We know you love your dogs and we know you want to do what's best for them. So let's review a few simple things you can do for your pooch to get rid of those pesky skin allergies.

Here is a list of what you need to know:

Warning Signs

There are three main types of skin allergies: flea bites; food allergies; and inhalant allergies (pollen, dust, and chemicals). The skin will grow irritated and red. Swelling may occur, but this will most often be a result of scratching, biting, or excess licking. If your dog starts to lose hair as a result of the reaction or gets an ear infection too, it might be a long-term food allergy related to serving processed food. Other warning signs are frequent sneezing or coughing, or rubbing the eyes.  

Avoiding Skin Allergies

Make sure your German Shepherd is given effective flea and tick medication on a regular basis. It is important not just for flea bite allergies, but for avoiding potential sickness from tick bites and other parasites that will latch on to your dog when it is outside. Avoid feeding your German Shepherd industrial food with too many grain fillers. Rice is the safest grain, but corn, soy and wheat are all allergenic. Processed meats can also cause food allergies, and table scraps should strictly be avoided due to the substances in human food that a dog's metabolism cannot process. Finally, to avoid inhalant allergies, observe your dog for signs of frequent sneezing or coughing in certain conditions or at certain times of the year.

Treating Skin Allergies

To treat skin allergies, all that is needed are basic nutritional changes and lots of regular outdoor exercise. The symptoms of some inhalant allergies can effectively be controlled with effective inhalant allergy medication. The skin condition should be treated with the soothe cream conditioner under running water.

It's important to have a routine during allergy season. Know your dog and your dog's habits. Be sure to keep up with flea medications, even if your dog spends most of the day indoors. Humans have the luxury of hands and fingernails to attack any itch that comes our way. Our dogs rely on us, so let's give them a hand!

For more information about skin allergies for dogs, please visit: My German Shepherd.

We love these helpful tips and tricks to keep our dogs comfortable and happy this allergy season. Do you have any special ways to keep your dog's allergies at bay? Share with us today!