Allergies

Natural Treatment and Relief for Seasonal and Environmental allergy symptoms in dogs and cats

Three Tips for Improving Dog & Cat Allergies
Seasonal Pet AllergiesAllergies in dogs and cats seasonally are quite common. A large percentage of dogs, cats, and probably most other animals suffer, at least to some degree, from seasonal allergies, such as hay fever, just like humans. 

Airborne pollens and molds are probably the most common culprits of dog allergy symptoms and cat allergies, but the list of possibilities is practically endless. Finding and removing the exact allergens that are causing your dog allergy symptoms or cat allergy symptoms can be virtually impossible. It doesn't matter where you live, with spring comes a plethora of potentially allergenic particles, floating in both wind and the water dish to give your pet allergy symptoms. 

Dog Allergy SymptomsOnly a professional veterinarian can evaluate your pet's symptoms and make a proper diagnosis. Dog allergy symptoms can include: frequent or constant scratching; biting at their bodies; skin problems including hot spots, skin infections, hair loss and dry, flaky, itchy areas; poor coats; licking their paws; dogs rubbing their faces on the furniture and carpet; excessive salivation and breathing problems. Dog allergy symptoms can be very distressing to both the animal and owner and cause serious health problems, such as second infections and provoking asthma. 

Cat Allergy SymptomsCat allergy symptoms can be similar to many dog allergy symptoms and can include: frequent or constant scratching; inability to relax; biting at their bodies; skin problems including hot spots, skin infections, hair loss and dry, flaky, itchy areas; poor coats; licking their paws; excessive salivation and breathing problems and sneezing. Cat allergy symptoms can be very distressing to both the animal and owner and like dog allergies, can cause serious health problems, such as second infections and provoking asthma. 

Holistic Dog and Cat CareUntil holistic care is considered, it seems to be an endless battle of symptom suppression while searching for the next medication or change in diet to work. Usually with each passing season, the animal gets worse, the medications less effective and the diets a waste of money. This is not an uncommon cycle when the body is not taken care of as nature intended. 

As the immune system struggles, it simply gets weaker and more burdened as time passes, until the whole body breaks down. It is also not uncommon to see the more serious diseases, such as cancer, in older dogs and cats with a history of allergies. 

Once you understand how the immune system works, it becomes very clear why dog allergies and cat allergies are blamed for so many symptoms that are actually a reaction to a depressed immune system. What is so frustrating is that alopathically this is not recognized, and things are lumped under a diagnosis so that symptoms can then be treated, rather than addressing the whole body. 

While the immune system is suffering, the kidneys and liver are involved. As these vital organs become burdened, through ingestion of by-products, rancid animal fats, and chemicals (common pet food ingredients) structural or negative emotional imbalances (prohibiting proper digestion), waste products continue to back up in the body. The skin, which is the largest eliminatory organ, than takes on the challenge of releasing these wastes. This can result in skin irritations in dogs and cats. The symptoms most often noticed are small red pimples, rashes and red spots, which lead to scratching and biting of the body, paws and face rubbing. 

The eyes and ears are also representative of what is going on inside the body. As the body is overwhelmed, the eyes redden, the ears produce excessive wax and irritation, and the owner is often perplexed at the fact that there are no more allergens present, such as grass in the yard at that time of the year, yet their pet is still scratching and the vet is still claiming "allergies"! 

A trip to the veterinarian may result in a prescription for an antihistamine or, if symptoms are severe, a corticosteroid drug. Although either one can be effective toward shutting off the symptoms of seasonal allergy, neither will help correct the underlying immune system dysfunction that causes the problem. And in the case of corticosteroid drugs, such as Prednisone, the side effects of extended use can be far worse than the allergy itself. 

So, what to do? 

Start with your dog or cat's dietFirst and foremost clean up your dog or cat's diet. Feed them only natural dog food or cat food that does not contain allergenic grains (very common in store bought pet food), by-products, and artificial ingredients such as artificial flavoring, color and preservatives. 

If your purchasing choices are driven more by cost than by quality, chances are you are compounding the problem by throwing poor quality food ingredients into the mix. You may even be feeding ingredients that are causing your pet's allergy. Regardless, poor quality meat and grain, by-products, artificial and things like soy protein may be compromising the natural immunity of your pet. So make changes. Feed your dog or cat good food - recipes that feature whole meats and real vegetables as top line ingredients - not by-products or cheap grain fillers. 

