Allergies in Dogs- Natural Solutions

Allergies in Dogs

Blue Skies and Birch

When I realized that my yellow lab, Birch, was suffering from allergies- and they weren’t going to go away-and au contraire, they were just getting worse- I began researching and talking to people to figure out what my options were.

Already set against the “common conventional veterinary advice” of using drugs and histamine suppressants, I wanted to hear what others who’d been through allergies with their dogs had to say.

Oh, the agonizing and heartbreaking stories that I heard. It was horrifying to learn that a dog’s allergies could get so bad, that their humans had to “lift them up” (as I prefer to say, rather than “put them down”) because their beloved companion was just so miserable.

“I went to so many different vets and had him on so many different medications. Then one vet said there was a new-on-the-market injection. At first it helped for 6 months or so, and I thought we were finally out of the woods. And then he needed another one. It wore off and he was a maniac, scratching and licking constantly. He got another one and it helped. Until it wore off again. The relief from the each subsequent injection was shorter and shorter until they finally didn’t help at all.”

“When she was 6 months old the vet said that she needed an A@o$#*l injection, that allergies were common and it would help. I hadn’t seen any problems. She wasn’t scratching and her ears seemed fine, but my vet said it was best. I never would’ve allowed it if I knew what was coming.”

“Finally, I was told that there was literally nothing anyone could do to help him anymore. He was 6 and in agony. The shots that had seemed to help wouldn’t work anymore. He chewed his fur off, then his skin. He was covered with open wounds and blood. He panted and circled all day and night. Nothing could get him comfortable. It was torture. There was no other option and I had to put my best friend down for his sake.”

I literally cried with that dog owner when he told me his story. Aww hell. I cried at all of them.

It became soooo evident that I was going to have to put in some serious effort in advocating for and helping my dog to heal.

I. Was. Determined. NOT to have the same thing happen to Birch.

Birch's Story

I have always tried to do everything “naturally” with Birch since he was a puppy. BUT. I made exceptions. Some were out of fear and some out of “well, it’s the lesser of the two evils”. I vaccinated him according to “New England” puppy protocols and recommendations. He tested positive for Lyme and the doxycycline “treatment” made him so sick. I allowed myself to be scared witless into vaccinating him “against” future Lyme exposure. I was feeding him a “high quality” break-the-bank kibble thinking that he was getting the best nutrition. Blah blah blah, lots of quotation marks.

Oatmeal and Birch

Allergies.

I started noticing some mild symptoms around 8 months or so. From 9 weeks old, my “little” farm pup would do chores with me every day. His job was to get the baling twine after I fed out hay. He took that job seriously and in a very thorough way…through the hay, over the hay, eating the hay, under the hay, oh look! Hay! And baling twine! How’d that get there? And then he’d grab the baling twine, through the hay, over the hay, eating the hay, under the hay and Oh look, Mom, here’s your baling twine! I’d get the twine and off he’d go to get the sheep.

Symptoms were mild at first. A little pawing at his face, slight licking of paws. No biggie, right? For a couple of years, Spring and Fall would have him doing a little more of the same, add on ears that were a little dirty (I did mention we have a farm, right? So again, no biggie). Then winter would come and Mr. Polar Bear would thrive!

Soon enough, Spring came. And then he didn’t- thrive, that is.

Spring brought hot spots. And swollen joints. I still didn’t necessarily 100 percent attribute this to allergies. I was told it was the Lyme. How about another round of Doxycycline? Or perhaps I didn’t dry him enough after he swam in the brook and there was some bacteria. He had malasezzia; an overgrowth of a yeast like fungus. How about topical steroids on the hot spots and in his ears AND an additional antibiotic?

Oh boy, I thought, here we go. Now the vet is going to think I’m a “bad mom” because I’m. Not. Doing. It!

I knew that all of these medications would just continue to suppress and degrade his immune system. I didn’t want a bandaid. I wanted a FIX, a CURE!

