How to Prevent and Cure Dog Calluses

Dog Skin Allergies

Allergies, skin conditions, and zinc deficiencies can be some of the causes of calluses forming on dogs. To know why your dog has a callous you should consult a veterinarian. Having the right diagnoses is the first step in correcting any callus problem.

Dog Skin Allergies

A fairly common place for a dog to form calluses is on its elbows. Elbow calluses do not generally pose a threat to your dog's health. Calluses appear as a round, bald area of grayish looking skin on the elbow. The size of the callus may vary from small and barely noticeable to encompassing a large and visible area of the elbow. Medium to larger, short-haired breeds tend to be the most prone to these calluses as well as older dogs and dogs that are overweight.

Dog Skin Allergies

What typically causes these calluses to form is when your dog's elbow makes contact with the floor. Hard surfaces such as concrete, tile, hardwood flooring, and even carpets can with time cause the skin on the elbow to callus. When your dog is lying down or getting up, his body weight is resting on his elbows. This weight causes pressure to be placed on the elbows. Your dog's elbows do not have much in the way of fat or muscle to act as padding between the bone and the skin, so any movement combined with the pressure of his body weight on the elbows against a hard floor will cause the skin to form a callus over time.

Dog Skin Allergies

Once your dog has a callus it can be hard to get rid of. A common home remedy is to rub vitamin E in liquid form on the callus. This can help soften the callused skin. Make sure to rub it in until it is almost completely dry. You do not want your dog licking the vitamin E. keep him distracted until the vitamin E has had time to dry.

Providing your dog with a bed to rest on is a good way to help stop a callus from getting worse and can also aid in the healing process. There are numerous types of beds that can meet the needs and comfort preferences of your dog from orthopedic beds to fashionable beds that can match the decor of your room. There are even outdoor beds in case the offending floor happens to be an outside one. You can also use a throw in places where a dog bed might not be practical.

Having the right setup early on is one of the best ways to prevent your dog from forming calluses. If you have floors in your house that may lead to your dog forming calluses, or if your dog is of a size or age that makes him prone to forming calluses, providing him with the right bed that meets his needs both in comfort and padding for his elbows can reduce the chance of your dog forming any unsightly calluses.

How to Prevent and Cure Dog Calluses

Dog Skin Allergies

Taking Care of Labrador Allergies

Dog Skin Allergies

Labrador allergies related to food need some detective work on your part. If your Labrador starts to scratch constantly then you know it is suffering from an allergy. Labradors do shed a lot but if hair starts to fall out in clumps and you see red or exposed skin then you know it has an allergy. The only problem is that all allergies, whether food or contact, manifest in itchy skin. The same way a human might have a runny nose when they are allergic to pollen a dog will have itchy skin when it is allergic to something.

Dog Skin Allergies

If you vet thinks that it is a food allergy then you should to feed your dog proteins and carbohydrates it has never had and see if the condition improves. If it does then your dog has definitely been suffering from a food allergy. Your vet will then advise you about what foods to avoid and what diet to put your dog on. During the food elimination test you should not give your dog any treats that you usually give it.

Dog Skin Allergies

One of the common results of Labrador allergies is ear infection. Ear infections will make your poor Labrador miserable. This is because, just like humans, ear infections are very painful for dogs. What makes this worse is that dogs have a heightened sense of hearing and an untreated ear infection can cause hearing loss. It would be a shame to let an ear infection go untreated as they are easily remedied.

Dog Skin Allergies

A tell tale sign that your dog has an ear infection is constant head shaking and rubbing of the ear on the floor and furniture. Once the infection gets worse your pet will be whining and in constant pain. Before it gets to this stage you should see a vet immediately to determine the cause of the ear infection. Certain allergens that cause ear infections can be easily avoided and others may not be, in the latter case your pet may need regular injections to help fight ear infections and other allergies.

