Man began breeding dogs thousands of years ago to bring out preferred traits. That’s why German Shepherds are strong, Poodles are fun, Dalmatians are spotted, and Beagles are cute. Unfortunately, in the process of developing good things, some less desirable genes were also passed along.
Allerwho? One of those genetically inherited difficulties is the susceptibility to certain physical problems. For example, there are several breeds that are highly prone to developing allergies. We’re calling them AllerBreeds:
- Terriers of all kinds
- Dalmatians
- Retrievers
- Boxers
- Herding breeds
- Shih Tzus
- Beagles
- Schnauzers
- Setters
- Bulldogs
- Shar Peis
- Bichons
- German Shepherds
- Rottweilers
- Newfoundlands
- Akitas
- Chihuahuas
- Poodles
To make it even worse, allergies are also prevalent in mixed breeds of the above, like Shiba Inus, Puggles, and French Bulldogs.
AllerWhat? If you have one of the breeds above, you may first notice your dog licking and scratching, or having recurring ear infections, which are classic signs of allergies. Often, the reaction starts seasonally, but then spreads throughout the year over time. Other dogs have allergies to dust, mites, mold, various foods, ticks, and especially fleas. We recommend allergy testing to determine the culprit and figure out the best course of treatment.
AllerWhen? Allergic reactions occur at the second exposure to the allergen, and in the past, it wasn’t until a puppy’s second year that we saw symptoms. For some reason, that is changing, and we’re seeing patients at less than six months who are already symptomatic. There’s good news, though. A recent study has shown promising results when puppies less than four months old are given probiotics.
AllerHow? If you have a breed that is susceptible to allergies here’s what you should do. Since diet is often a key factor, ask us how you can improve what your dog eats.
Be diligent about flea and tick prevention. Watch for symptoms of environmental allergies.
AllerYou. We may make other recommendations for your specific pet. As always, your pet’s health and happiness is our goal. We can’t promise that your pet will ever be allergy free. But no matter the breed, we can promise you that we’ll do the best we can to keep your pet as symptom free as possible.
