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Shar Pei Allergies

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Did you know that dogs can have allergies just like humans?  Shar-Pei breeds in general can have allergies to both food and different things in their environment.  Listed below are some of the common symptoms associated with dog allergies:

• Hair loss
• Intense itching
• Infected ears
• Swollen or red skin between the toes

Allergies can either be acquired or inherited.  They are caused by an overreaction of the immune system.  Acquired allergies are those that are appear in an older or mature dog that had no previous allergies.  Since allergies can be caused by various environmental or food items, it would be nearly impossible to find the allergen and eliminate it from the dogs everyday life.  Your veterinarian can test for allergies through skin scraping or by blood testing.  Most often, the blood test is used to track food allergies but is not completely reliable.  The skin scrape test is similar to the testing done in humans.

Inherited allergies usually are apparent in younger dogs.  Dogs with inherited allergies should not be bred.  Treatment for dogs with inherited allergies is the same as treatment for dogs with acquired allergies.

Again, allergens can be broken down into another two groups; food and environmental.

Food Allergies

Food allergies are the easiest type of allergies to treat.  Removing the food from your dog’s diet or replacing the food with a premium, high-quality dog food is recommended.  Food without soy, corn, and wheat are the best choices when purchasing premium foods.

Environmental Allergies

Like humans, dogs’ allergies are generally worse in the summer and fall when molds, seeds, and pollen are abundant.  The best way to maintain the comfort of your pet is to get allergy shots for dogs which assist in alleviating some of the symptoms.

Fleas and Allergies

Did you know that many dogs are allergic to fleas?  Fleas are a common cause of skin problems and many dogs are allergic to the saliva of fleas.  Some of the symptoms of flea allergies are sever scratching.  Treating flea allergies is simple.  Your main goal in treating flea allergies is flea prevention.  Ask your veterinarian to suggest a flea prevention product.  Frontline and Advantage are highly recommended.  However, to completely rid fleas, you must treat your home and yard as well.