Colloidal oatmeal

One of the most important ingredients is colloidal oatmeal. It will help soothe itchy skin as well as provide extra moisture for the inflamed areas.

Lidocaine and Hydrocortisone

Another good option is a shampoo with lidocaine and hydrocortisone. They can help stop the severe itching as well as reduce the redness and swelling.

Wheat Germ Oil

Since essential fatty acids can be absorbed through the skin, finding a shampoo with wheat germ oil can provide beneficial Omega 3s and Omega 6s. Wheat germ oil can, over time, help reduce the allergy symptoms.

Allantoin

Some products contain the ingredient Allantoin. It claims to help speed up the healing process.

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Tea Tree Oil

Tea tree oil can be found in several of the dog hot spot shampoos. It has antifungal, antiseptic, antibacterial and antiviral properties. Tea tree oil can also be used as an insect repellent.

My Experiences

I purchased a shampoo with colloidal oatmeal, lidocaine, hydrocortisone, allantoin, and wheat germ oil for my dog after she was diagnosed with a hotspot. After I finished applying the shampoo, I was quickly amazed at how it made my hands feel. Compared to some shampoos, the ingredients made my hands feel very cool which I can only imagine helped Abigail’s hot spots feel better. She’s not big on bathes, but I could tell the shampoo really brought her some relief.

In Conclusion

There are several good hot spot shampoos on the market that can be a valuable tool in your dog allergies treatment. I found these after doing some research. They contain most of the ingredients that I mentioned here.

It is important to get your dog to a vet to be diagnosed if you believe he / she had a dog hot spot. If they are untreated, hot spots can spread and get a lot worse very quickly.

For more information on dog hot spots, see Dog Hot Spots Explained

Want to learn more about dog food allergies?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sookie/ / CC BY 2.0

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Working with your vet, it should be possible to alleviate the annoyance of dog allergies for your pet. Your dog can live the remainder of her life free from allergies. You will be able to spend more quality time together knowing that your dog is comfortable in her own skin.

Common symptoms of dog allergies include:

• Frequent scratching and licking

• Rubbing face on carpet, or just about any rough surface

• Itchy ears or recurring ear infections

• Itchy eyes

• Sneezing

• Diarrhea

• Vomiting

If they aren’t stopped, dog allergies can lead to serious health problems like recurring ear infections and dog hot spots. These can not only cause your dog serious pain, but also be very expensive to treat. (Trust me on this one, I’ve been there and spent thousands.)

Dog allergies normally start when a dog is one to three years old. However, there are a few cases where dog allergies can start as late as six to eight years. In our case, our Labrador Retriever started showing signs of allergy symptoms not long after turning one year.

What Type of Dog Allergies Does Your Pet Have?

Whenever you are trying to find the cause of dog allergies, it is always important to seek the assistance of a veterinarian. They can help you determine the type of allergies your dog has.

Since fleas can be relatively easy to find, I usually start here.
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1. Dog Flea Allergies

Flea allergies are the most common type of dog allergies. When a flea bites your dog, it leaves a small amount of saliva on the dog’s skin. This is what the dog is allergic to. Fleas can be difficult to get rid of. A female flea can lay 600 eggs over the course of her life, according to Dr. Steve Wagner, former president of California Veterinary Association.

Have you seen any fleas on your dog? If you have seen one flea, odds are good that there are several more lurking. It is important to get your dog on a flea treatment as soon as possible.

Once the eggs are laid, they can wait an entire year for a host to approach and then emerge to drink their blood. Click the following link to see what I have used to effectively fight fleas in Florida where fleas can live year-round and thrive in the high humidity.

==> Click here for help with flea allergies <==

2. Dog Inhalant Allergies (Atopy)

Some of the common allergens include:
• Cigarette smoke
• Cleaning products
• Dander
• Dust
• Dust mites
• Fabrics, such as nylon or wool
• Feathers
• Insecticidal shampoo
• Mold spores
• Plastic
• Pollens, such as grass, trees, and weeds
• Perfumes
• Rubber

In the case of inhalant allergies, one place to start is to use a process of elimination. This will help you determine some of the items your dog may be allergic to. In some cases, it may be possible to avoid the allergen once it has been identified. In the case of a seasonal allergen, it may be possible to use a method listed below to temporarily keep your dog from itching until it passes.
First, your dog may be allergic to some of the same things you are. If you are having an allergic reaction to some new pollen in your back yard, it’s a possibility that your dog is too.

One of the first things I like to do, especially in the spring and fall, is check the pollen count. Tree pollens usually occur earlier in the spring followed by grass.

Your vet may be able to recommend a medicine or supplement to provide your dog some temporary relief, the pollen may pass in a few weeks and the allergy may go away on its own. What happens if the allergy does not go away in a month or so? Perhaps you are dealing with a year-round allergy.

