Some of the other foods and drinks that can cause an allergic reaction or worse in dogs are alcoholic beverages, caffeine drinks, grapes and raisins, macadamia nuts, sugar.  There may be other foods that can cause a bad reaction in a dog depending on the breed so take extra care so you know what your dog is consuming.

Another possible problem can be caused by putting a costume on a dog.  Some costumes are made of materials or have dyes in them that may occasionally cause a skin irritation or allergic reaction to some dogs.  When exposing your dog to contact with a material they have never been in contact with before you need to be careful that it is not causing them a problem.

Involving your dog in your daily activities is a great idea and can help build your relationship and keep your dog active and involved.  Just make sure you are not exposing him or her to anything that might prove harmful.

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Megan talks about the affects the steroids have had on her dog.  Of course, when we think of steroids we may think of bulked up athletes who are abusing steroids to get more muscle mass, but there are medical uses for steroids that may make them worth the well publicized side affects that can cause a lot of harm to people or dogs.

She says “How does one recognize a dog on steroids?  The ravenous appetite is a dead give away… so is constant thirst and frequent urination. (Kind of a pain when it comes to dogs)

Then she talks about the signs of a dog that has allergies and may need to use steroids.  Again, I would do some very serious research before taking this route.  The “Outward signs of need for canine steroids are constant scratching from allergies, patches of fur missing from disease (mine has Cushing’s disease) and the like.”

“My dog on steroids – Oscar Mayer – didn’t need an appetite booster to begin with; he can wolf down his meal in under sixty seconds flat and then start looking for his sibling’s bowls! Due to his severe allergies along with his Cushing’s disease he had lost about half his fur from his waist back. How do you balance the need for steroids and their side effects on your dog and your household?”

Then she talks about her efforts to take him off the steroids and some of the related problems.  Either way it is a difficult problem and one that needs to have both options weighed in the balance.

Here is the link to the rest of the story about her dog on steroids:

http://www.examiner.com/x-1513-Philadelphia-Dog-Advocate-Examiner~y2008m10d24-My-Dog-on-Steroids

Technorati Tags: dog allergies, dog food allergies, dog steroids

However, here are a couple of cautions to be aware of to avoid potential problems.

First, use ceramic or stainless-steel food and water bowls and clean them regularly. Avoid using plastic bowls or containers.

Second, make sure that the water you give your dog is clean and free from contaminants that may end up in your yard, hose, etc.

Third, pay attention to the foods you are giving your dog. Ingredients that are more likely to cause food allergies in dogs are beef, dairy products, chicken, wheat, chicken eggs, corn, and soy. Unfortunately, these items are very common ingredients in dog foods. You may have to switch to a hypoallergenic dog food.

Technorati Tags: dog food allergies, dog food allergy, Dog Food Comparison, Hypoallergenic Dog Food

Dog food allergies seem to affect both male and female dogs alike, but in two recent studies is was found that certain dog breeds may have a risk for the development of dog food allergy.

The breeds noted included: Springer Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, Labrador Retriever, Soft-Coated Wheaton Terrier, Dalmatian, West-Highland White Terrier, Collie, Chinese Shar Pei, Llasa Apsa, Cocker Spaniel, Dachshund and the Boxer.  Data from a Colorado State University sudy shows that retrievers may be at greater risk to develop food allergy than other breeds. Reports also show that animals less than one year old may have a greater chance of developing a dog food allergy.

Clinical Signs of Dog Food Allergy

The most common symptom of a dog food allergy is non-seasonal pruritus (chronic itching), which is usually generalized but may also be primarily focused at the feet or ears. The most common skin problems are papules (a small, solid and usually conical elevation of the skin) and erythema (reddening of the skin) common secondary problems are epidermal collarettes (a circular lesion with a circular rim of scale and or a peeling edge), pyotraumatic dermatitis (hot spots), hyperpigmentation, and seborrhea (the accumulation of scales of greasy skin).

Gastrointestinal (GI) signs caused by dog food allergies seem to be rare; although, a recent report documented 20 dogs with both pruritus and GI signs typical of colitis (inflammation of the large intestine which usually leads to abdominal pain, fever, and diarrhea with blood and mucus). Both the skin problems and intestinal signs resolved after the dogs started on an elimination diet.

Neurologic signs such as malaise and seizures rarely have been reported. The author feels that malaise may be under-reported, as an increase in energy level (“acting like a puppy, feeling better”) is often noted upon feeding the dog a diet without the offending allergen; this may occur before cessation of pruritus. Respiratory signs, such as asthma, have also been reported, but seem to be quite rare.

Concurrent hypersensitivities have been reported in dogs and include atopy, flea allergy dermatitis, intestinal parasite allergy, and even an allergy to bovine insulin. Concurrent pyoderma and/or Malassezia pachydermatis infection is also common. Dogs may have pyoderma (infection of the skin) as the only clinical sign of a dog food allergy. These dogs are often clinically normal while receiving antibiotics. Therefore, it is important to diagnose and treat secondary infections, as persistence of pruritus due to these infections may confound the ability of the veterinarian to diagnose the underlying dog food allergy.

Source: Stephen White www.vin.com/VINDBPub/SearchPB/Proceedings/PR05000/PR00093.htm

Technorati Tags: dog food allergy, dog food comparisons, Hypoallergenic Dog Food

It really depends on what your dog is allergic to. If your dog is doing well on its current food, then stick with it and don't mess around is my advice. If she is still having problems, it may worth trying something else. Also keep in mind that not all allergies are food-related. Fleas and environmental allergies (such as grass pollen) may be part of the equation. My dog is always worse in spring when pollens are in the air.