I researched ad nauseum day in and day out. Hours spent trying to find ways to help his immune system to fight off these issues. I’d find a natural, non-toxic remedy, incorporate it, see if it worked and keep at it.

Eventually, by the age of 5, we were dealing with what were now year round allergy symptoms- epic hot spots, scratching, swollen and painful joints, panting, angry red inflamed skin and hair loss, “elephant skin”, disgustingly goopy, smelly ears, shaking his head so hard that his big ears would swell like balloons with hematomas- that was absolutely horrifying to see.

It was like “all of a sudden” there was this giant blinking neon sign over his head pointing and screaming “ALLERGIES!” in a painful red.

It wasn’t all of a sudden though. Hind sight being 20/20, it’s all too clear. But at the time, it was easy to blame the individual come and go symptoms on something else. In my case, it doesn’t matter since it’s spilled milk but recognizing the symptoms of allergies in dogs early may help you prevent things from getting too out of control with your pup.

What Are Allergies in Dogs?

So what are allergies in dogs anyway?

Allergies are gut wrenching. They are tearful frustration at the exhausting rock bottom. They are a vicious rollercoaster with heart breaking highs and depressingly rock bottom lows. That’s what allergies in dogs are. Get ready for the ride. It’s not a fun one.

Yes, allergies, oh wait, those were my emotions surrounding Birch’s allergies. Well, since we are on emotions…

From Birch’s behavior, I think I can make a pretty solid educated guess as to what his emotive and physical states were: uncomfortable on the good days, depressed, sore, in pain, anxious, nervous, exhausted, resigned and confused on the others.

As if he wasn’t unhappy enough, his look of dejection when I wouldn’t allow him in the barn to do chores with me and when he realized he wasn’t going on our daily hike to check the back 40, was absolutely crushing. And when I did let him go so he could just be a carefree dog again, all the sudden he found himself in the bath tub immediately afterwards, and eventually he just didn’t “ask” to go anymore. And when the angry red hot spots appeared and the electric clippers came out. The sprays and the compresses, the cloud collars and bandanas, the withholding of food that he loved, my across the room shouts of “NO!!!!” when he started to scratch. The “I’m so sorry buddy” and “you’re such a goood boy” as I held back tears while trying to clean his hugely angry, red hot spots.

And then me trying to walk calmly out of the house so as not to upset him further but finally giving in to running into the woods to wail in frustration that such a sweet, lovable, gentle tank of a dog had to suffer so damn badly.

And wail I did.

And finally, as if it couldn’t get worse, a light bulb went off and I realized that his personality changed. There was no more Mr. Buster, my happy-go-lucky, inquisitive, FUNNY, cuddly dog. He became a lethargic, depressed, stay-away-from me because it hurts dog. Absolutely heart crushing. That’s what allergies in dogs are.

Okay, so now that I got all that emotional sharing (hhmph) out of the way, let’s try this again.

What exactly are allergies in dogs?

The explanation from Wikipedia states that allergies “usually happen in dogs over 6 months old. A dog that is repeatedly exposed to a particular allergen becomes sensitized to it, and the immune system overreacts to a subsequent exposure, most commonly manifesting in the form of skin irritation.”

Huh. So basically, allergies in dogs are a result of an immune system gone haywire.

The immune system’s ultimate job is to prevent infection. When it’s working right, the immune system is constantly scanning for anything that is potentially harmful. When it does detect something it recognizes as harmful, it defends the body by attacking this foreign substance. The foreign substance is called an antigen. Antigens can be bacteria and viruses, toxins and chemicals, and anything from outside the body like splinters and food, mold and pollens.

The immune system can respond to antigens in different ways. It can respond to a threat by NOT responding, in which case infection can occur. It can also over-respond. If the immune system responds when there isn’t actually a threat, or it won’t turn itself off after the threat is gone, then allergies and autoimmune issues can happen.

