What Causes Dog Skin Allergies?

Skin allergies in dogs can be caused by many different things, however there are a few major allergies that you should be aware of. The three major causes of skin allergies in dogs are fleas, food, and environmental allergens.

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Fleas are the major cause of skin allergies in dogs. While dogs are not directly allergic to the fleas themselves, they are allergic to the saliva that the fleas leave behind when they bite the dog. So in this case you see tiny red bumps that are very itchy to the dog.

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When it comes to food allergies you can not only see skin irritation, but you also get other clinical signs as well, like diarrhea. Many dogs can be eating the same diet for many years and then suddenly become allergic to it. Some veterinarians think it might be related to genetics but we still do not know for sure.

The third major cause of skin allergies in dogs is atopy. This is simply an allergy to pollens, molds, and dust. These are the same type of allergies that many humans get which are also sometimes called seasonal allergies.

If you think your dog might be experiencing any allergy symptoms it is important that you have them examined by a veterinarian right away. Most allergies get worse over time so the sooner that you can relieve your dog symptoms the better chances are that you can control it.

Thanks to today's medical advances there are many prescription foods, medications, and allergy shots that can be given to dogs to help relieve their symptoms.

What Causes Dog Skin Allergies?

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Canine Sneezing - A Look at Common Causes of Dog Sneezing

It is common for your dog to sneeze occasionally. Excessive dog sneezing is usually the result of foreign objects, infections, allergies, or tumors. Some of these conditions are easy to treat, while others can be more serious. Let's take a look at some of the most common causes of canine sneezing.

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Allergies

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Like humans, dogs can develop allergies too. This means that your dog may sneeze more frequently when plant fibers and pollen grains are in the air. Excessive mold in the air can also be to blame. Some dogs are also allergic to cigarette smoke and certain types of rugs and carpeting.

Infections

One of the more serious causes of dog sneezing is an infection. This infection affects the nose and can be caused by a fungus, virus, or bacteria. Besides sneezing, most dogs also have a discharge from their nose that can affect only one or both nostrils. Sometimes, these infections may result in a chronic condition.

Abscesses

Tooth abscesses can also cause canine sneezing. One of your dog's upper premolar teeth has roots in the vicinity of his nasal passages. Sneezing occurs when this tooth or one of its neighbors becomes infected. This symptom is usually accompanied with drainage from the nose.

Tumors

Another serious cause of dog sneezing is the development of an intranasal tumor. The tumor also causes bloody discharge produced by one nostril. In the earlier stages, your dog will only display these symptoms occasionally. As it progresses over weeks and months, it will occur more frequently. This condition can be treated with chemotherapy or surgery.

Foreign Bodies

Foreign bodies are one of the last common causes of canine sneezing. These objects become lodged in one of the nostrils which then produces a discharge. Most dogs are able to sneeze these foreign objects out by themselves. However, others will have to have them removed physically.

Canine Sneezing - A Look at Common Causes of Dog Sneezing

As you now know, there are a variety of dog illnesses that can affect your pet. So, stop by dog-illnesses.com today to learn about some of these diseases such as canine diarrhea.

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Why Is My Dog Not Eating? Common Causes of Dog Eating Problems

It's not unusual for dogs not to eat their meal and leave the food untouched in their bowl. Although this is concerning for their owners, it's not necessarily a sign of ill health, particularly if they are still bright and alert.

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The weather can affect your dog's appetite. If it is too hot, he might not feel like eating. He also may not need to eat as much because he doesn't need to put energy into keeping warm.

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Your dog may not like what you are giving him. The food may be a bit stale and not very appetising, or he may just have more gourmet tastes. You can certainly try offering him fresh food to see if it's more appealing. If he is just fussy, then it will take some discipline on your part to teach him that you're not going feed him chicken breast or lean steak, and he will need to get used to eating kibble!

Before you try the tough love approach, make sure there is no medical reason for your dog's loss of appetite.

