Helping Your Dog Cope with Allergies

As you may know, aloe has been used as a remedy for many things since Some people don’t realize it, but our pet dogs can suffer from allergies just as much as we can. If your dog has red ears, flaky skin and runny eyes, it may be suffering from an allergy. While other medical issues may be behind these symptoms – which means you should take your dog to a veterinarian – often times what you are seeing and what your dog is experiencing is an allergic reaction.

The good news is that allergy medications are definitely available for your dog, the two major classifications being antihistamines and corticosteroids.

What’s the difference? Both have their pros and cons. Let’s look at them briefly.

Of the two types of allergy medicines, many say that antihistamines safer for dogs. However, they don’t always work, with studies suggesting that, on average, the most common antihistamines only work on about 25% of dogs. Beyond that, this type of medication will have to be given to your dog several times a day and usually in pill form, which may be rather difficult depending on your dog’s personality. Some dogs also experience drowsiness after being administered antihistamines.

What about corticosteroids? Unlike antihistamines, corticosteroids will probably work faster on your dog, with the corticosteroid “Prednisone” being among the most commonly administered. However, corticosteroids do have side effects and may suppress your dog’s immune system, making them susceptible to other illnesses. If this type of allergy medicine is used on your dog, experts recommend using as low a dosage as possible and using it for a short period of time only.

How else can you treat your dog’s allergy? Well, there are a few non-medicinal approaches you can take. Note that these may or may not be able to replace medicinal approaches, check with your veterinarian.  

For starters, diet is important. Changing your dog’s diet may help relieve your dog’s allergy, as food allergies are sometimes to blame.

Bathing your dog on a regular basis may also help. Shampoos made from natural ingredients like aloe vera, oatmeal among others can help sooth your dog’s skin, keep its coat clean and perhaps reduce the need for medication.

And if skin irritation is a problem for your dog, you can also try our Aloe Veterinary Formula. It is ideally suited for external skin problems and contains Aloe Vera gel and Allantoin, a naturally soothing substance.

Some allergic reactions occur from contact with vegetation and other things found outdoors, so washing may be an important step to take.

Whatever path you take, we strongly recommend you check with your veterinarian first. The information here is provided as some practical advice, but we are not veterinarians and expert advice should be sought.