Supplement your dog or cat's diet starting right nowStart supplementing your diet of your dog or cat with fish and vegetable oils that are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids right now. They are just as good for pets as they are for humans and it can be as easy to use as simply squirting it over their food. Omega fatty acids are essential components in the animal body's regulation of inflammatory response to any allergen that enters the body system. Without enough Omega 3 fatty acid in the diet, the body's inflammatory response to an invading allergen cannot be properly regulated, making the whole problem much worse than it should be. In my opinion, the best essential fatty acid supplements are fish oil as the primary ingredient-and the best fish oil is that which comes from the whole bodies of wild harvested cold water fish. Avoid products that are made from farm raised salmon or other cultivated sources, as they might contain potentially carcinogenic contaminants, like PCBs, or residual amounts of antibiotics and growth hormones that are used to farm the fish. 

Natural remedies for dog allergies and cat allergiesWe offer many herbal remedies that are anti-inflammatory, enhance the immune system, prevent pain, and are specifically directed toward a body system, balancing it in response to inflammation or pain. In addition, there are several herbs like licorice, wild yam, yucca, that contain steroidal saponins that have a chemical structure very similar to cortisone. They have direct anti-inflammatory, cortisone-like effects, and in addition, some of them inhibit an enzyme in the liver that breaks down natural cortisone, thus making it available longer. 

Natural Supplements for your pet.

At Victoriaspetnutrition.com and at our retail store we carry a very large selection of natural health supplements for allergies in your dog and cat made by highly respected natural supplement manufacturers, including remedies for various types of allergies and symptoms, Omega 3 Oils, Vitamin C and much more, as well as wholesome, healthy food that does not contain cheap, common allergens.

Treating Pet Allergies Naturally

If your dog has allergies (itchy dog, chronic itching and scratching, hot spots on skin, skin problems such as canine dermatitis (flaky, itchy skin), runny eyes, runny nose, coughing, sneezing), and you've already done the two most important things: 1) switched to a healthy, natural dog food that doesn't contain corn, wheat or soy (common irritants to dogs), and 2) have begun supplementing your dog’s diet by sprinkling Omega 3 Oil for Dogs (and cats) on his food, but your dog still has symptoms, what do you do?

Herbs to treat Seasonal Allergies in Dogs and Cats

Here are some herbs that are safe for dogs, cats and most other mammals and can be very effective at treating seasonal issues without harmful drugs or their side effects. These herbs are available in an herbal treatment for seasonal allergies in dogs and cats that is safe and easy to use with almost any mammal pet. The tincture contains all the herbs in this article and it is easy to use. Animals Apawthecary Spring Tonic

Dog Allergy Herb 1: Nettle (Urtica spp.) – Nettle is an herbal success story with many herbalists. Many animals, as well as people, have found relief from symptoms, including seasonal symptoms, from the daily use of this herb, especially when it is begun at the earliest onset of hay fever season. One of the predominant theories of how nettle works is centered on the release of histamine. Histamine is a protein produced by the body that contributes to the body's inflammatory responses. If too much histamine is released by the body or released too quickly, symptoms such as swelling, sneezing and coughing are more likely to occur. Nettle’s chemistry includes an interesting assortment of proteins and histamine-like compounds that herbalists believe may slow the body’s own release of histamine, thus lessening severity of symptoms.

Dog Allergy Herb 2: Eyebright (Euphrasia officianalis) – Herbalists have used this herb, eyebright, for centuries to relieve inflammation of upper respiratory mucus tissues. Eyebright is also thought to help support and strengthen various liver functions, meaning that it helps with the body’s elimination of systemic waste that may compound the problem.

Dog Allergy Herb 3: Burdock (Arctium lappa/minor) – Burdock has been used since ancient times as an herb that is a safe, gentle liver tonic. In Chinese medicine it is referred to as “gobo”. It has long been regarded as a specific remedy for various forms of chronic dermatitis. It is thought to work by supporting the liver in the elimination of protein byproducts and other metabolic waste that may otherwise cause reactions if left in the body. The strategy is to get the offending substances out of the body before inflammation is triggered.

Dog Allergy Herb 4: Licorice Root Glycyrrhiza glabra/uralensis) – Licorice root may be the most broad-spectrum anti-inflammatory herb available. In addition to strong liver-support attributes, this herb contains an assortment of phytosterol constituents that may serve to supplement the body’s natural product of cortisone; a hormone that serves to further slow and regulate the body’s inflammatory response. It is also anti-tussive and an expectorant, meaning that it will help make your pet's coughs and sneezes less violent and more productive.

A special blend of these herbs is available in a convenient and easy-to-use herbal tincture to give to your pets.