So why does the immune system not work right to begin with?

First, possibly it’s genetics.

Second, possibly some outside source has weakened it. Immune suppressing medications (like steroids) and overmedicating, vaccines, poor nutrition, or constant stress (physical and emotional) may be responsible for an improperly functioning immune system.

And…a combination of all of the above may have contributed to a poorly functioning immune system.

While this is a very simplistic run on it, here’s the takeaway- allergies in dogs happen when the immune system is not functioning properly.

So to me, it follows that providing the body with the tools it needs towards helping to repair the immune system is the way to go…not the bandaid approach of “treating and masking the symptoms”, which is what one veterinarian actually told me was the only way to deal with my dog’s allergies. (Needless to say, it was time to find another vet. Again.)

How do you know if your dog has allergies?

When allergies in dogs are first starting out, the symptoms can be pretty subtle. And sometimes (sadly, like my poor Birch) when they become full blown, the are just obvious as all get out.

Here are some common allergy symptoms in dogs:

Behavioral: shaking head, face rubbing, licking (paws and anus), scratching, circling
Ears: red, swollen, itchy, full of debris, pungent odor, (recurring) infection
Eyes: watery, red, swollen, itchy
GI: vomiting, diarrhea
Joints: swollen, achy
Nose: runny or congested, sneezing, itchy
Respiratory: coughing, wheezing, panting
Skin: red, inflamed, flaky, itchy, hives, hot spots, skin infections, hair thinning/ loss

How do you know what your dog is allergic to?

Ok. So you’re pretty sure now that your dogs has allergies. He’s showing a bunch of symptoms. But to what? What is he allergic to? And why “all of a sudden”? You haven’t done anything different with him?!

If you see your dog constantly running to the box of tissues, then there you have it. He’s allergic to dust mites. (Or else you’re just my smart friend’s smart dog, who when you say “achoo!”, would run and grab a tissue for you. What a great trick!)

Or, if your dog runs to his food dish, screeches to a halt, turns his nose up at the ground beef in it and then walks away, then you know he’s allergic to beef.

Finally, when you say “Walk!”, your dog stops on the threshold, sniffs, woofs and goes back inside you know to translate the woof to “Sorry, Mom, but the pollen count is just too high today.” Yup, environmental allergies.

Right? Got it?

I s0ooo wish it was that simple!

Figuring out what your dog is allergic to can be a frustrating, long process.

It’s helpful to first try and identify whether your dog has an Environmental or Food Allergy, or both. And unfortunately, this may be easier said than done. The signs and symptoms are often the same for both.

Environmental Allergies

So your dog one, either touches and absorbs an allergen through his skin or two, inhales something that sets off some symptoms.

You may notice first that this happens only in the Spring or Fall and then the symptoms improve. The symptoms later come back and may last even longer than they did before.

Or you notice that when your dog lays on the couch, I mean (ahem), lays on his dog bed, he’s scratching and pawing at his nose, especially after it just came out of the wash.

Or “for no reason” his belly is red and his eyes seem glassy, which you also happen to notice at the same time that the dust is building up on your furniture because you haven’t had time to get to it.

Yup. Environmental allergies.

Allergies in dogs are sneaky. Your dog can develop an allergy to an environmental substance, or a food, at any given time, even if it was never a problem before.

Remember Birch and his “job” of getting the baling twine from the hay bales? He did that for a long time without any problems. Never was there any red skin or ears, no leaky eyes, no scratching afterwards…just the deep sleep of a happy, tired puppy. At the age of 6, his allergy test revealed now that he’s highly allergic to Timothy grass and alfalfa.

Of course, his tortured body revealed his allergies well before I got the numbers on the test back…

So what are some of the most common environmental allergies in dogs?

Dander
Dust mites
Fleas, flea bites and saliva
Fungi
Grasses and weeds
Insect bites
Malasezzia
Molds
Pollens

It can be so difficult to determine what EXACTLY the offending allergen is. Was it something in or on the grass? The pine pollen, the food he ate previously?

