So I am sitting on the couch watching my dog and I notice that he is chewing on his paw.  So I go over and take a look to see that he has a red spot that is obviously itching him.  Why?  Well your dog can get allergies as well as the rest of us. 

Some dogs are prone to skin allergies, our dog, a Cocker Spaniel, is one of those breads and in some instances the poor guys can literally chew until the fur is gone!  We hate so see our guys suffer so it is really important to take a look at what we can do to improve the health and happiness of our pups.

There are basically six reason for our dogs to have skin and coat problems.  These are Environmental, Nutritional, Parasitic, Allergic, Neurogenic, and Infectious.  In this blog post we are going to address the Allergic issues that may have an impact on our pets.  

One of the basic problems with allergies is to determine what they actually are and to rule out other factors.  Once your vet has ruled out all other factors, they must determine what the allergy actually is.  Is it grass? Food? Bacteria? Dust Mites?  Pollen? You? (ok well maybe not you).  But you can see that there are a huge number of things that your pet, like you, can be allergic to.

There are many ways to treat your pet if they suffer from allergies.  Treatments include special baths, sprays, cortisone, and a new product called Atopica.  The key is to find the right product to help your dog feel more comfortable and to stop that crazy itching and chewing!!  For more information stop by your Vet and ask for information and help that pup of yours relax!

Spring will be here before you know it!  If you are a bit proactive and you know that your dog suffers from allergies you can help them get started with an allergy free spring!