Australian Shepherds are prone to developing skin allergies, likely due to genetic factors, but as in most dogs this is potentially influenced by their genes, their upbringing, their exposure to allergens, and their general exposure.
Your dog may be allergic to environmental triggers, like pollen, mold spores, or dust mites. Environmental allergens can cause allergic itch during certain seasons, or even year-round. Dogs with environmental allergies will often show signs of allergic itch around their face, belly, and paws.
Flea bite dermatitis is the most common canine allergy; the dog reacts to the saliva of fleas. An allergy does not develop unless there has been prior exposure which allowed the immune system to recognize the allergen and “decide” that it needed to be attacked if encountered again.
Aussies are prone to a common condition called hypothyroidism in which the body doesn't make enough thyroid hormone. Signs can include dry skin and coat, hair loss, susceptibility to other skin diseases, weight gain, fearfulness, aggression, and other behavioral changes.
Unfortunately, Australian shepherds are not hypoallergenic. These dogs have a dense double coat that sheds all year round with heavier shedding seasons in the fall and spring. This type of coat is one of the worst options for allergy sufferers.
The most common food allergens in dogs are proteins, especially those from dairy, beef, chicken, chicken eggs, soy, or wheat gluten.
Dogs that have double or water-repellant coats, like Australian Shepherds, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, Labrador Retrievers, and Newfoundlands, may only need baths every few months. Bathing them more often than necessary can cause dry skin.
Australian Shepherds are a breed that may develop skin allergies. This often happens with chicken. In these instances, it's best to choose a dog food that includes a non-chicken protein source.
The short answer is yes, dog food can definitely make a dog itch. This is usually due to a food allergy if the dog food is directly involved. Common allergens include chicken, wheat, beef, oats, dairy, corn and rice. Other reasons why a dog may itch include fleas, ticks, infection, or a reaction to something.
The best way to rid your dog allergies is prevention. For example, if your dog is allergic to a certain type of dog food, all you have to do is stop feeding it to them. If your vet can figure out what your Australian Shepherd is allergic to, then it's a simple matter of removing the allergen.
Dry skin can make your dog miserable. Help ease your dog's condition with shampoo, olive oil, vitamin E, oatmeal baths, and humidifiers. Just like human beings, dogs can also suffer from irritated skin. In fact, some of the causes of dry skin in human beings are responsible for dry skin in our furry friends.
Best treatment: Antihistamines
Antihistamines are commonly used to treat dog allergies. Their histamine-blocking quality tackles airborne allergens and reduces symptoms in your pup. The safest over-the-counter options for your dog include Benadryl, Zyrtec, Claritin, and Allegra.
Dogs who keep itching but don't have fleas or mites are more likely to have a skin infection. These infections may be bacterial or might be fungal. Yeast infections may also be a culprit for some itching in dogs.
Dogs are most commonly allergic to the following foods (in descending order): beef, dairy, wheat, egg, chicken, lamb/mutton, soy, pork, rabbit, and fish. Rabbit and fish are by far less common food allergens than the others.
The short answer is: yes, dogs can eat yogurt. But it doesn't give them as many health benefits as you might think.
Your puppy should be taken outside at least every two hours. Once they hit 20 weeks, they may be able to hold it for four hours. Don't plan on leaving them home for much of the day when you first adopt them. It simply won't work.
It is enough to bathe your Australian Shepherd once a month or as needed. The right care product is important when washing your dog! If the fur feels very greasy or dull after several uses with a product, this product should be replaced. Buy shampoo and conditioner individually - and not 2-in-1 products.
Beef, corn, dairy, and wheat are some of the most problematic ingredients. It may seem counterintuitive, but it can take a long time for symptoms of food allergies to become apparent. Often dog's appear to 'suddenly' become allergic to a food that they have been eating for months.
Put a mixture of 50% vinegar with 50% water into a spray bottle, then spray it on the affected areas of your dog's skin. You can also soak your dog's itchy paws in this mixture. However, never use apple cider vinegar on open sores because it will hurt and can make your dog's skin irritation worse.