, and you\u2019ll get access to the best training program for puppies. You\u2019ll also be able to talk to our team of professional dog trainers<\/a> 24\/7 and ask for as much advice for any puppy troubles you might be facing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppy allergy symptoms can show up as an overreacting immune response and are often seen in the following ways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you notice these signs in your puppy, book an appointment with your Vet<\/a>. They\u2019ll be able to do all the hard work of testing, diagnosing, and treating whatever allergy symptoms they have. <\/p>\n\n\n\n To be honest, there is some controversy about whether allergy tests are fully trustworthy, and they do draw some criticism… However, your veterinarian is the best person to advise you on what to do if your dog displays allergic symptoms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Is your dog sneezing more than usual? Aw, bless you for being so concerned. You may want to read our article on \u201cwhy is my puppy sneezing<\/a>\u201d – it\u2019ll have the answers you\u2019re looking for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allergens can be found both in your house and outside. These can include pollen, food, dust, and much more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some common allergies we see in dogs:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, an ingredient in your dog\u2019s food<\/a> such as beef, chicken, soy or wheat may cause allergic symptoms or a reaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common signs that your dog might be allergic to a certain food or ingredient can be gastrointestinal issues, vomiting or diarrhea, and skin problems. Very often, skin issues affect their ears, or cause itching, scratching, or dandruff.<\/p>\n\n\n\n These include pollen, grass<\/a>, dust, and mold; which can be found inside your home as well as outside. Maybe this is your chance to give your home a deep clean, hey?<\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll frequently see hay fever-like symptoms in dogs with these allergies. They will sneeze<\/a>, and have a runny nose, watery eyes<\/a>, or itchy ears. More like bye-fever – ugh. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Chemicals that your dog comes into contact with can also cause allergic reactions. These can be caused by the detergent you wash their puppy’s blankets<\/a> or bedding<\/a> with or other cleaning products like carpet deodorizer and air fresheners. Let\u2019s be honest, air fresheners never work anyway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is itching and scratching a lot, and you\u2019ve changed your detergent, then chances are it could be the culprit!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Urgh yes, while fleas<\/a> are no good for any dog really, some puppies are highly allergic to flea saliva and bites, and will itch and scratch themselves until they are sore. How annoying are they\u2026small but feisty little things. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy is allergic to fleas, you\u2019ll need to get a proper flea treatment<\/a>, and treat all other pets in the house! <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you suspect your dog has an allergy, then the first thing to do is identify the allergen itself. You can do this by keeping a diary of your dog\u2019s day-to-day routines<\/a>, things they come into contact with, and what their general response is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The first person to talk to about your dog\u2019s allergies will be your Vet<\/a>. They have all the tools to help with testing, treatment, and prescribing anti-allergy medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What you want to do, ultimately, is to get to the root cause and remove whatever allergy culprit from your dog\u2019s day-to-day life. Prevention is always the best approach, as you want to avoid entering the stage of actually having to treat it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Common seasonal allergies like hay fever, or insect bites can often be treated with over-the-counter medication like Benadryl. However, longer-term or more acute allergies can be treated with drugs like Apoquel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some puppies respond well to topical treatments. They might even enjoy taking baths<\/a> in products like Melaseb which can help to ease skin sores and soothe allergic reactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you think your dog has a food allergy, the first thing to do is to keep a food diary. You\u2019ll want to keep track of your dog\u2019s reactions to try to pin down what the allergy might be. After that, choose a puppy food with a single-ingredient protein source, and preferably one your dog hasn\u2019t eaten before, to test it out. <\/p>\n\n\n\n By selecting a novel protein source, we can do an elimination diet and find out what proteins or ingredients your puppy might be allergic to. This is where your food journal will really come in handy!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bet you didn’t know that chicken and poultry a common allergens in food for dogs. It makes sense you didn’t know that – weirdly enough, poultry (chicken fat) is often used in a lot of foods as a flavor enhancer. Therefore, we recommend checking the ingredients of your puppy\u2019s food bag and be on the lookout for anything poultry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s also worth checking the labels of foods that say things like \u2018with beef\u2019 as they can be misleading about what the major protein source might be. Sure, they may have a proportion of beef in there, but regularly also contain other protein sources, which might be an allergen for your puppy. Copywriters and marketers can just have a way with words, don\u2019t they? <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sometimes the easiest way is to cook your puppy\u2019s food<\/a>, but you need to make sure of a couple of things. It\u2019s important to make sure it\u2019s balanced, that it has the right quantities of vitamins and minerals, and that it maintains the correct ratio of proteins and fats. That way, your puppy will get the balanced diet they need and deserve. And you\u2019ll get all the credits for being the best dog food chef. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information, read up on our articles about puppy nutrition<\/a>, home cooking for your dog<\/a>, and raw feeding for puppies. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes, both puppies and dogs can have food allergies. Commonly it is a protein source they are allergic to, but some puppies may have a soy, wheat, or maize allergy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Allergies are not something puppies grow out of, however, over time they mature and can become less sensitive to different foods as the gut gets used to it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Allergy testing can be done by your Vet, but it does attract some criticism. Often, an allergy diary can be far more successful in pinpointing what the allergen might be, so we definitely recommend trying this!<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\nHow do I know if my dog has allergies – signs of dog allergies?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Symptoms of Common Puppy & Dog Allergies <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Food allergies <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Environmental allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Contact allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Flea allergies<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Allergy Treatment & Medicine for Your Puppy<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Best puppy food for allergies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Can dogs have food allergies?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Do puppies grow out of allergies?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>Can vets check for allergies?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Download the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> to get your paws on a full puppy training program, and information on diet and health. You\u2019ll also be able to talk to our team of professional dog trainers<\/a> about your dog – they\u2019re online for you 24\/7 via our in-app chat, so you needn\u2019t be alone with your puppy struggles. You can share your troubles with them! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"