The best way to avoid Labrador allergies that result in ear infections is to dry your dog's ears after bathing and regularly clean it's ears. To clean a dog's ears ask your vet for a cleaning solution that you can use and consult your vet for the proper way to administer the cleaning solution. Labrador care of the ear means cleaning your pet's ears about once a week.

The only way to avoid ear infections that stem from Labrador allergies is to avoid the allergen. In some cases this is a seasonal thing, for example if your Labrador is allergic to pollen. In other cases it might mean a lifestyle change on your part, as some Labradors can be allergic to tobacco smoke. Other allergens such as molds, grass, trees and sometimes other animals, are not so easy to avoid. In this case your pet will need regular injections to boost its immune system to fight the allergies.

Taking Care of Labrador Allergies

Dog Skin Allergies

How to Treat and Prevent Chicken Allergies

Dog Skin Allergies

Allergies to meat such as chicken meat are very common nowadays. There are so many people suffering from allergies coming from chicken meat. Chicken allergy is the adverse reaction of the body's immune system to chickens. The common symptoms of chicken allergy are ear infection, frequent colds or vomiting after eating.

Dog Skin Allergies

There are so many treatments against chicken allergy. According to research, allowing our body to heat up is one way of removing the allergies. The sweat will remove the allergies from our skin. Allergies are not curable. They can be prevented and treated but they cannot be cured. The best prevention for chicken allergy is not to eat any food with chicken meat.

Dog Skin Allergies

Here are some treatments that can help you when you have chicken allergy.

Dog Skin Allergies

First, wait it out. If you have a mild allergy, you can just wait until it is gone. Drink a lot of water and rest. Keep your body warm because sweat can really help remove your allergies.

Second, intake a lot of vitamin C when you accidentally eat chicken. It is proven that high amount of vitamin C can help remove the allergies in your skin. It is advisable to take 2000mg of vitamin C to lessen the symptoms of allergy.

Third, consult your doctor. It is best if you consult your doctor immediately once you have an allergy attack. The doctor can give you some advice and medication that can help you when you have an allergy attack. If the allergy is severe the doctor may give you allergy shots to remove the allergies in your body.

Aside from these treatments, you will also need some tips on how to prevent accidental ingestion of chicken products.

Before you buy products in the market, be sure to look at the ingredients. You have to make sure that there are no chicken products added in the food that you will buy. Any kind of chicken product can trigger your allergy. When you are going to eat in a restaurant, inform the waiter about your allergy. They must be aware of your allergy so they will not serve food that has chicken products.

Prevention is still the best medication for chicken allergies.

How to Treat and Prevent Chicken Allergies

Dog Skin Allergies

Canine Antibiotic Treatments - Curing Skin Infections

Dog Skin Allergies

Antibiotics for dogs are used in cases of canine atopic dermatitis to cure dog skin infections caused by intense scratching of their skin. In medicine this is called pruritus which is Latin for itching. Unfortunately, dogs will often lick and bite irritated skin which only serves to spread the infection. So infections can take hold and spread fairly quickly in dogs.

Dog Skin Allergies

Constant Itching

Dog Skin Allergies

Itching and scratching is the most common complaint family veterinarians hear. This is logical because unlike humans, the primary symptom of a wide range of serious conditions and even diseases in dogs is itching. There is a physiological reason for this. When sick, humans will primarily "feel sick to their stomach" and they sneeze and cough. Dogs will primarily have itchy skin.

Dog Skin Allergies

Curing a canine skin infection is important because they can develop into serious problems. A serious dog skin infection is called Chronic Dermatitis. When this develops a family vet will often refer the dog to a veterinary dermatologist. These are experts in the field of dog skin infections and they can be a superb resource.

A bacterial skin infection is called pyoderma and the bacteria that cause them are not contagious to humans.

Canine Antibiotics

A veterinary dermatologist may take a culture, which will be grown in the lab in order to determine which antibiotic would be most effective in treatment. In some cases other tests may be necessary.

