Common Dog Allergies.com

Dog skin allergies are fairly common in many purebred dogs and are caused by a number of different factors.  Most are either Hereditary or Environmental, and understanding which is affecting your dog will help you combat the dilemma .  Popular long haired breeds such as Shih Tzu or the Golden Retriever often suffer many different forms of dermises as they age.  The skin has difficulty retaining moisture and flexibility it had in the dog’s younger years and even water loving Labradors can’t drown this problem on their own.  On the flip side, some puppies ( like the young GSP featured here ) show signs very early on of flea allergies in the skin and their little bodies can find no rest at all, as they often will be highly sensitive to flea collars!  On a similar note to that, some dogs will break out in  dry, flaky, angry skin after a fresh bath, confounding the frustrated owner.  Dogs with skin allergies will have violent reactions to many types of flea shampoo or simply  a perfume that you wouldn’t even notice, and the subsequent result can be highly aggravating to both of you.

·         For dogs with sensitive skin no matter the reason, I love a tea tree shampoo.  They are inexpensive and easy to find, and I think a better deal then the more expensive versions you can buy in pet stores.  If your having problems getting the shampoo to wash all the way out of the dog’s coat, cut a small bucket of water with a third of vinegar and rinse the coat.  This will take any leftover soap out  of the coat and skin and give the hair a silky sheen.  The tea tree shampoo is a winner because it makes the dog feel great even after the bath is long over, even my vet was impressed with the result on my old Shih Tzu’s skin improvement.  They love the effect and it does relieve the impulse for the dog to scratch,   which only makes it’s skin feel worse in the long run.

· Flea dermises can be a little trickier to beat in the world of dog skin allergies, simply due to the fact so many of the flea treatments designed to kill fleas can be somewhat brutal to a sensitive skin as well.  The most common problem I have seen is flea collars, they seem to just reek havoc, especially on puppies and younger dogs.  Then there is the plethora of chemical bombs and various lotions and potions meant to napalm the tar our of those irritating little bugs, but unfortunately they dry and irritate the skin as well.  I have learned that lemon juice in the coat will seriously turn off a flea population, (and a vinegar rinse soothes the skin), and if you let it soak in the fur for 20 minutes after a bath it will really send their circus packing.  Another one of my favorite tricks is the powdered soap product “20 Mule Team Borax”.  Sprinkle that in you carpet and let it sit over night, then vacuum it up the next morning.  It doesn’t seem to bother the dogs/cats/kids any, but it is nuclear on fleas.

·  Once you find a shampoo your dog can stand, make sure the baths happen somewhat frequently.  At least once every two weeks, better if it’s once a week.  No fleas, no dander, no soap buildup with the vinegar, (which will also condition and hydrate the coat and skin).  Very win win for you and you dog.  Even your fussiest, dog hating guests will marvel at how they never notice your dog is even there.   Also very relaxing and stress relieving to have the grooming routine, after all quality time is why you have a pet in the first place and mine all seem to enjoy that I take the extra time to make sure their needs are being met.  Just stay away from cream conditioners, they are fine for people but really build up in a dog’s coat and can cause even worse problems with the skin.

·  The flea juice regime!  If you use it, bathe once a month and only put it in the coat a week after the bath.  Otherwise it won’t stick to the oils in the coat proper, which is how it works in the first place.  That’s how to get rid of fleas.  I have had better luck with frontline than anything else, and the Hartz or Sergentz products are terrible, but I use these guys as a last resort, mostly due to the cost of them. 

I have had huge success with these techniques in the past, as all but one of my six dogs has some form of dermises, and their comfort is very important to me.  Also it helps with my allergy induced asthma.  If you have any issues that persists, try finding a vet that specializes in skin issues.  I have a vet who does and he is worth the big bucks, and knows all about the latest greatest things in the skin world of dogs.  If things get out of hand a vet can get you a great prescription product if things get out of hand in the hair department, he can also tell you if you have bigger problems on your plate than just a little dandruff or a flea circus that refuses to pack up it’s big top.