My dogs eat California Natural which is formulated for allergic dogs and doing great. I have another friend with an allergic dog who is having success with this food.

Roughly 20% of the dogs suffer from some allergy type. Major allergies found in dogs include atopic dermatitis, flea allergy, food allergy and inhalant allergy.

Dog Food Allergy

A dog food allergy is probably the most tedious of dog allergies to diagnose because dog food allergies can mimic the symptoms of any of the other allergies mentioned above.

Other symptoms of food allergies are stomach problems, gas, vomiting, diarrhea, wheezing, ear infections and sometimes, even changes in behavior.

To find the food or foods that your dog is allergic to you must first remove all the possible allergy causing ingredients from your dog’s diet. The easiest way to do this is by using a homemade meal of a protein and starch source that your dog has not had before. Then gradually add more ingredients into it over time (every 2-3 weeks). The most common allergens tend to be protiens, such as meats and grains. If your dog’s symptoms return after adding a particular ingredient, then you may have identified the possible allergen.

Allergic reactions may not appear for about a week after consuming the allergen so confirm your findings with your vet. Obviously, once you have determined the offending ingredient you will need to avoid it in the dog foods you feed your pet.

View a video of other dog food issues here

Technorati Tags: dog food allergy, dog food comparisons, Hypoallergenic Dog Food

The good news is that when we got back to the vets to pick him up he was happy and bouncing around like nothing had happened. You can imagine our relief.

Traveling can be a real challange when it comes to pets, whether you take them with you are leave them in someone else’s care.

In an article by Market Wire about travel for pet owners there were some valuable tips given about traveling without your pet.  This was inspired by Lynn Gervais of Kelowna, B.C., who won a travel contest. Here are some of the highlights.

- To reduce your stress level, consider leaving your pet at home with a trusted caregiver that you know will take good care of your pet.

- If you are leaving your pet with a trusted relative, friend or putting them in a pet hotel, be sure to leave detailed instructions on their daily habits, dietary patterns, favorite toys etc.  Be especially careful about this if your pet has any known dog food allergies or other allergies.

- Leave contact information for your dog’s veterinarian in case of emergency.

- If you hire a dog-sitter to come by your house, provide the name and contact information of a neighbor who has a key to your home in case of emergencies.

- Position yourself as nearby – have the sitter play a home video so the dog can hear or see you.

- Keep in touch – call and say “hello” on the sitter’s cell phone so they can hear your voice – it’s proven to be soothing for them.

For more information on traveling with your dog, check out the rest of the article at MARKET WIRE
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/air-miles-pets-traveling-tips/
story.aspx?guid=%7B0C535EE2-B990-455E-91D8-C6C1A2622B96%7D&dist=hppr

If you have your own tips for caring for your pets while traveling, leave a comment below.

Technorati Tags: leaving pets home, pet travel

Hmmm … So how come yesterday you were a “reputable breeder of mini foxies” and today you suddenly have only one dog? Did you take everyone’s advice on the foxies and give up breeding overnight? Please explain before I try to answer your question!

Technorati Tags: dog losing hair

Dr. Fox states: “Steroids make the symptoms go away for a while and give short-term relief for animals who are scratching and chewing themselves raw and bloody. But all too often, when the medication is tapered off, the symptoms reappear, and the animals are put back on corticosteroids. This can mean cystitis and diabetes for cats, and a host of other drug-related health problems for dogs, too — most notably Cushing’s disease.

“This is increasingly common in dogs and is due to the adrenal glands becoming hyperactive as a result of prolonged use of corticosteroid medications. Afflicted dogs may look obese, have thinning coats, experience muscular weakness, become potbellied and increasingly lethargic and show increased thirst and urination. Secondary bacterial infections and poor wound healing are also common consequences.

“My advice to all pet owners is to avoid any long-term steroid treatments when allergies are diagnosed or suspected and to do their best to find out, as you have done, the root cause.”

A much better approach is to find the root cause of the allergy which is most likely pollen, insects, mold, dog food, other animals or people.

Technorati Tags: corticosteroid, cushing's disease, dog allergy, steroids

Here is a site that will show you which dog foods are the best and the worst. I suggest that you get any one of the dog foods that are top rated.
http://www.dogfoodanalysis.com/dog_food_reviews/
Most of grocery store dog food formulas, like IAMS, Pedigree, Science Diet, Purina,and etc contain “meat and bone meal” which has been known to contain dead dogs and cats that were euthanized in animal shelters. Their bodies are picked up and bought by the truck load by “rendering plants” , that also pick up road kill, dead live stock, and etc. They are shredded, and boiled. They skim off the fat on the top of the “soup” and collected it and sell it to pet food companies as “animal fat”, the rest of the animals’ remains are crushed up, dried and sold to dog and cat food companies as meat and bone meal.
You can read more about it here.
http://earthislandprojects.org/eijournal/fall97/fe_fall97petfood.html
Here is an article where the owner of a rendering plant talks about it. He says that cremating the dead shelter animals would cause pollution, and that rendering them is good.
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m5072/is_12_26/ai_115041999
Here is further information on what you shouldn’t see in the ingredients list in your dog’s food.
http://www.dogfoodproject.com/index.php?page=badingredients
Top rated dog foods like Canidae contain good healthy ingredients.

Technorati Tags: dog allergy, Hypoallergenic Dog Food