It’s hard to isolate one specific thing without taking away everything and starting from scratch (no bad pun intended!)

No walks in the woods for several weeks to see if there’s improvement. No barn chores around hay. No walks on all different grasses. Eliminating household products (see my post on non toxic cleaners here). Vacuuming daily. And then reintroducing things slowly to see if there’s a reaction.

UGH. Sucks. Period.

Food Allergies and Intolerance

So your dog has been eating the same thing forever. All of a sudden, you notice your dog scratching and face rubbing against the couch after meal times. And, now she’s having bowel movements more than 3 times a day and they don’t seem normal.

Yup. She’s developed a food intolerance or allergy. For whatever reason, your pup can no longer process an ingredient properly.

In like fashion, symptoms of food intolerance/allergies may be the same as those of environmental, although food allergies may be accompanied by digestive upset like vomiting, increased bowel movements and/or diarrhea.

Oftentimes a food intolerance/allergy is due to a protein, and that’s what your dog is reacting to.

Some of the most common food allergies in dogs are:

Beef
Chicken
Chicken eggs
Dairy (all dogs are actually lactose intolerant!)
Fish
Corn, wheat, grains and soy can also be problematic.

And don’t rule out the veggies. Packed with health benefits, your dog may nonetheless be reactive to some of them.

While the ones listed may be “common”, believe me when I say that every food may be suspect when it comes to allergies. Just ask Birch…

My little buddy who used to go into the chicken coop and bring “me” an egg tucked into his mouth ever so gently, which translated to “Oh look! An egg! Can you believe I found another one and maybe I can just have this? Maybe just this once?” And about 3-4 times a week, “just this once” would I let him eat them. Such an amazing powerhouse of nutrients! Omegas, biotin, etc… and, you guessed it, intolerance! Yup. He’s now allergic to them too. And chicken. And… lots of stuff.

Now. I’ve been dreading writing this part of this blog post. There is so much controversy over what a “healthy diet” is for dogs. I, personally, am a very strong proponent of a complete and balanced raw food diet. It has completely allowed Birch to turn a corner on healing and I’ve found that both of my dogs thrive on it. My only regret with the raw food diet is that I didn’t start many years and a few dogs ago.

I am completely saddened and horrified by what constitutes kibble and commercial dog treats. Especially the “vet prescribed” and “prescription diets” for dogs. We KNOW that we are what we eat. Our dogs need a diet that is rich in everything they need to thrive, not unrecognizable proteins heated to carcinogenic levels. This being said, I encourage you to check these resources on dog feeding and what you can do to keep your dog healthier with better food and food practices. I will do a post on this someday… Someday.

There. That wasn’t so bad. I reigned myself in. I could talk for hours about the dangers of highly processed dog foods and the raw diet, and…whoa Nellie!

In the meantime, back to diet. An elimination and limited ingredient diet. It’s one way to start figuring out what your dog is sensitive to. By swapping out a protein (very slowly! Click here for how to do this so as not to cause your pup serious digestive discomfort) and watching for at least 6-8 weeks (and even up to 12) to see if symptoms resolve, you may be able to isolate the offending food.

Usually, it’s recommended to switch out a “common” protein with a lesser common one such as venison or rabbit, kangaroo or duck. During this time, you have to be very careful NOT to feed your pup any additional treats so their body can adjust and you can see if their symptoms go away. After a few months on this limited diet you start reintroducing ingredients one at a time for a period of several weeks to see if any additional reactions occur. This is a very lengthy process and I know people that have spent years doing this.

I had always read that allergy testing for dog food wasn’t very reliable, so I didn’t hop right on the testing bandwagon right off the bat. I thought I’d work around the symptoms by eliminating certain foods and seeing what happened. I first started eliminating all “hot” and “damp” foods for sure as Birch is considered Mr. Damp Heat in Chinese Herbal Medicine. But, I’ve found elimination diets to be so very difficult.