When the antibiotic is selected, an oral antibiotic will be prescribed to cover a period of 3-4 weeks. Occasionally a dog owner will discontinue a dog antibiotic as soon as he/she thinks the lesions have cleared up. This can be a mistake. If stopped too early, the lesions will return; in that event the bacteria may be more difficult to treat as it will be resistant to the canine antibiotic that was first used.

In addition to an oral dog antibiotic, your family vet or vet dermatologist may:

1) Instruct you to bathe or shower your dog often (sometimes daily or twice a week) and to use an antibiotic shampoo, usually one with benzoyl peroxide,
2) Instruct you to dry your dog's coat very carefully after bathing or showering,
3) Instruct you to use an antibiotic ointment on the lesions, and to bandage them, or
4) Have you use a protective collar on the dog's head to prevent your dog from biting the lesions.

Many owners are less than vigilant in making sure their dog receives his/her canine antibiotics and using the treatments listed above, so recurrences of pyoderma are common. To prevent a relapse, the wise dog owner will make sure their dog receives the entire antibiotic medication regiment, and follow the instructions of his/her vet dermatologist.

Canine Antibiotic Treatments - Curing Skin Infections

Dog Skin Allergies

Caring For Aging Boxer Dogs

Dog Skin Allergies

Boxer dogs do grow old of course! Starting from birth, animals, just like humans grow old everyday, right? However, signs of aging are only noticeable after several years. Is Stitch not as active as he is eight years ago? Change in behavior and appearance, decrease in activity level and health deterioration are the first few signs you will notice in aging dogs. Listed below are the signs to determine if your dog is not a young and active dog he used to be.

Dog Skin Allergies

Change in Weight. Weight gain is usually seen in older dogs because of the slowing down of metabolism and decrease in activity. Determine if your dog is overweight by performing a rib check and if indeed he is overweight, seek out your veterinarian for advice and further examinations.

Dog Skin Allergies

Skin and Coat. When a dog grows old, the skin thickens and becomes less pliable. The wounds tend to heal more slowly and allergies often worsen. Infestation of intestinal parasite may occur as well as non-malignant tumors in the mouth or under the skin.

Dog Skin Allergies

Hearing Loss. Just like in humans, loss of hearing also occurs in older dogs. So if your dog doesn't respond to your call immediately, don't think that he is being stubborn or disobedient. He might be suffering from loss of hearing.

Changes in Vision. An aging dog may develop cataract that could lead to partial or even total blindness.

Decrease in Activity. An aging dog becomes tired more easily and would rather take a nap. Stiffness in legs, hip and shoulder joints may also be experienced.

Here is what you are going to do to keep oldie doggie comfortable:

- Feed him with foods specially created for older dogs. Foods for older dogs must be lower in fat and calories and some may even contain glucosamine and chondroitin that are beneficial to the joints.

- Give him a bed or rug of his own and as much as possible, this should be placed in an area where he doesn't need to go up or down steps.

- Pay close attention to his health. Various diseases may occur as the dog grows old. Your veterinarian must examine your dog thoroughly for signs of health problems such as arthritis, cataracts and others. Dental health is also a major concern. Gum diseases, tartar build up and tooth loss as well as other oral cancers and infections can be seen in aging dogs.

Caring For Aging Boxer Dogs

Dog Skin Allergies

Allergies and Your Health - What Are Allergies?

Dog Skin Allergies

You know how they make you feel (runny nose, itchy eyes, tired and cranky), but what are allergies? An allergy is your immune system's reaction to certain plants, animals, and even foods. When your immune system confuses something in your environment (the allergen) with a bacteria or virus that could make you sick, it attacks! The allergy symptoms you experience are your body's way of handling your immune systems over jealousness in protecting your body from harm.

Dog Skin Allergies

The most common allergic reaction people experience are sneezing and wheezing. It is usually caused by these common allergens:

Dog Skin Allergies

-Dust mites (tiny insects that live in dust).

