I had been treating my dog, Scout, for ear infections for a few years until my vet shed light on the underlying problem. He has allergies. All his life I just thought Scout was prone to ear infections, and had a few odd habits, but they were all signs that he had allergies. If your dog has been exhibiting the following behaviors he/she may have allergies too, and it’s important to discuss it with your vet.
The biggest sign is frequent ear infections that are usually seasonal. Of course I noticed that Scout had more ear infections in the summer however I assumed it was related to all the swimming he does. After I spoke to my vet he explained that the water doesn’t cause ear infections but it can make them worse.
If your dog has never had an ear infection, or if you don’t know the signs, look inside the ear and if it’s very red or very dirty (like black ear wax) your dog may have an infection. Also look for signs of discomfort from your dog. Scout will often scratch or rub his ear excessively and will shake his head violently. Floppy eared dogs are more susceptible. Other symptoms include itchiness.
A dog might scratch himself excessively, but dogs will also lick or rub itchy areas. I thought Scout was part cat for a while when he would spend long periods of time licking his paws and legs. It turns out that it was the only way for him to alleviate his itchy extremities. Another common area that can be very itchy when a dog has allergies is their rear. Dogs will lick the area if they can or bite at it, but Scout’s favorite solution is to drag his rear across the carpet. The signs are not always as recognizable as they are in humans; you have to have a better understanding of your dog’s behavior. Unfortunately dogs cannot tell you that they have allergies. It’s up to you to assess your dog’s behavior and talk to a vet about the issues.
For years I had been treating Scout’s symptoms instead of the cause and he suffered because of it. Now that I know what I was doing wrong I can be a better pet owner. Now that I’m treating his allergies he gets fewer ear infections and can enjoy the summer without being so itchy all the time. There are a few different ways that you can treat allergies in animals. There are pills, powders, shots and liquids that can all be effective. The prices vary greatly, and not every treatment will work on every dog. Just as with humans, the allergies’ affects vary from person to person as do the effects of the medications.
It is important to watch for these signs and tell your vet about your pet’s day to day activities. Four times out of five nothing will be wrong with the behavior, but it never hurts to provide more information when it comes to the health of your pet.
Nickole Siegman is a student at the University of Wisconsin – Stout (appropriately, Stout is also her dog’s name). She contributes regularly to ProbioticSmart.com and PSCPets.com, a leading retailer of products for pets including the new gluten free “Sun Dancer Dog Food” from Solid Gold, which was specifically designed for dogs with allergies.