Dogs, like humans, can and do suffering from a number of allergies. However, in the dog world some of the reactions can be far more severe, especially given the fact that dogs use their noses far more than any human could ever use all of his five senses.

A dog can suffer from breathing, skin, and digestion allergies. Unfortunately, many of these conditions won’t become apparent until a dog tends to be older, which makes puppy life rather difficult. Common symptoms can include conjunctivitis in the eyes, frequent sneezing, vomiting, runny eyes, frequent scratching, and diarrhea. An allergic reaction in a dog can include one or multiple symptoms, depending how the dog’s body is reacting to something. Veterinarians who are trained to look for dog allergies early on, however, will spot these conditions and prescribe both treatments and medication to alleviate symptoms as well as help dogs recover.

Treatment for a dog’s allergies can usually include prescribed chemical treatments. However, drug and chemical treatments can be harsh on an animal, especially one never previously exposed to such cures. A number of natural treatments and practices can provide significant relief as well. Additionally, natural treatments provide far less negative side effects for dogs.

First, once an allergy is identified, the reaction programs can be reduced greatly if exposure can be reduced. Second, where inhalation of dust or dander is a problem, regular cleaning and vacuuming of the dog’s bed as well as washing the dog weekly can reduce a lot of sources triggering an inhalation allergy. Further, a food allergy can be alleviated with a controlled diet under the advice of a veterinarian. With the causal food source eliminated, the vomiting and diarrhea symptoms should die down and disappear as the dog’s system removes the remaining food causing problems. Finally, skin reactions can be soothed and alleviated with natural remedies such as oatmeal, aloe, and medicated shampoos.