Did you know that your dog may be allergic to his toys? Plastic and rubber are two of the common dog allergens, so don’t rule out this possibility.

Avoidance may be possible, if it is something that you can keep your dog away from. If not, you can work with your veterinarian using allergy tests to determine exactly what the allergen is and the best methods to deal with it.

3. Dog Food Allergies

Dog food allergies occur in around 15% of dogs, making them the third most-common type of dog allergy. Unlike what some dog food vendors may tell you, there is no “perfect food”. However, there are certain avoidance techniques that you can use to find out which foods your dog is allergic to.

==> Click here for help with dog food allergies <==

Essential Fatty Acids

Essential Fatty Acids (i.e. Omega 3) has been recommended by veterinarians for years. They have been proven to be effective for some dogs with allergies. In addition to this, they can help improve the quality of your dog’s coat.

==> Click here for more information about essential fatty acids for dogs <==
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Research:

Berkeley Parents Network – Allergic Dog

Canine Food Allergies

The Coughing Pet

The information and products on this website are for educational purposes only and not intended to diagnose allergies. Please consult a veterinarian for professional assistance.

What are Hot Spots?

Dog hot spots are a type of skin infection that occurs in dogs. It is typically a circular area that can be painful, itchy, and even smelly.

Can a Dog Food Allergy Cause Hot Spots?

Last year Abigail, our Golden Retriever, had surgery on her ear and had to wear the dreaded cone for 2 weeks. On her last trip to the vet, they removed the cone and Abby was one happy pup! She pranced around the lobby of the vet’s office, excited to have that dreaded collar removed.

My wife dropped Abigail off at the house, and went out to run some errands. When she returned, Abigail had a huge dog hot spot across her right flank. This happened over 2 hours! Over the course of 2 hours, she chewed most of the hair from that area and left a big mess. Thankfully, our vet had one more appointment that afternoon and was able to see her.

The vet cut the hair away from the area and cleaned it. To add insult to injury, he put the cone back on the poor girl. Boy, was she ever sad, you could see it in her eyes.

The vet told us that the hot spot was probably caused by dog allergies, so we started investigating the cause. After some research, we started to wonder if her food was the culprit. Shadow, our other dog, was eating the same food, and was having dog allergy symptoms as well (although his were different). After further inspection, we found that there were a number of ingredients in the dogs’ food that are common allergens. These included corn, soy, wheat, fillers, and by-products. As a friend of mine said the other day, “How many dogs do you see grazing on corn? If they don’t eat it in the wild, then why are we feeding it to them?”

I think he makes a lot of sense.  In an effort to become more profitable, some companies have started including a wide range of filler ingredients in dog food and some of them are just plain disgusting. For instance, peanut shells, cereal byproducts, cottonseed hulls, straw, corn, weeds, feathers, and even chicken beaks to name a few. In order to cut costs, companies are using fillers that have no taste, but are substantially cheaper than quality animal proteins.

So, getting back to the original question of can dog food allergies cause hot spots:  I have seen it with my own eyes.  Fortunately, after doing some research, we were able to change Abigail and Shadow’s food and within about 2 weeks, a lot of the dog allergy problems went away. For our pups, the key was moving to a food without the corn meal and by-products that they were allergic to. Please note, the change is not quick. It can take around two weeks for you to see improvement.

What about a dog food for allergies?

For an adult dog (we stopped feeding our dogs “puppy” food at 1 year), it is recommended that the level of fat be between 15 and 19 percent and the level of protein be between 22 to 25 percent.  Some dogs have different requirements depending on the breed and activity level.  If you have questions, it is a good idea to go over nutritional needs with your vet.

The type of protein is important as well. For the grain free food we selected, the protein choices were venison, bison, duck, fish, or lamb, but there are others. Make sure the first five items on the ingredients list are not any type of grain (corn meal, etc.), they should be a form of protein.

Summary

Picking the right food for your pet is an important task.  Some veterinarians are knowledgeable about your pet’s nutritional needs.  If you believe that your dog has a dog food allergy, it is always a good idea to have a vet check him/her out. While there, you can see what they recommend for a dog food allergy.  If you do switch your pet’s food, make sure you do it gradually, mixing the foods over several days. Even with a quality food, switching them too fast can cause an upset stomach.

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* This article contains affiliate links. Shadow’s gotta eat too. : )

Hot Spots Are Painful

Hot spots can occur quickly and with little warning. They leave your pet with red, itchy, swollen areas that are only made worse by his or her constant licking and biting. They cause considerable pain and can make your pet irritable. If not treated immediately, the infected areas can spread and get worse.

What Causes Hot Spots on Dogs?

The medical name for a dog hot spot  is pyotraumatic dermatitis. Hot spots typically occur when a dog licks or scratches an area until it is raw.  The most common cause of dog hot spots are flea allergies, but they can also be caused by dog food allergies, and even coat problems (mats, old hair, etc.). Humidity and leaving a dog’s coat wet for too long can also be a factor. This problem is more common for dogs (Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Newfoundlands, and German Shepherds)  with undercoats where dead hair can retain moisture.  Hot spots are frequently found on the legs, feet, flank, and rump, but just about any area your pet can reach can be suspect.