I love training and reinforcing my pup’s great behaviors daily and I’ve done that often with food. Once the frozen blueberries and strawberries come out, or the dehydrated sweet potatoes that I made, carrot rounds, cucumber slices (all of which are organic- no glyphosate here!), my pups are eagerly at attention, falling over themselves to show me their brilliance!

Taking away that variety and daily bonding activity made me feel terrible. And of course, I felt like I couldn’t do it for Daisy, if I couldn’t do it for Birch. And as it turned out, blueberries (and most all berries except strawberries) are allergens for Birch. Who would’ve guessed that one?

That was their prime reward for training! They loved those little balls of antioxidants. W.T.H. now?

Ok. So by now, you’ve dubbed me “Mrs. Gloom and Doom”, right? I’m feeling that way too so let’s 180 it.

How to Treat Allergies in Dogs?

So what the heck to do about your dog’s allergies?

Not to reverse direction so quickly back into gloom and doom, but first, recognize that there is no cure for allergies in dogs.

BUT. It is possible to manage them, decrease them to a dull roar and finally, barely notice they’re there. Not by further stressing the immune system with drugs, but by helping to repair it.

Here are things that I have tried, but DISCLAIMER ALERT!!! Please remember that I am not a veterinarian, or a licensed anything having to do with veterinary diagnosis, medicine or treatments. I am a dog mom who has read, researched, and consulted with conventional and “natural approach” veterinarians, homeopathic vets and Chinese herbalists, canine rehabilitation therapists and canine chiropractors.

I have utilized various recommendations and disregarded others based on what I’ve thought was best overall for my specific dog. All of us (dogs included) are with different lifestyles and sets of circumstances so I do urge you to consult with professionals. What I’m putting out there are just considerations for your further research.

And one more suggestion here. Before starting anything, I would get a complete and current set of blood work done, along with a fecal and urinalysis. Parasites, low grade infections, improperly functioning thyroid, etc. make a difference. I know it’s expensive, but you should know what is going on internally with your pup before you start doing anything that may tip the scales the wrong way.

And speaking of expensive, there has been nothing inexpensive about my journey with Birch’s allergies. I am seriously hoping (it’s my goal here, friends!) that in writing this post you may be able to save money, and more importantly IMHO, time and suffering, by seeing if my recommendations can immediately head you and your pup in the right direction. Again, with your own well researched decisions and course of action with veterinary advice.

My Top 3 Treatment Options- My "Big Guns"

I’m starting with my top 3 “wish I had started out with this and done this sooner” items. These are my 180, on the path to healing, “big guns”.

Raw food diet. No one can truly be healthy without proper nutrition. This may look different to everyone, but providing healthy, fresh, balanced food goes a long way in helping the body to repair itself. Click here for additional info on fresh foods to add. Also click here to sign up for a printable list of foods that are dangerous to dogs. Finally, Pawfectly Raw is where I order my food from.
Repairing the gut. As with humans, I believe that good health begins in the gut! Most all medications can have an negative impact on the GI tract. Once that intestinal lining is compromised, inflammation can happen. Of course, a common “treatment” is more medication. Annndddd the vicious decline that “bandaids” can create. Dogs get “leaky gut” too and oftentimes this is at the root of the problem. I truly wish I had heard of this at the beginning of Birch’s allergy journey. But totally better late than never. In my research I came across Adored Beast Apothecary. I watched Dr. Julie’s video and couldn’t click on the order button fast enough. I noticed an improvement after the first round of the Leaky Gut Protocol. Shortly thereafter I noticed symptoms returning and decided to start him on the Yeasty Beast protocol for yeast (he had been diagnosed with malasezzia which I later found out he is highly allergic to). Upon completing that, I did a second round of leaky gut protocol. He keeps improving!!! I will keep doing this rotation for quite a while I’m sure.
Allergy Testing and immunotherapyAs I said before, I was hesitant about it. One vet told me that these tests were “just money makers and aren’t accurate” but that, hey, “I could try it if I wanted to.” I had done a little research and was conflicted about who and what to use and where to go so I just let it slide. Once I finally brought Birch to an integrative veterinary care center a couple of hours from my home (I thought it was a distance to travel but apparently it was no biggie since I learned that people literally drive and fly from all over the country with their pets to go there), they recommended the option of allergy testing for both environmental and food allergies and then the serum injections. I have never regretted it since. Again, $, both the visit and testing, $, but totally worth it. I wish I had started out here at this integrative vet center.

