Canine allergies are frustrating–it can be difficult to diagnose what the source of the dog allergies and even once the source is pinpointed, it can be hard to avoid the allergens.
For instance, many dogs are allergic to certain ingredients in dog food. (The most common source of dog health allergies when it comes to food is the protein source, so often switching your dog to a single protein source food can make a big difference.) Other dogs are allergic to pollen or other environmental elements, or even everyday household chemicals like laundry detergent.
In short, if you can be allergic to it, chances are good so can your dog. And, given that even though allergy tests for people have come a long way in the last few decades, doctors can still have trouble isolating exactly what’s causing your watery eyes or other symptoms… Well, let’s just say veterinary medicine isn’t much better when it comes to diagnoses.
So, what can you do to help your dog be healthy with allergies? Three things my vet recommended:
1) Start by talking to your vet, but explain that you’d like to avoid medication if possible. Vets often assume pet owners want the easiest solution, and that’s usually allergy pills, so be clear that you’d much prefer resolve the problem than mask it.
2) Reduce allergens in the home. It’s a lot easier to determine the cause of allergies if you restrict as much as possible for a little while–keep your dog home from doggie day care, keep him inside as much as possible, and wash everything he comes into contact with with the simplest detergent you can find.
3) Simplify your dog’s diet. Talk with your vet and find out if you can feed your dog rice and chicken for a few weeks (that tends to be the easiest choice–but any two-ingredient, home-cooked diet would work). Do get your vet’s guidance on this as portions will vary widely by dog, and for some dogs, restricting their diet can be harmful in other ways.
Getting to the root of dog allergies can be a little time consuming, but improving your dog’s health and resolving those allergic reactions is well worth it! Do you have an allergic dog? What have you done to help reduce allergens?
Filed under:Dog Fun, Healthy Dog | Comments Off on How to choose the right dog for you
This weekend, my mom and I spent some time at the local humane society.
My dad wants a big dog (like Vance–who’s 85+lbs). My mom wants a small dog that’s not too small. They’re not sure about temperament or age or really much of anything. They’ve always picked dogs in the past based on which one they fell in love with and that’s worked out really well.
So, my mom and I were looking through the photos of dogs at the humane society and fell in love with a furball named Gus who’s about 16 weeks old and part Great Pyrenees. He was the cutest little guy–who’ll be a big guy soon–racing around, pulling toys out of the box. Watching him, I thought about Vance when he was a pup and how he was such an energetic, focused baby (and has become such an energetic, focused grown up). Gus, on the other hand, seemed like he was going to be much more easy going. He wore himself out in about two minutes and collapsed in a heap at my mom’s feet. So cute!
In the end, Gus has several applications on him, and my folks would rather adopt a dog who really needs a home, so my mom met another puppy (about eight months old) who was part husky. Parker was too toy focused for my mom (he wouldn’t talk to us at all, even when we had cookies, preferring to play on his own with a stuffed animal).
It was fun meeting the puppies, though, and got me thinking about how important it is to know what you’re doing before you go to the humane society to pick a dog. After all, Gus is going to be a *big* dog. And he’s really likely to find a family exclusively because he’s adorable. Maybe he’ll get lucky and they’ll be ready to take responsibility for him fully, but it’s also really possible that as soon as he’s not fluffy and sweet any more… He’ll be back at the shelter.
So, what do you need to figure out before you go to pick out a dog?
1) Decide if size matters. If you live in a small house, a small dog is probably better. If you have a small car, same thing. What size dog will best fit into your life? Your personality? I wanted a big dog–a dog who could enjoy a full day at the beach or lake, a dog who’d take up a lot of space on the couch, a dog who’d enjoy long walks. And that’s who Vance is. You might find a small dog better suited to your life.
2) If you have other dogs (or other pets) you need to make a priority of their getting along. We actually adopted an adult dog about two years ago thinking Vance would enjoy having a companion. He didn’t, at all. (The adoption was entirely contingent on that and the rescue organization happily took the other dog back.) Usually dogs of opposite sexes will get along better than two dogs of the same sex, but it’s more important that their temperaments be compatible. And sure, if you’re confident and fully in charge, you can probably introduce another pet without worrying about conflicts, but you still want to be getting a good match for your family.
3) Don’t discount older dogs. Older dogs make excellent pets because they’re already housebroken (or easily trained). They’re usually much smarter and more interested in being a family member (as opposed to puppies who tend to be focused on exploring the world). They’re very easy to train and it’s usually pretty easy to break them of any bad habits from previous homes (though this will be easier still if you consult a great trainer from the beginning). Sure, getting a puppy is fun… But it’s also a lot of work–puppies need constant supervision, to be let out several times a night, and a very, very steady hand at training. What’s more, because they’re cute, it can be hard to keep the family on board about preventing bad habits. (Breaking bad habits in an adopted adult dog is much easier than breaking them in a dog you’ve raised from a puppy.)
4) Make sure that the dog gets along well with kids if you have any. Kids can be hard for some dogs to take–they’re noisy and active and chaotic. Make sure the dog you’re adopting has the temperament to be patient and not get anxious around your kids if you have them.
5) Take your time. Don’t feel rushed into making this decision. Adopting a dog is a lifetime commitment and you shouldn’t make it on the spur of the moment. It’s one thing to get a dog home and know right away that the situation is untenable. It’s another to bring a dog home and decide two years later that you don’t want the dog any longer. Avoid being an irresponsible pet owner by taking your time making this decision so that you make the right choice.
6) If you rent, make sure you can have a dog. ASK your landlord. Many renters just assume their landlord won’t mind (or won’t know) and wind up being sued for thousands of dollars for damages or being evicted for breaking the lease. So, pick up the phone and speak to your landlord before you adopt. If you own your home, make sure there are no HOA rules that you’d be violating by bringing a dog home. (Some HOAs have restrictions on number or size of dogs.)
By taking the time to really think through these steps before heading to your humane society or pound, you’ll be in a much better position to adopt the dog that’s right for your family. The first few weeks with a new dog are full of fun and joy–if you take your time to do things right and lay the groundwork for a fantastic relationship with your new dog from the very beginning.
What tips do you have about adopting a dog? Is there anything you’re especially glad you considered before bringing home a new companion?
Vance hates having his teeth brushed, but we all know that doggie dental care is really important to a dog’s overall health. So, in addition to the dental Kong and teeth-cleaning biscuits, we brush his teeth three times a week.
It seems like a good compromise for us–more often than that and we just never do it, less often and I feel guilty that I’m not taking good enough care of him.
But, today as I was wrestling with Vance and the toothbrush and the paste… I thought I’d see what’s on YouTube that might make the whole process less frustrating for both me and the dog.
Of the great videos available, this one was my favorite, though you’ll have to ignore the corney montage at the beginning. Enjoy this video on how to brush a dog’s teeth! And if you have any tips for making it easier, please feel free to share.
