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Top Treatments For Older Dogs with Allergies

There are several ways to treat dog allergies: shampoos, diet, avoidance, medication, or shots. The best treatment depends on the type of allergy your dog is suffering from and on how your pal is reacting to it.

Avoidance

This is probably the most effective way of treating dog allergies. When the allergens are identified, you can keep your pal away from them, guaranteeing that it will no longer show symptoms like sneezing, itching, coughing, dermatitis, watery eyes, or hair loss.

However, the process of identifying allergens takes a long time, and some allergens, like pollen, can’t be avoided.

This is a great treatment for food allergies, though. By changing its diet to avoid certain ingredients, you can ensure your dog stays free of allergy symptoms.

Shampoos

These can relieve the itchiness caused by allergens. The best are the hypoallergenic shampoos or the ones that contain hydrocortisone.

These shampoos should be used every time you bathe your dog, and you can complement them or substitute them with powders and sprays.

Diet supplements

Older dogs that are allergic should have a special diet to minimize negative reactions.

Fatty acids supplements are very good at easing allergy symptoms. Omega 3 fatty acids help a lot to maintain the health of older dogs skin and coat, and they cut the effect of histamines produced in allergic dogs. For best results, add B Vitamins like Biotin.

With diet supplements you will see results in a few weeks or months; some dogs will heal completely, others may not.

Medication

When we say medication, we mean steroids or antihistamines.

There are many types of antihistamines, thus, trials have to be made to see which one works on what dog. Antihistamines must be given while you practice avoidance and while you give your pal diet supplements.

Steroids will work on most cases, however, when used long-term, these may have undesirable side effects, like irritability, personality changes, lethargy, nausea, and digestive problems.

Immunization

This is commonly called shot therapy, and it has shown great results when applied to allergic dogs. After the shots, some dogs stop suffering from allergies, and only require a booster every 6 months.

Shot therapy is a long process that has to start with the detection of the allergens, since the shots are prepared using small amounts of those allergens.

The injections are given regularly, more frequently in the beginning. The amount of allergen will go up as the dog starts to become immune, and after 6 to 12 months, your pal could be free of allergies.

In any case, if your dog is allergic, you must talk to your vet to consider every option. He may try several treatments before finding the best one for your friend’s specific case.