Fleas Pictures

Many dogs suffer from dog skin allergies. The symptoms can be mild, an extra sensitivity that causes the dog to rub his face or body against a rough surface. Severe cases may lead to skin biting, infections and can be a real source of misery for the afflicted dog.

Dogs, like people, have allergic reactions to various irritants. The irritants cause the body to produce histamines. It is the histamines that cause the itching and irritation.

The most obvious irritant for dogs is the flea. These insects inject a blood anti-coagulant into the skin to get an easy flow of blood. This serum causes itching in most dogs but a dog who is sensitive to that anti-coagulant will suffer greatly from just one flea bite. The itching can last for days and be quite intense.

The second major culprit is the dogs food. Many dogs have food allergies. The task now is to find out which of the ingredients in dog food are the culprits. The first ingredients to weed out are corn, wheat and grain products. There are many dog foods for sensitive dogs on the market. They usually substitute sweet potato, rice or barley for the suspect grains and will have a limited variety of protein sources. Beef is usually eliminated but even lamb or chicken can result in an allergic response. The most extreme and sometimes most effective foods for a sensitive dog have a single source protein, such as fish, bison, turkey or rabbit.

Veterinarians can recommend steroidal medications, lotions and baths to calm the irritation. If you are lucky enough to live near an ocean or other body of salt water and have a dog who swims, then a weekly trip to the beach is a fun and effective solution. If there are fleas, theyll not survive the water and salt. The salt helps heal the skin and the exercise will allay some of the dogs anxiety. Oatmeal baths are another aid. Aromatherapy with sweet orange oil and massages with an almond oil and sweet orange oil combination are calming and the orange oil is a natural pesticide.

It is important to keep the dog on a regular feeding regiment once you find a dog food that works for him. It is a wise precaution to buy a new bad when the old one is about two thirds finished and mix the two. Sometimes bags that are made in different batches or factories have some minor changes in the formulation. An abrupt change from the old to the new can provoke another reaction.

If fleas are the culprit, they must be eliminated from the house, yard and, of course, your dog. Orange oil products are remarkably effective and totally safe, plus the smell is cheery and quite wonderful. Dogs do not shy away from a massage with orange and almond oils. Take the essential orange oil and drip it onto the dogs collar for protection against any fleas outdoors. Buy borax and sprinkle it around your house. Fleas love carpets. Push the borax into your carpets with a stiff broom, wait a few minutes and then vacuum it up. Then sprinkle lavender and peppermint leaves around. They also repel fleas and make your house smell wonderful.

Dog skin allergies should be dealt with promptly to alleviate the discomfort and suffering of your dog. With the right information, you can easily take the steps to removing the allergens that cause these problems.

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