Enviromental allergies in dog breeds

I think it's fair to say over the last ten years we see more environmental allergies in dogs than ever before. Its about time their were some more science studies done on the reasons why this is happening.   Because its pedigree or cross breed and pretty much across all dogs as a species.

We are also lucky that my dogs have no allergies, and my owners dogs who have allergies are very few and far between.    Ive always thought its because we are as natural as possible and those who go down this route from the start and do not vaccinate and do not worm or flea treat are ahead of the game where allergies are concerned. But of course we can not control what people do. We can only give some suggestions.  Holistic vets are brilliant and. I advise speaking to one if you have concerns. 

So why are all breeds of dogs now having allergies?  I see it on Frenchie groups, natural groups, vaccine groups, all dog breeds and cross breeds. 

Could it be our atmosphere being more pollutant before?.
Could it be the over use of chemicals in our pets? ie flea and wormer products?
Could it be the food they are being fed is not as natural as it should be and containing drugs?
Could it be our homes and the products we use?
Could it be the over vaccination of our pets?
Is it because we have our pets in the house now where as in the 1960's dogs were outside dogs?

These are all questions being said online in various forums across the board in every breed of dog. 

Now sometimes pets get hives because they have been bitten by an insect. 
Sometimes its because they have come into contact with a plant thats touched the skin.
Sometimes it's because a dog has ingested a plant which is poisonous. 

The sad thing is we can sort out the later when its contact allergy, or food.  But it's very very difficult when environmental allergies. 

I speak to a lot of people across the board with dogs of all breeds and it's not just unique to the dog breeds I own.  It's pretty much everywhere.  Questions do need to be asked and a study does need to be done, and Im going to look up on a science website and start to finds some studies done in case ive missed any, then I can educate everyone here. 

Your veterinary surgeon maybe able to help but I would actually suggest going to a holistic vet first. Because they can really get results faster than. your conventional vet.  Conventional vets will put your dog straight onto steroids or apoquel. 

But what can you do for a dog to help them now?

Food - Finding what suits and what does not.  Avoiding foods which heat the skin and make them itchy.  Chicken is key, beef is another.  For some animals sadly they can even be allergic to most proteins.  Go for more unusual proteins and stick with one protein for 6 weeks to see if you can find it makes a difference.  Go to the Dogs butcher or Durham animal feeds for more unusual proteins.

Organic is better!  Sadly much more expensive but its true that animals grass fed then killed have less histamines in cells than animals fed corn than killed.  Apparently when the dog digests these cells come to light and cause the histamine response in a dog.  So it can be absolutely what they are eating, but what that animal ate before them.  Sadly a lot of animals are forced to grow to put into the food chain and again these chemicals, and antibiotics fed will have an effect on your dog.  
Organic is much better.  If you have tried for example one protein for 6 weeks and it has not worked, you could then try organic protein for 6 weeks and see if their is a difference. 

Then we have some animals which what ever you do no food works.  As much as I hate to say it try then two foods which can help some dogs.  One is made by Purina, it's a dried food and it's hydrolysed food. This means they do something to the protein to make the food.  It can work in some cases.  But the food is rubbish.   It's a last resort food. 

Dogs which have allergy to the outside environments and plants you can wash your pet down after walks.  Wear a T shirt vest to minimise allergies.  Wear boots on the feet to avoid allergens.   Or just wash down the whole dog every walk. 

House hold products, try to work out if you are cleaning with something thats causing the allergy. 

If all else fails then you can use Apoquel.  Apoquel is a drug thats my last resort ever to think about. It is necessary in some cases.  Or short courses of it and not over long use.  Some dogs can have a 6 weeks course then a break from it.   Your vet will have to either prescribe it for you or they will give you a prescription which is much cheaper then to buy online.  It costs approx £25 for a prescription and its for 3 months of drugs.  Then you can buy online the drugs at more than half the price your vet is selling them for.  I call this the last ditch attempt in helping your pet.  I would not just put a dog onto this stuff from all the side effects please read them before you accept it from your vet.