How to Tell if Your Dog Has Allergies in Ruston, LA: 5 Symptoms to Watch For

If you own a pet, you care a lot about their well-being. You want your pet to be in the best health possible at all times, and you might be worried that your dog could have allergies, and you might not be aware that they have them. Allergies can run the gamut from simple itching and sneezing to serious and life-threatening reactions.

There are some key symptoms that you can watch for if you are worried that your dog might have allergies. Being able to catch an allergic reaction early can help to make sure that your dog does not end up suffering from long-term allergy-related problems. If you are ready to learn some more about dog allergies in Ruston, Louisiana and what symptoms to look for, you need to keep reading.

Symptoms

Listed below are the top 5 symptoms of dog allergies: 

1. Scratching

Scratching is the most classic symptom of dog allergies. Dogs that are scratching at their ears, their neck or grooming their legs or feet excessively might have allergies. This can be from fleas, food, or even environmental things like cleaning products. Your pet might even be allergic to other animals in the home or have seasonal allergies that need to be addressed for set periods of each year.

Scratching can lead to skin infections, fungal infections, and bald, raw, or bleeding areas. Dogs that are picking at their ears can also get ear infections or ear hematomas. Dogs with allergies might even scratch at their ears just because they are uncomfortable in general.

2. Vomiting

If your dog has been vomiting often, or vomiting right after eating, they might be allergic to their food or to something else in their environment. You should be cautious about ignoring vomiting for more than a day or so, as dehydrated animals can get very sick very quickly. Vomiting is one of those things that might happen from time to time, but if there is a pattern to the vomiting, you need to work with your vet to try and figure out what is causing this problem.

3. Sneezing

Dogs that sneeze all the time might have allergies. This is often linked to dust allergies or to seasonal allergies. Just like people, some dogs can have hay fever or seasonal allergies that need to be addressed at set times of the year. Allergies that show up as sneezing might not seem to be that serious, but your dog can get secondary lung issues or other issues related to their sneezing. You want to be sure that you attend to sneezing right away to be sure that your dog does not suffer from other problems related to their sneezing.

4. Watery Eyes

This is a symptom that can be associated with all kinds of allergies. Sometimes this is the earliest sign that your dog has allergies. If you take your pet to the vet when they show this symptom, you can start working on resolving the issue before it becomes more significant. This symptom can show up when your dog has food allergies or even seasonal allergies.

5. Scabby and Red Skin

While you might not see your dog scratching, scabby and red skin can indicate that they are scratching when you don’t notice. Some kinds of allergies will lead to red and scabby skin due to systemic issues as well. Skin issues can almost always be linked to allergies, and you should consider this a key indicator that your dog has allergies to something in the home or their environment.

When Allergies Are an Emergency

If your dog has started continuously vomiting, has diarrhea, or is showing lots of red and inflamed skin, this can be considered an emergency. Some dogs have allergies so serious that they might even collapse or lose consciousness. Allergic reactions that have escalated to anaphylaxis require a trip to the vet immediately. This is a life-threatening situation and not one that you can resolve on your own at home.

Your dog will need to see the vet as well if they stop eating and drinking or seem listless and highly uncomfortable. Dogs with allergies might not seem like they are that sick at first, but untreated allergies can lead to all kinds of secondary issues that you will want to avoid. Allergies are something that it is easy to ignore and think it is not that bad until suddenly it is an emergency.

Allergies can sometimes show up all of a sudden and seem like they came out of nowhere. The reality is that your dog was probably showing symptoms for some time, and you just did not recognize them. Being attentive to the signs that your dog is not displaying normal behavior can be key when it comes to preventing severe allergic reactions in dogs.

Contact Lagniappe Animal Health if Your Dog Has Allergies

Taking your dog to the veterinarian can help to make sure that your dog gets diagnosed and gets the support that they need to recover from its allergic state. Allergies can be progressive and can get worse over time, so you need to be sure that you are not accidentally ignoring a situation that grows much worse given a few more days or weeks. Being attentive to the signs of allergic reactions can also save your dog’s life in the case that they should have a severe allergic reaction to something they come into contact with.

For more information, or if you would like to schedule an appointment, contact Lagniappe Animal Health in Ruston, LA by calling (318) 255-3303. Our team will treat your pet like family and provide the best care.