How do I treat my dog's skin allergies?

Although scientists have come up with various reasons that dogs obtain allergies, one of the most common causes is not letting your dog have enough fresh air.





You see, dogs (even though they are domesticated) are naturally suited to the outdoors. Of course harsh cold and heat can be dangerous to them (if outdoor dogs), as we usually keep them either tied out or in a cage. Therefore, they cannot get to the deep woods and creeks to get cooled off, or into thickets to stay warm. But, keeping them in too much is bad. There are more allergens in your home (normally) than outside. Indoors, there is no circulating air. Most of the allergens in a home comes from dead skin particles. All of these allergens will attack a dog, sometimes worse than people. As people we shower one to two times per day. Pets get bathed when their masters are ready to do such a task. Therefore, all of those allergens build up and can cause skin irritations.





If you do keep your dog inside a lot, try regular baths with a dog wash that is very mild. Afterward, you could rub small amounts of Olive Oil ($3 to $6 per bottle at the grocery store in the cooking oils section) throughout the skin and hair. Don't use too much or it will just look nasty and oily. But Olive Oil won't be as thick and nasty as a regular cooking oil (regular cooking oil may clog your dogs pores--resulting in more irritation).





You could also call a groomer and see if they have a mild shampoo or any other suggestions. Also, ask if they have products that have natural ingredients. Sometimes man-made chemicals can cause a worse irritation.





I would also try to not become dependent on oral antibiotics as a form of treatment for any sores. Rubbing some Neosporin or other topical antibiotic on the sores would be better. Of course, try it on one of the sores first, to be sure that your dog does not have a bad reaction to the medicine.

How do I treat my dog's skin allergies?
have you taken him/her to the vet? my dog had skin allergies and my vet prescribed medication and we also gave him over the counter allergy medicine to dry him up. take your dog to the vet, it's not that expensive and it's worth it.
Reply:is it like hotsots? red, scaley rashes..if that is so, the vet would give an application of topical antibiotic cream to ease the rash..i do not know of the name-sorry
Reply:Sometimes dogs get itchy skin because of things that are not really skin-related, like a food allergy or a pollen allergy. Have the vet make sure he doesn't have fleas, mites, fungal infections, food allergies, etc. If his skin is just a little itchy because it's dry, check your local pet-supply store for an oatmeal-based shampoo and conditioner.
Reply:Very likely changing his food willl help. Get a food with no corn, soy, or chemical preservatives. Brown Rice whould be the grain.You won't find a good food on the grocer's shelves, or at Walmart. You have to go to your pet supply. Mention skin allergies to the sales person. I prefer Canidae, because it is made with all human grade ingredients. But there are other good ones.
Reply:You need to go to a vet and have them determine if they are caused by a thyroid problem, food allergies or an external source. This can be difficult to determine. My vet starts with a thyroid test and changes their diet. He put my basset on a really good dog food called Evo. It doesn't have all the fillers in it that over the counter grocery store foods have. It's pricer than store foods, but at 3/4 cup twice a day, it's not that bad. Ginny is worth it. The ver also gave me some special shampoo and conditioner for her and put her on antibiotics to clear up the hot spots.