What Causes Dog Allergies

"Langhaardackel merlin 2005" by Rainer Spickmann - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5 via Wikimedia Commons

Ever seen a dog itching all over and scratching itself constantly? This is most likely caused by dog allergies. Dog allergies make pets uncomfortable and it can ruin beautiful coats too. It is a must to stop dog allergies right away. One of the most important steps to take in order to prevent and cure dog allergies is to understand the things which cause it. What are the likely causes of dog allergies? Get to know them so that you will know how to prevent and get rid of them.

Mold

This is something which can be found inside the home. Mold loves to grow in places which are humid, unventilated and places with moisture. Mold can cause your beloved dogs to itch. If you house has ever been flooded or if it has places which are constantly wet, your dog is a great candidate for allergies. Molds in the home such as Stachybotros will not only cause allergies in your dogs, it will also have harmful effects on the members of the household.  Molds may vary from one region to another but the point is you need to make sure that you get rid of them as soon as possible.  Run the air conditioner regularly to keep the humidity low. Check the air conditioner and clean it regularly.

Food

Although this is one of the least likely causes of allergies but most people always blame food first as the cause of allergies. Only about 15% of allergies are caused by food. There are dogs which are sensitive to a particular kind of food. Protein is one of the main causes of food allergies. The remedy for this is to switch to another type of protein source.

Other animals

Your dog might also be allergic to other animals in your household, such as your cat. Male long-haired cats put out a lot of allergens. Cat allergen can stick to walls easily, the carpet, walls and may other surfaces in the household. What you can do to remedy this is to use bath products which will remove these allergens.

Family members

This might sound funny but this is true. People, just like cats, also put out allergens. The allergens are found in the skin of humans.

Insects

Insects can also be the cause of seasonal allergies. Summertime is often the season of bugs and this is when mosquitoes and other insects mostly attack. You can buy bug sprays which will kill these bugs right away.

Seasonal dog allergies

This is, among the likely causes of dog allergies, the most common. Allergies often run in families of dogs, but it is not the major cause. It is best to take your pet to a veterinarian so that he or she can run a scratch test. Veterinarians often inject pollen extracts just under the shaved area of the skin and doctors note the reactions a little later.