Hot Spot Treatment

It is critical to treat the hot spots as soon as possible. If untreated, hot spots will typically get worse and spread.

Remove the hair from the area.

You can typically remove the hair using scissors. If it is a large area, you may need to shave it. The purpose of this procedure is to remove the fur that can hold moisture. Once the wound is clean and dry, it should heal faster. It will also help stop the infection from spreading.

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Wash the affected area.

You can use a mild skin cleanser for dogs, water-based astringent, or antiseptic to wash the affected area.

Once the area is clean and dry

Once the area is clean and dry, it is recommended that you not use any creams since they can seal in the moisture and infection. Your veterinarian may recommend an antihistamine. An Elizabethan (cone shaped) collar can also be used to keep him/her from licking or chewing the area until it has had a chance to heal.

Hot spots can make your pet miserable. Early detection and cleaning can provide relief. By keeping the area clean and dry, you should see improvement in the hot spots in a few days. The key is to keep your pet from licking the area and spreading the infection.

It is recommended that you seek the assistance of a veterinarian when treating dog hot spots or any type dog allergies treatment.

To learn more about a dog food we tried, see our Chicken Soup Dog Food article.

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Dog Ear Infection and the Dreaded Cone

A few weeks ago, Abigail underwent surgery for an ear hematoma. As a result, she wore a collar for the last few weeks to keep her from scratching her ears and causing infection. Yesterday, she finally got the collar off around 3 o’clock. We were so happy for her because you could tell she hated it.

After arriving back home, my wife had to run some errands, so she let Abigail out on the back porch to enjoy the nice afternoon. (This is one of Abigail’s favorite spots.)

Around two hours later, we got home and checked up on Abigail.  We were looking forward to seeing her tail wagging because she was happy to have the collar off. Instead, we found her underneath a chair with her back leg, which had been fine when she was at the vet earlier, bright red and a great deal of fur missing. Over the course of 2 hours, she had chewed on her leg so much it was bleeding in spots. After having seen dog hot spots before, we called the vet and made an emergency appointment.

A Trip to the  Vet

We were extremely lucky that our vet had one appointment available before  closing in 2 hours, but it required that I get there in 10 minutes.  I rushed out the door and made it in time. After taking one look at the dog he had seen just two hours before, he was amazed. He said the hot spots had probably been itching her for a while, but with the collar on, she could not get to them. He believes the inflammation was probably caused by a flea bite to which Abigail is highly allergic. He gave her a shot of steroids and told us to put the collar back on until the hot spots get better.

In my next article, I’ll give an update on our battle with fleas and what we’re using to fight them.

I’m happy to report that Abigail is currently laying down in my office sleeping while I type this post. After some additional antihistimine, she finally seems to be getting some relief.

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I woke up last Saturday to find Shadow, our 11 month old Chocolate Labrador Retriever, with a swollen eye. At first I thought that he and Gunner (the German Shepherd puppy we’ve been fostering) had been playing a little too rough and Shadow gotten a black eye (or maybe in his case a brown eye  : ). After looking a little closer, we decided it was time for a visit to the vet.

Shadow has allergies

It turns out that allergies are common in a lot of dog breeds and symptoms start appearing  around the time the puppy turns one year old. The symptoms are typically different from humans, and are sometimes are easy to miss if you don’t know what to look for. (I’ll admit that I missed them before our trip to the vet.)

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When allergies start, you may see the following symptoms:

• Dry skin (possibly with red, irritate hot spots)

• Itchy face (especially around the eyes) with the dog rubbing his/her face against almost any surface (Shadow likes to rub his head against my leg.) (Please see the picture above for an example (this is not Shadow).)

• Scratching different parts of the body.

• Canine hair loss (usually as a result of the scratching)

• Sneezing

• Eye discharge

In some extreme cases, vets also see dogs with skin lesions (which can lead to infections), bad odor around the areas where they are scratching, diarrhea, vomiting, and ear infections.

What causes canine allergies?

Dogs can be allergic to many different things. Seasonal allergies, typically caused by trees, grass, pollen, or mold. Food allergies, have there been any changes in the puppy’s diet recently? Or, an environmental allergies, for example fabric, rubber, or plastic in toys or maybe even dust or fleas.

For my next article on canine allergies, My Dog Is Allergic, Now What?, I will go into detail on how to troubleshoot different allergens and methods of treatment.  I will also fill you in on how the progress is going with Shadow.

Please feel free to post comments on products you’ve had success with in this area. I would like to provide Shadow some relief as soon as possible. Currently, the vet has us giving him antihistamines twice daily, but I would like to find a better, long term dog allergies treatment.

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