Many dogs suffer from dog skin allergies. The symptoms can be mild, an extra sensitivity that causes the dog to rub his face or body against a rough surface. Severe cases may lead to skin biting, infections and can be a real source of misery for the afflicted dog.

Dogs, like people, have allergic reactions to various irritants. The irritants cause the body to produce histamines. It is the histamines that cause the itching and irritation.

The first culprit to look for when confronted with an itchy dog is the common flea. Some dogs are sensitive to the anti-coagulant found in flea saliva. Just one bite can cause an intense, full body reaction, Without medication or soothing ointment, the itchiness will persist for days.

The second major culprit is the dog’s food. Many dogs have food allergies. The task now is to find out which of the ingredients in dog food are the culprits. The first ingredients to weed out are corn, wheat and grain products. There are many dog foods for sensitive dogs on the market. They usually substitute sweet potato, rice or barley for the suspect grains and will have a limited variety of protein sources. Beef is usually eliminated but even lamb or chicken can result in an allergic response. The most extreme and sometimes most effective foods for a sensitive dog have a single source protein, such as fish, bison, turkey or rabbit.

Veterinarians can recommend steroidal medications, lotions and baths to calm the irritation. If you are lucky enough to live near an ocean or other body of salt water and have a dog who swims, then a weekly trip to the beach is a fun and effective solution. If there are fleas, they’ll not survive the water and salt. The salt helps heal the skin and the exercise will allay some of the dog’s anxiety. Oatmeal baths are another aid. Aromatherapy with sweet orange oil and massages with an almond oil and sweet orange oil combination are calming and the orange oil is a natural pesticide.

It is important to keep the dog on a regular feeding regiment once you find a dog food that works for him. It is a wise precaution to buy a new bad when the old one is about two thirds finished and mix the two. Sometimes bags that are made in different batches or factories have some minor changes in the formulation. An abrupt change from the old to the new can provoke another reaction.

Fleas are easily dealt with and can be removed from your dog and home with a few natural ingredients. Orange oil is a great repellent and there are a number of orange oil cleansing products on the market. Also, as noted above, the orange/almond massage oil makes your dog flea-free. Get borax and sprinkle it into any rugs you may have in your house. Borax is deadly to fleas. Push it into the nap of the carpet and then vacuum it out. Lavender and peppermint leaves are also unpleasant for fleas and also leave your house smelling wonderful.

Dog skin allergies should be dealt with promptly to alleviate the discomfort and suffering of your dog. With the right information, you can easily take the steps to removing the allergens that cause these problems.

Jamie is a family pet health practitioner who specializes in all natural pet skin products.