Look in his mouth and check that there there isn't any dental disease that may be making it painful for him to eat. Look along his gum line for any reddening or swelling, particularly in the area of those large upper molars. A sore mouth can make dinnertime miserable, because in most cases, your dog will want to eat but it just hurts too much. The same can occur with ulcers or abrasions inside the mouth, so while you're looking at his teeth, check the roof of his mouth, inside his cheeks and as far back in his throat as you can. Loss of appetite can also be associated with an upset digestive system. Your dog may have eaten something a bit rotten, or be suffering from a more serious condition such as a stomach ulcer, intestinal obstruction or viral infection. Problems with internal organs, such as liver or kidney disease, can make your dog feel nauseous and therefore not interested in food. It's likely that he will also show other symptoms such as excessive thirst, depression and possibly vomiting. Stress can put your dog off his food. Have there been any changes in his life recently? Perhaps you've moved house, or perhaps you have just had a baby. It can take some dogs a little while to adapt to such things, and they can stop eating, just as a person would if they felt unhappy. If you can't find anything wrong with your dog's mouth, and he is bright and happy, it's safe to wait a little while to see if he improves, before contacting your vet. Don't offer him any food for 24 hours, and then start offering him small frequent meals of a bland food. Chicken and rice is ideal for this. If his appetite returns, that's great; you can then gradually change back to his regular diet over a day or two.

If he is lethargic and appears obviously unwell, or if he shows other symptoms of illness, take him along to your vet for a check-up.

Our dogs are like family to us and so naturally it's very upsetting when they become sick. Wouldn't it be wonderful if you knew how to give your dog a check-up, so you could spot a problem early? Before it became truly serious or even life threatening?

Why Is My Dog Not Eating? Common Causes of Dog Eating Problems

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Incontinence Dog Problems - Common Causes and Solutions

An incontinence dog problem occurs when your dog involuntary urinates. In most dogs this happens at night or suffers from minor leaking during the day.

There are a number of things that can cause incontinence in a dog. The cause is usually based on your dog's age and sex.

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Female Spayed Dogs: An incontinence dog problem in a female dog that has been spayed is usually due to a weak sphincter muscle (called USMI). Spaying appears to negatively effect estrogen levels in the body which causes this muscle to atrophy (weaken). If USMI is the problem, then there are medications that can be prescribed to help strengthen the muscle.

Medications can be prescribed for this condition which strengthens the muscle and could potentially result in a cure. This includes estrogen hormone therapy or use of a drug called phenylpropanolamine.

Younger Dogs: When incontinence is seen in younger dogs it can be due to a behavioral problem or structural deformity in the way the ureters (tube from the kidney to the bladder) connect to the bladder. If it isn't formed correctly it blocks the flow of urine and requires surgical correction.

Older Dogs: In older dogs where muscle weakness is a natural part of aging there isn't much you can do beyond keeping your dog clean. You can also consider buying diapers for your dog that will pull moisture away from the body.

All Dogs: Bladder stones and infection could cause an incontinence dog problem. Stones can partially block the flow of urine. Infection such as bacterial infection causes the route the urine follows to narrow. The combination of the two create real incontinence problems for your dog. Treatment involves either medications to dissolve the stones. If this doesn't work, or can't work for the type of stones (there are multiple types) your dogs is suffering from (usually oxalate), then surgery will be needed. The infection can be treated with common antibiotics.

Homeopathic Alternatives for an Incontinence Dog Problem

There are some natural approaches available to help strengthen the bladder, support the urinary system and help to prevent or assist conventional medicine with the treatment of infection. One type of product focuses on infection. These herbal ingredients help to restore the PH of the urine, an important step in helping the urine to its job, killing bacteria that is colonizing in the urinary tract and flushing crystals, the building blocks of stones, from the body.

The second type of homeopathic remedy may help to strengthen the bladder and help if urination is behavioral, such as urination by a nervous or stressed dog. Ingredients for incontinence dog such as Cantharis (for shy dogs that can't control the urge to urinate when stressed), Causticum (for accidents when your dog sneezes), Equisetum (bladder ache and helps with frequent urination) and Ferrum phos (for bladder support).

An incontinence dog problem requires a visit to a veterinarian. Ask your vet about conventional, surgical and natural homeopathic treatment options.

Incontinence Dog Problems - Common Causes and Solutions

Jeff Grill is an editor of the Dog Health Handbook and has written on many canine health problems. See this site for more information on incontinence dog treatment options.

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