Allergies in dogs are frustrating – the scratching, the licking, the rashes, and the obsessive chewing. You know how heartbreaking the condition is, and how difficult it can be to get it under control, because flare-ups can show up stubbornly even after medical treatments.
What’s more, traditional allergy treatments like antihistamines don’t always offer lasting relief. That’s where holistic care can make a real difference. Holistic allergy treatment options for dogs involve natural therapies that work to eliminate the underlying cause of the problem.
If your dog is suffering from unrelenting allergy symptoms, read on to discover the increasingly popular holistic approach of natural remedies for dog allergies.
Holistic Treatments for Dog Allergies vs. Traditional Dog Allergy Treatments
A holistic allergy treatment approach focuses on strengthening the dog’s immune response through natural supplements, dietary changes, stress management, and home remedies for dog allergies. It considers physical, emotional, and even environmental factors that may be affecting your dog’s health. The goal here is long-term wellness and balance to prevent triggers, rather than just short-term fixes for those mysterious midnight rashes.
Traditional allergy treatments, such as medicines and injections, only relieve the symptoms—they don’t tackle the root cause. Moreover, this type of treatment is also associated with unwanted side effects. Fortunately, holistic treatment options can often provide natural allergy relief for dogs without the risk of harsh effects.
Top 7 Holistic Treatments for Dog Allergies
Every individual dog may require different treatments or a combination of them to resolve allergies holistically. Some of the holistic allergy treatment options have proven to be highly effective in reducing allergic episodes. Your veterinarian may recommend a combination of these approaches to help your fur baby stay itch-free. Let’s break down these options:
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Nutritional changes Optimise your dog’s diet for allergy relief
Small tweaks in your dog’s dietary intake can make a big difference to your dog’s allergic response. For example, if your dog has food allergies, switching to an elimination diet or a hypoallergenic dog food can rule out the common triggers. Feed a simple diet with novel or hydrolysed proteins to prevent allergies, and look for limited-ingredient dog foods that are free from artificial flavours, additives, or preservatives.
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Dietary supplements – Boost nutrition to enhance immunity
Dietary supplements help heal your dog from the inside out by supporting their immune system. Adding omega-3 fatty acids (from fish or flaxseed oil) has been shown to reduce inflammation and improve skin and coat condition. Probiotics like ZamiPet High Strength Probiotics + Gut Protect for Dogs and digestive enzymes also work as the best supplements for dogs with allergies, as they help strengthen the gut, where most of the immune system lives.
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Herbal remedies - Try natural herbs to reduce allergies
Herbs have been used for centuries to counteract allergies, soothe skin and coats, and boost immunity. Some commonly used herbs for allergic dogs include nettle, turmeric, camomile, liquorice, etc. They help reduce skin inflammation and have a calming effect on the body. However, herbs should be used after consulting a vet or a qualified herbalist only, as they may pose serious health risks if not used properly.
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Stress management - Promote relaxation to prevent triggers
Could stress really make your dog’s allergies worse? Yep, it can. Stress takes a big toll on our little furry friends. It weakens their immunity, increasing allergy flares. Holistic care considers regulating your dog’s emotional wellbeing to control allergies. Providing plenty of mental enrichment and avoiding overstimulation keeps them calm and relaxed. You can also use dog calming supplements like Zylkene Calming Chews for Dogs or Doggylicious Calming Cookies to help them handle environmental stressors more effectively.
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Gentle topical care – Offer quick aid to relieve allergy symptoms
When your dog is scratching itself bare and is tossing all over the floor out of discomfort, topical care can bring quick relief. Some of the popular home remedies for dog allergies include oatmeal baths, aloe vera gels, coconut oil, and apple cider vinegar sprays. You can also try traditional natural options like Vet's Best Nature's Health Care Allergy Itch Relief Spray for Dogs to soothe allergies related to flea bites, pollens, or other seasonal allergens.
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Acupuncture and chiropractic care – Support their overall wellbeing
These traditional Chinese and alternative therapies are becoming more popular in holistic pet care. Acupuncture can help modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation, while chiropractic adjustments can improve overall nervous system function and mobility. Many pet parents have achieved improvements in allergy symptoms, energy levels, and overall well-being after a few sessions of acupuncture and chiropractic care for their allergic dogs.
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Reduce environmental triggers – Reduce allergens in your home
Sometimes, managing allergies is about controlling the environment as much as treating the symptoms, as almost 30% of allergies occur due to exposure to environmental allergens. Taking simple steps like using HEPA air filters to reduce airborne allergens, washing the dog bedding regularly in hot water, choosing non-toxic cleaning products, and wiping down paws after outdoor visits to remove pollens can significantly reduce environmental allergies in dogs.
Are Holistic Remedies Effective for All Allergies in Dogs?
While holistic or natural remedies can work wonders for milder cases of allergies, severe cases require veterinary intervention when secondary symptoms like infections, severe inflammation, or unexplained weight loss appear.
If you’re unsure whether to treat your dog’s allergies naturally or not, the best approach is to consult a holistic or integrative veterinarian who can combine traditional medicine with natural therapies for optimal results.
In a Nutshell: Finding the Right Balance
Holistic allergy care isn’t about avoiding traditional veterinary prescriptions. It is about finding the right combination of treatments for your dog’s long-term health. From diet and supplements to stress relief and natural topical therapies, there are many safe and effective options for natural allergy relief for dogs. A few small changes like these can make a world of difference for your pup’s health and wellbeing.
So, next time when you notice your dog licking itself non-stop, talk to your vet to find out the right balance of natural remedies for dog allergies and help them live a comfortable life.
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