Does Your Labrador Suffer With Allergies?

Does your Labrador scratch constantly? If so, there may be an allergy. As hard as it is to believe some dogs are allergic to their food. If this is the case, you may need to investigate things to find out what is really irritating your dog. Labradors actually shed a lot but if the hair begins falling out in clumps and the patch of skin that is revealed is red, then you know that it definitely has allergies. The next conclusion to find is whether your dog is allergic to people food, dog food, or physical contact with the dog. It works the same way humans get a runny nose when they are allergic to something, the dog itches when it has an allergy.

When you take your Labrador to the veterinarian and the vet concludes that the problem is food then when you take your dog home, try feeding it various protein and carbohydrate to see if anything improves. If your dog improves then you know for sure that the dog has a food allergy. You will then be advised by the vet as to what to feed your dog and what to avoid. You should avoid any treats at this point.

Most of the time when Labrador’s have allergies they will get an ear infection. This condition will cause you a lot of stress as well as making the dog miserable. Reason for this is because ear infections are extremely painful for dogs and because of their keen sense of hearing if you do not treat the ear infection, your dog could lose its hearing. That’s a shame when owners do not treat the ear infection and cause the dog any harm that could be easily solved.

You say you don’t know how to tell your dog has an ear infection? The best way to tell your dog has one is to watch your dog. If the dog begins to shake its head incessantly and rubbing its ear along the floor or against the furniture you know it’s an infection. When the infection gets to a certain level the dog will be whimpering, whining, and you will be able to see it’s in pain. If your dog reaches this point in the infection it might need injections to fight it. Hopefully you will see to your dog way before it gets to this point. Knowing that your dog has an allergy to certain foods then it is easy to remedy the ear infections by not giving your dog that particular item.

There are some things you can do to avoid allergies with your Labrador. One step is to thoroughly dry your dog’s ears after their bath and then clean the dog’s ears on a regular basis. You can always find out from the vet the best solution to clean your dog’s ears. You will need to clean your Labrador’s ears at least once a week. If your dog has seasonal allergies, there really isn’t much you can do to fight it except keep your dog in the house more. You can also get regular immune system booster injections to help with the allergies. If it is allergic to smoke, then you may need to change the way you live.

Home Cures for Dog’s Ears

Your pets are prone to infections, just as you are. Dogs and cats are commonly prone to ear infections, dogs maybe more so than cats. An infection in the outer ear canal by yeast or bacteria is the most common form in dogs. Known as ‘otitis externa,’ it is most likely to occur in dogs with large or hairy ears.

Some of the symptoms can include the dog scratching its ear more than usual, rubbing its head against objects trying to get rid of the fluid and debris building up inside the ear and vigorously shaking its head. Sometimes the buildup can cause a discharge accompanied by a strong odor from the dog’s ear. In the worst case a tumor could form in the ear canal if the infection is left untreated for long enough. This can then result in hearing loss and other complications that can be prevented by timely and effective intervention.

So, what do some of the interventions include? There are some home remedies you can use as preventions. Many vets recommend wiping the ear out with acetic acid, more commonly known as vinegar, which removes dirt and buildups in the ear. Another common remedy is the use of essential oils, for instance olive oil, that prevent as well as cure. The best way to actually wipe the dog’s ears is by using a cotton or tissue wad moistened with the liquids mentioned and gently mopping in an outward direction from the inner ear. There is not need to do this everyday but it should be done regularly to keep your pet’s ears clean and healthy.

Another painless home remedy is trimming the hair on the inside of the dog’s ears, especially if it has long fur or long ears that flop down. The hair is important to the dog’s hearing but just trimming a little will greatly reduce the possibility of foreign objects finding a home in its outer canal. You might want to make sure the dog can’t move too much so it doesn’t flinch while you’re trimming.

Make it a practice to regularly remove wax and dirt from your dog’s ear. It is important that you be responsible for all aspects of your pet’s health as you are its main source of love, food, happiness and healthy living. A few last things to keep in mind and then we’re done here. First, you can boost the dog’s immune system through a regular dose of vitamin C and, of course, a healthy diet to ensure the dog is fighting fit and able to recover from any infection, not just in the ear. Antiseptic and antimicrobial herbal remedies, such as Marigold, Rosemary extracts and Tea Tree Oil, all help in ear and skin health and are available from PetAlive Ear Dr. for instance. Finally, groom your dog regularly, make sure it is well fed and exercised and interact with it often. A happy pet is a healthy pet!