3 most common dog allergies

Is your dog sneezing? There could be any number of reasons why!

Dogs, like humans can suffer from a variety of allergies, many of which cause nasal congestion, sore eyes and sneezing. When trying to care for a dog with allergies it is essential to first discover the allergy itself by working with a pet care professional and completing thorough diagnostic testing.
If you think your dog sneezing is caused by allergies the information below may be helpful.
Here are the three most common types of allergies suffered by canine companions;

Inhalant allergies: Similar to the seasonal allergies suffered by humans, the most common type of allergy for dogs is inhalant or atopy. These frequent allergens include grass, tree or weed pollens such as ragweed, mildew or cedar and cause a variety of symptoms ranging from a dog sneezing to ear infections and runny nose or irritated eyes.

Bacterial allergies: Though bacterial allergies are rare in dogs they should be considered if a dog appears to be itching constantly or showing other signs of discomfort. The symptoms of bacterial allergies are similar to ringworm, the most noticeable being a round area of hair loss and skin irritation. Though staph infections and bacterial allergies don’t usually result in a dog sneezing, it can weaken their immunity to other ailments which could cause nasal congestion such as colds or sinus infections.

Food allergies: The food allergies suffered by dogs are not the same as those diagnosed for their human companions. A canine food allergy does not begin at birth, but rather builds in intensity as the pup reaches a year of age and begins to display symptoms around the age of five. Most dog food allergies are triggered by the different types of proteins present in the animal’s food such as pork, beef, chicken or dairy products. Though food allergies are not a common cause for a dog sneezing they have been known to lead to other cold-like symptoms such as ear pain or inflammation.

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