Dog Skin Allergies

-Protein found in the dander (dry skin), saliva (spit), urine (pee), or other things from some animals.

-Grass, flower, and tree pollen (the fine dust from plants).

-Mold and mildew (small living things that grow in damp places).

-Foods, such as milk, wheat, soy, eggs, nuts, seafood, and legumes which include peas, beans, and peanuts.

-Latex (stretchy stuff that some of the gloves doctors and dentists use are made of)

Some of these allergens can cause sneezing, a runny nose, itchy eyes and ears, and a sore throat. Allergies to foods, however, can be more serious, causing hives. Vomiting and even breathing difficulties.

Some people suffer with allergies year round, while others experience more seasonal symptoms when the pollen from certain plants and trees are released in the air during the spring and fall.

Most people who experience allergic reactions to the things around them are born with this tendency. Many allergies are hereditary, so if others in your family are allergic to certain substances, the odds are you will be too.

How do you know if you really are allergic to certain things? Only a doctor who specializes in allergies and asthma can tell you for sure. There are a number of stick and blood tests that can be performed to determine exactly what substances your body reacts to, and how dangerous they may be.

Treatment may vary depending on the severity of your symptoms. Some people with seasonal allergies simply begin taking prescribed anti-histamine a few weeks before the time when their allergens will bud. Those with more severe yearlong allergies may have to take medications on a daily basis to control their symptoms. Those suffering from food allergies can't really take any medication to prevent a reaction, so they must be ever vigilant to stay away from dangerous ingredients.

No matter what you're allergic too, there is help available. The key is finding the right doctor who can help you better deal with your allergies and find a treatment plan that can help you avoid any symptoms.

Allergies and Your Health - What Are Allergies?

Dog Skin Allergies

The Itchy Dog: is it an Allergy?

Dog Skin Allergies

Scratching is a very common symptom in dogs, and you as an owner should aim to nip it in the bud early before self trauma causes secondary injuries to your dog. However, before wondering whether your dog could have an allergy, you must rule out the common parasitic (fleas and mites), bacterial (hot spots) and fungal (ringworm and yeast) infections. See my article Is your Dog Scratching to explore these in greater detail.

Dog Skin Allergies

Just as allergies have become more common in children these days compared to several generations ago, veterinarians are seeing far more allergies in pets too. It is difficult to explain this phenomenon, theories range from alterations in the content of pet foods to the use of modern day household cleaning products or simply genetic evolution. One thing is certain, whatever the cause, allergic dogs benefit hugely from avoiding the offending allergen or, if that is impossible, appropriate treatment to minimize the itchiness.

Dog Skin Allergies

Lets start with the presenting signs of an allergy in dogs. Itchiness can manifest itself not only as obvious scratching at the neck and flanks, but also as face rubbing, foot licking or chewing and over grooming. Foot licking, for example, is often perceived by owners as normal, when in fact the dog is responding to itchy feet in the only way it can, by licking them. The skin between the toes may turn red and sore due to the compulsive licking, and in white dogs such as West Highland White Terriers and Bichon Frises, the fur is stained brown by saliva.

Dog Skin Allergies

Ear infections are another common sign of an underlying allergy. Though general waxiness, hair in the ear canals, lack of ventilation, bacteria and yeast may trigger the infection, an underlying allergy is often the root cause of the itchiness. If your dog gets recurrent ear infections, by eliminating an underlying allergy you may prevent your dog from going over the itchiness threshold and developing full blown ear infections.

So, what are the common allergies in dogs?

For convenience they are best separated into 4 categories.

1) Flea bite hypersensitivity

2) Adverse food reaction

3) Atopic dermatitis

4) Contact dermatitis

Flea bite hypersensitivity is relatively straight forward to cure. It is a simple case of eliminating every single flea on the dog and, crucially, in his/her environment. The itchiness is caused by an allergic reaction to the flea saliva, and so even a solitary flea can trigger a scratching frenzy. To rule out flea bite hypersensitivity, all animals in the house (dogs and cats) should be treated with a reputable veterinary spot on medication monthly without fail, and the house should be thoroughly sprayed with an insecticidal spray.

