Pet Problem #5-Dog Allergies

Just like humans, dogs can have allergies and may even develop allergies as they age. Dogs can be allergic to a wide variety of household substances ranging from mold and dust to chemicals and cleaning products. However, the most common allergies are to food and other added ingredients to food and treat products. 

 Allergies show up when the dog develops a sensitivity to a substance that triggers their immune system to kick into overdrive to try to remove the toxin. This can be sparked by inhaling, ingesting, or physically touching the substance. When the immune system is triggered, a range of side effects can occur including digestive distress, respiratory problems, or even skin ailments. 

Common Signs and Symptoms 

-Itchy skin or paws. 

-Irritated or dry eyes. 

-Itchy ears or reoccurring ear infections. 

-Sneezing. 

-Diarrhea or vomiting. 

-Swollen or red paw peds. 

-Compulsive licking of skin or paw pads. 

-Inflamed throat, which can lead to snoring or trouble breathing. 

If your dog starts to develop any of the aforementioned symptoms, it can be challenging to figure out what your dog may be allergic to. The first step could be to think about whether anything in your home has changed. For example, did you recently change your laundry detergent or try a new cleaning product? Maybe you changed your dog’s food or even tried a new treat. Hopefully this first step will help you to figure out your dog’s allergy and if not, you can consult your vet to run some allergy tests.  

If you suspect that food is the culprit, you can take out all added treats and try an elimination diet. You may be surprised to discover how many ingredients, chemicals, and additives your dog's treats and foods contain. During this time, pet parents can choose all-natural chews with single ingredients to treat their pups without the worry of triggering their allergies.  

Canophera offers a wide array of single ingredient chews including Coffee Wood, Briar Root, Sheep Horns, Red Deer Antlers, and Coconut toys. With no added ingredients, chemicals, caffeine, or sugar, pet parents can give these chews with confidence.  

Coffee Wood and Briar Root contain no traces of animal byproducts, making them a safe choice for dogs allergic to deer or sheep. If the dog doesn’t have an allergy to deer or sheep then Red Deer Antlers or Sheep Horns are other great choices. Since all of these chews contain only one ingredient, if the dog has a reaction after chewing then the owner knows what the trigger is. 

Since the moment he came home, Buddy here has shown signs of allergies including itching, licking his paws, and reoccurring ear infections. His pet parents took him to the vet multiple times and always left with an antibiotic for an ear infection. This didn’t seem to be solving the problem so they decided to try an elimination diet. They discovered he was allergic to chicken, fish, and most likely dairy. Changing his food helped to clear up his symptoms, but they were still struggling to find cleaner treats and chews.  

“Finding Canophera chews has really been a game changer for Buddy and for us. We like knowing that these chews don’t have any of the ingredients that will trigger a reaction in him and also that he is naturally cleaning his teeth. Plus he’s a lot calmer after chewing and seems to really be enjoying himself,” said pet parent Daniel.  

Dogs with allergies can lead to a lot of frustration for pet parents; however, using all-natural, single ingredient chews can really help to figure out what the triggers are. By eliminating all of the added ingredients and additives, pet parents can truly see how their dog responds to a single ingredient chew and know for certain if their dog responds well to that substance. Take the guesswork out of allergy triggers with Canophera chews.