An allergy is an overactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system to a particular substance, an allergen. Most common allergens are proteins from plants, insects (bites), or foods, but some small chemical molecules can also be allergens.
Common Dog Allergens
- Scented household cleaning supplies
- Scented laundry detergents and scented fabric softeners
- Foods
- Dust mites
- Tree pollen
- Lawn pesticide chemicals
- Grass and weeds pollen
- Bites from insects like fleas and mosquitoes
Some typical common allergic reactions include:
- Itchy reddened skin
- Rubbing ears, eyes and face
- Licking paws
- Sneezing and coughing
- Hair loss and vomiting are indications of a severe allergic reaction
Common natural ingredients that may help to reduce allergic reactions include:
Marine Omega-3s EPA & DHA
EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) and DHA ( Docosahexaenoic Acid) are the true bioactive essential fatty acids, which are extremely beneficial for humans and pets.
Marine sourced EPA & DHA from fatty, oily ocean fish like anchovy, mackerel and salmon, krill, seal oil, and certain algae deliver preformed ready to absorb bioactive beneficial EPA & DHA omega-3s.
Plant-based omega-3s, ALA and SDA, need to first be converted by the dog to make the biologically active EPA & DHA form. This conversion process can be slow and not efficient process. Alway best to purchase and give your dog preformed marine EPA & DHA omega-3.
Certain omega-3s can help calm your dog’s inflammatory reaction. This includes eicosatetraenoic Acid (ETA), eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA), and stearidonic Acid (SDA). Their anti-inflammatory properties decrease allergy symptoms like itching and scratching.
How To Give Your Dog Omega-3s
You can find ETA, EPA and SDA omega-3s in:
Hempseed Oil (SDA)
Ahiflower Oil (SDA)
Green Lipped Mussel Oil (ETA and EPA)
Adding the right omega-3s to your dog’s food may give your dog some relief from his allergies. You can find SDA, EPA, and ETA omega-3s in supplement form. Just make sure to use the right ones.
Colostrum is naturally found in mother’s first milk produced at the time of birthing a newborn. Colostrum is vital in developing the newborn’s immune system and digestive tract. Colostrum can help adult and senior animals also.
Bovine colostrum supplies dogs with several antibodies of common allergens. Cows develop antibodies to pollen, fleas and other allergens because they are exposed to these. Cows then pass these antibodies to their newborn calves from the colostrum in the first milk. Naturally, because of the colostrum, calves won’t develop allergies to these substances. So, giving bovine colostrum to a dog can provide natural antibodies that signal their immune system that some common allergens are not foreign body-invading substances.
Colostrum works well with environmental allergies and seasonal allergies in all ages - young, adult and seniors.
Quercetin is a phytonutrient found in fruits and vegetables. It’s a powerful antioxidant which acts as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
Quercetin is called "Nature’s Own Benadryl" because it can turn down histamine production. Histamines are chemicals that often cause the symptoms of allergic reactions. Studies have shown that quercetin prevents immune cells from releasing histamines.
Probiotics may be a simple way to help with your dog’s allergies. Probiotics are living beneficial bacteria and yeast that colonize a dog’s gut microbiome. …
The gut drives more than 70% of a dog’s immune system health. Beneficial probiotic bacteria and yeast can help reduce and displace bad pathogenic gut bacteria, resulting in less inflammation and autoimmune overactivity responses.
Although the science is still in the early phase of learning more about the gut microbiome, a number of studies have clearly indicated much reduced allergic symptoms and, in some cases, full relief.