Adverse food reactions are more difficult to treat as it can be difficult to isolate the precise ingredient responsible for causing itchiness in your dog. Not only that, treating adverse food reactions requires owners to be exceptionally disciplined and motivated in preventing their pet having even a single treat unless the exact ingredients are known to be safe.

There are two ways of diagnosing an adverse food reaction (also known as a food allergy). For those readers for whom cost is not an issue, a blood test can be done to measure for ingredient specific antibodies in the bloodstream. The blood test is quite costly, and if combined with a blood test for environmental allergens is usually upwards of 0 (?200). The company performing the blood test then provides a list of ingredients (chicken, beef, pork, rice, wheat etc) and a score next to them, suggesting which ingredients are best avoided. The owner then picks a commercial diet which does not include any of these ingredients, or indeed a special home cooked diet. The second way to diagnose an adverse food reaction is to conduct a dietary trial. This involves picking a very bland hypoallergenic diet and feeding your dog exclusively that for at least a month, preferably 6 weeks. The author usually suggests turkey and rice, as less dogs are allergic to turkey than chicken. Of course if your dog happened to be allergic to rice or turkey, which is rare but nevertheless possible, you would be none the wiser as the itchiness would continue and you would assume you had ruled out a food allergy having done the turkey and rice dietary trial. Remember if you are doing one of these trials, then your dog must not be given any treats, especially not pigs ears, chews, boneos, dental sticks or any rawhide products. Literally nothing must be swallowed other than turkey and rice (and water!) for the entire trial period.

If you have ruled out flea bite hypersensitivity and ruled out an adverse food reaction, the next step is to consider an environmental allergy, also known as atopic dermatitis. Symptoms of atopic dermatitis usually begin between 1 and 3 years of age, though any age is possible. The itchiness is often seasonal, which is consistent with a pollen allergy, though some dogs are itchy all year round. There are certain breeds which are predisposed to this condition: Boxers, Bull Terriers, Dalmations, English Bulldogs, German Shepherd Dogs, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Shar Peis, Shih Tzus and West Highland White Terriers being the most commonly affected. Diagnosis is usually made based on the history and ruling out all the other causes of itchiness, and many vets will treat the condition on these presumptions. However, definitive diagnosis can be achieved via a panel of injections into a patch of skin, or blood tests. Neither of these are particularly effective and generally not performed unless the owner is prepared to attempt a desensitization programme. This involves a long term course of injections given by your vet on, say, a monthly basis to desensitize your dog to the offending allergen, and so make the allergic reaction much smaller when he/she does come into contact with it.

Contact dermatitis is a skin reaction caused by your dog coming into contact with a chemical that is an irritant. It therefore only tends to affect the stomach, groin and feet of the dog, and is characterized by reddening and drying of the skin in these areas. It can also be seen when owners shampoo their dogs with a product that is not intended for use in dogs. Contact dermatitis is rare, but easily ruled out by careful use of cleaning products around the household. Just think, did the itchiness coincide with the introduction of a new carpet cleaner, washing powder or fabric softener?

By far the best treatment for any allergy is avoidance of the cause. By careful investigation and following the steps above this is often possible, especially for flea bite hypersensitivity, adverse food reactions and contact dermatitis. If avoidance is impossible though, as is the case for many cases of atopic dermatitis, then seasonal or lifelong treatment may be indicated. Steroids are very effective at stopping itchiness caused by allergies, but long term use can lead to undesirable side effects, such as adrenal gland disease. Long term steroid use should only be used as a last resort, when other medications have been tried and failed. These other medications include antihistamines, essential fatty acids and medicated shampoos.

The Itchy Dog: is it an Allergy?

Dog Skin Allergies