A little bit about the allergy testing and Immunotherapy. The allergy test can ID what allergens are causing your dog’s reactions. Once ID’d, by giving your dog a serum of small amounts of what he’s allergic to, his body will begin to build up a tolerance and over time, becomes desensitized. This is not a short term process and oftentimes maintenance doses will last a lifetime. Results may not be seen for 5-6 months or more. BUT. For me and Birch it’s totally worth it.

Our takeaway was a list of foods he was reactive to. This means I can totally avoid all those foods. Of course it doesn’t test every food in the world but boy, what a great start. Foods that aren’t on there, I use sparingly and monitor his reaction to them. As for reactivity to the environmental allergens- it is so awesome to know what those are! I opted to have the immunotherapy injections to desensitize him to those environmental allergens that I can’t avoid with him. We live on a farm, in the country with a very active outdoor lifestyle. I don’t want to keep him in a bubble and prevent him from being a dog!

It’s May and currently approaching full blown allergy season. We’re just over the 2 month mark of allergy treatments and the only symptoms are some runny eyes. This time last year, our suffering was at an all time high with ginormous hot spots, swollen joints, elephant skin and oozing ears and eyes! Not this year!!!!!

Without jinxing it, I’m shouting a loud victory!

“Yup! That’s right! It’s carrot on my nose.

I’m saving it for snack later!” ~ Birch

More Awesome Allergy Solutions

“Alternative” Care: Chriopractic, Acupuncture, Rehabilitation Therapies including low level laser, PEMF beds, hydrotherapy, and massage.

For me these aren’t alternatives, but essentials- not just for allergies in dogs, but for overall well-being. After all, isn’t that what we’re trying to do here? Fix the whole!

They’ve been so important in Birch’s move away from suffering. After he gets an adjustment at the Chiropractor he is so much better. Hands down. He sleeps, rests and moves better and skin issues seem to improve immediately afterwards.

As a licensed massage therapist, I use low level laser therapy in my practice and am able to utilize this on Birch with amazing results. I also have a PEMF mat. My bestie brings her Rotties to a canine rehab therapist for acupuncture and hydrotherapy as well as physical therapy, with stellar results on their overall well being.

I do know that you can literally drain your bank account if you were to utilize all of these options regularly.

Research each therapy, see which options are available in your area, and call and “interview” the clinician to see whether they realistically believe they can help your dog with the budget you have. Pick and choose based on your pup.

Chiropractic and acupuncture can work systemically on the whole dog. Chiropractic can yield some pretty quick results and Acupuncture may require a longer term commitment, but is so very worth it for many dogs!

Let’s move on to the (mostly) FREE options!

Ok. So here are other things I found that help to minimize the symptoms of allergies in dogs:

Baths. I had to learn to enjoy this process. (Birch didn’t love these at first despite his favorite thrill of plunging himself into our icy stream, regardless of the season.) I’d prep by having tons of towels and old throw rugs to catch water and help dry him thoroughly, a hair dryer on cool and an old hairbrush ready. A non slip mat in the tub to keep him from sliding, the water on cool and the handheld shower head at the ready. Coconut oil or almond butter (click here to read about the dangers of xylitol in pb) smeared on the shower walls helped entice him in to the point where he began jumping in with no coaxing necessary (until testing revealed he was allergic to the coconut oil. AArghhh!)

