It's That Time of Year Again... Allergies and Your Diabetic Dog
We have addressed this topic a few times before and we will address it again today. From what I’m reading, allergies are bad this year. So let’s refresh our memories on how to help our pups get through this season. Environmental allergies are a beast and difficult to get under control if they get too far ahead of us in our treatment.
According to a new study done in England, itchy skin can lead to problematic behaviors. Some of these behaviors are: chewing, hyperactivity, poop eating, begging for and stealing food, attention-seeking, excitability, excessive grooming (licking).
If your dog is dealing with atopic dermatitis, it’s important to try to discover what the underlying cause is. Is it diet based or is it environmental? Food is either healing or harmful. If your pup is miserable with itchiness, you may want to try home cooking for them until the worst of the allergies pass. That will rule out food allergies.
Bathing dogs with naturally antibacterial shampoos or skin ozone treatments and then applying microbiome-restoring rinses, sprays or powders can offer the same benefits as oral antibiotics without any negative side effects. Research shows that the hair follicle microbiome plays a role in skin health so finding a way to restore microbial balance without lifelong oral antibiotics is a must. Disinfecting and microbiome-restorative baths are one of the most underutilized therapies in veterinary dermatology.
How can you calm a stressed-out dog?
Plenty of exercise, playtime, mental stimulation, attention and affection is a good place to start. Daily rigorous exercise is one of the most overlooked, free and effective treatments for reducing stress that very few pet parents take advantage of. The greater the level of stress and anxiety, the more exercise they need.
When your dog will be home alone, leave him/her with an article of clothing or blanket with your scent on it and a treat-release toy. Place small, healthy treats and his/her favorite toys around the house for him/her to discover and put on some soothing doggy music before you leave.
Set aside some time to engage in interactive toys, a round of hide and seek, tug or a really good doggie massage daily. Learning a brain-stimulating sport like nose work is a great way to co-develop a hobby with your pup. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcjVAhhSTEI
If your pup responds well to pressure applied to his/her body, invest in a wrap like a thundershirt or consider Ttouch, a specific massage technique that can help anxious pets. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0-5QYXGWE0
In previous blogs, we have discussed bathes, foot soaks, keeping allergens out of your house and those can be found here…
https://shoppettest.com/blog/a-case-study-in-allergies/
https://shoppettest.com/blog/allergies-and-your-diabetic-dog-part-2/
https://shoppettest.com/blog/allergies-and-your-diabetic-dog-part-1/
Before you agree to the injections for your diabetic dog, please exhaust all other methods to treat allergies. You’ll both be better off in the long run if you can get them under control without the Cytopoint or Apoquel.
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Until next time…