Does my dog have allergies?
If your dog is showing signs of being unhappy, listless or continually scratching it could be that your dog has symptoms which relate to dog allergies.
Allergens, or dog allergies, can strike your dog at any time in his life. Dog allergens are very small and they can be found in a dog’s skin, coat, saliva, and urine.
Allergens move around your home and they can contaminate everything. Homes can be a mine field of allergens – settling into carpets, curtains, furniture, beds and even on a person’s clothing.
Some dogs, such as cocker spaniels, Irish setters and other breeds of dogs which are known to shed hair every three or four days may require special attention for their allergies.
Non-hypoallergenic dogs have fur that is loose and dense; hence there is a chance that their coat is full of dander. ‘Dander’ is a collective word for dry skin cells and particles of dust that float around in the air, mostly unseen by dog owners.
Hypoallergenic dogs have shorter coats and no undercoat. Cold weather affects these breeds of dog more but they are a perfect choice as a dog for anyone who suffers from allergies.
These types of dogs have hair which is similar to humans and they shed their hair occasionally.
However, they do require constant care including having a bath and having their coats trimmed and brushed on a regular basis. All breeds of dog with long hair or short hair and are taken out for walks, brushed and groomed every day are likely to produce lower levels of dog allergens.