Shampoo type (do not use human shampoo) is very important. I use a squirt bottle with Dr. Bronner’s pure Castile soap, organic apple cider vinegar, organic green tea and witch hazel, diluted with water. All of these help with itching and inflammation as well as being anti-fungal and anti-bacterial. The squirt bottle helped me aim at the “undercarriage” – his stomach and especially groin area was a haven for the yeast growth.

Sometimes depending of the severity of things, I would add diluted Betadine or Hibiclens to the shampoo mixture.

Massage and work it in to all the creases (no scrubbing for my boy because it agitated him) crooning, “what a goooood boy!” all the while. I put cotton balls in his ears and when it came time to rinse his big fat head, that’s when I’d smear more coconut oil (and now pumpkin) higher up on the shower wall so his head would be up and water wouldn’t run into his eyes and ears. A shower cap helps too!

After a very thorough rinse, it was “Shake!” (which he does on command), “Dry the puppy!” (his cue to grab the towel with his teeth) and dry, dry, dry (super absorbing towels with no chemical laundry detergent), brush, croon, laugh, make eye contact, croon some more and then it was spray time with another leave on solution of ACV, green tea, witch hazel and a spore producing probiotic which helped with healthy bacteria formation. I’d work this into the skin and make sure he wasn’t still wet so it didn’t provide a moist environment for bad yeast and bacteria. This was also my recipe for his foot soaks. And finally, with more “great job buddy! And what a handsome beast you are!”, smiles and love…done. Whew!!!

And then I had to clean up a big mess while, fingers crossed, Birch was able to sleep comfortably.

Several times a week. It should really have been daily. Some days I had to dig really deep into my reserves to make this happen as often as it needed to. The prep, the bath, the cleanup and laundry…I came to look at it as exercise.

I cannot stress enough though how helpful these baths were to him.

Foot baths: Definitely daily after being outdoors. Easy and free. We developed a “1.2.3.4.go!” routine. I had 2 stainless steel bowls both filled with the ingredients I mentioned above and 4 old dish towels. I’d say “1”, and put his right front paw in the soak, swish it around to get between the pads and put it on the dish towel to dry. Then, “2”, the right hind foot, swish in the first bowl and then dip in the 2nd to rinse, “3” the left rear and then “4” the left front in the same way.

I do the same order every time and say each number as I go. After all 4 paws , it’s “Go!” and into the house he runs, usually grabbing one of the towels on his way.

Over time, this has become a game and a heck of a lot easier because the pups know what to expect and even start shifting their weight. Consistency is key!

Brushing: Do this outside before they come in to get environmental particles off. I use the Furminator brush which is perfect for Lab fur. Brushing also helps their skin produce natural oils.

I do one better with Birch before brushing him. He loves the handheld outdoor blower and steps right in front of it. I keep it on the front porch and blow the allergens right off of him. He loves it! (note- do not blow air into the face or eyes or down their throats into the stomach! See this article re bloat.)

Music: Calming classical or healing frequencies do work! It was amazing to watch him “power down” to calm and sleep when I put healing frequencies on.

Go Chemical and toxin free: Household cleaners, including laundry detergent, and even your skin care products can negatively affect your pup, especially if they like to give “kisses”! These toxins build up in all of our systems. Dogs who have allergies typically already have the need for liver support because they’re working so hard to detox allergens and yeast die off. Chemicals can tip the scales the wrong way even further.

Vacuum and Dust: Invest in a good vacuum with a Hepa filter (I LOVE my Shark!). Empty the canister and shake out the filter each time. And dust with a good microfiber cloth that picks up dust instead of just making it airborne. Do this daily to get environmental allergens out of the home and off their beds.

Air purifiers: Find a good one (I like this one) with charcoal and Hepa filters for airborne particulates. I noticed a difference after getting one of these!

Essential oils: Diffusing and/or applying these can be so healing! But please be careful here. Many lower grade oils are produced with lots of chemicals and can actually be harmful. Also, many EOs are toxic to dogs. Because of this, I am strongly suggesting you start here, at AnimalEO, so that you can experience the amazing healing powers of EOs in the correct way.

Supplements: Where to start? There are so many out there, with each company claiming theirs as the best. I have used So. Darn. Many.

I can tell you who I continue to use and swear by and you can take it from there. I strive to use companies that I believe use the most natural approach to healing. Many use only organic, sustainably harvested, non gmo ingredients. Better for us, our dogs and the planet. Remember? As. Naturally. As. Possible!

Those are some of the “whos”. As for the “which particular supplements”, well, this is more difficult because each dog has their own specific needs.

I can tell you what I am using for Birch, but again, I urge you to do your homework and thoroughly research your products. I also urge you to consult with a holistic veterinarian (ahvma), Chinese herbalist, aryuvedic vet, and your “regular” veterinarian to determine whether something is appropriate for your dog. You do NOT want to set your dog back with improperly supplementing her diet.

Leaky Gut Protocol and Yeasty Beast Protocol are my first go-to products (Adored Beast)
Medicinal mushrooms (adaptogenic herbs that can work with the immune system, whether it is under or over functioning- Adored Beast and Sustenance Herbs)
Quercenol (White Tiger)
BHI Allergy Relief
Boiron Histaminum– Life saver!
T-Relief products to manage pain and discomfort and for calming. These are AWESOME!
Pre and probiotics and digestive enzymes by Sustenance Herbs, Adored Beast, Bark & Whiskers)
Hepatrophin PMG by Standard Process (vet prescribed due to blood work liver results)
Spirugreen (Bark & Whiskers)

These are where I stand now. I have used Olive Leaf (Pure Encapsulations), Bor-L-Immune for Lyme Disease support (Sustenance Herbs), Dispel Dampness and Nourish the Skin (Kan Essentials). I keep on hand Concentrated Ear Damp Heat (Jing Tang) for the warmer weather coming as Birch always runs hot.

Additional Resources: Dr. Karen Becker‘s YouTube videos and Facebook feed have literally been absolute game changers for me. I cannot say how grateful I am for them.

Veterinary Secrets with Dr. Andrew Jones is also another super helpful natural remedy YouTube resource.

I also joined a caring Facebook group supporting natural canine healing.

Check out my Facebook Page too where I’ll be posting helpful canine resources (a warning here-this Facebook page is a work in progress I tell ya! I’m overcoming the challenge though, my social media aversion be damned!)

A Dull Roar and a Loud Victory

Having a dog with allergies can be a very long (like this post, right?) and frustrating process for both you and your dog.

There are times when you just want to give up and give in to the quick chemical fix- just so your poor loved pup doesn’t suffer anymore. I’ve been there… it is the absolute worst. Be patient though! The immune system needs time to reset and rebalance. It does not happen overnight.

Give your pup lots of love (in the way your dog likes to receive it, which may not be in the way you like to show it), make eye contact, smile and give them your best side and attitude. If you’re stressed, your dog will know it and makes it so much worse on them and their immune system.

This really can be one of the hardest things to handle, but BE STRONG! I learned just how strong my Birch really is and decided that I could rise to that challenge too.

And as for you and your pup…you CAN do this! You now have some new tools in your tool belt to help get those allergies in dogs down to a dull roar. You CAN rise above the allergies to a happier and healthier dog As. Naturally. As. Possible!

Need support or want to shout out a “loud victory”? Questions or comments, let me know below! Also, don’t forget to subscribe on the nav menu.

“The gift

which I am sending you

is called a dog,

and is in fact

the most precious and valuable possession of mankind.”

– Theodorus Gaza

Summer and Birch