An allergy is an adverse reaction to certain substances called allergens. Allergens are ordinarily harmless. Some allergens are beneficial for diverse purposes, but our bodies are different and react differently. As such, a person who has an allergy is sensitive to a particular substance that other people can tolerate. In other words, anything can become an allergen if someone reacts badly to it.
If you’ve had an allergy, you already know how difficult coping with it can be. You’re barred from taking certain kinds of food and have to deal with varying degrees of discomfort during a crisis. Well, it’s the same way with Pugs. Like humans, there are pug allergies, and as an alternative to sneezing in humans, allergies in dogs cause itchy skin.
It’s disheartening to watch your adorable pet dog wallow in such a sad condition. It is incredibly painful when you can do nothing when your dog is allergic to regular dog food and other items that are supposed to be nutritious pet food.
Thankfully, there are solutions to allergic reactions in your dogs. Yes, you can be there to quell your pug allergies and ease their discomfort as much as possible if you know exactly what to do.
Common Allergies in Pugs
Here are some common allergies that Pugs have-
- Food Allergies :
Food allergies are one of the major causes of allergies in pugs. Just as we have already stated, pugs, like humans, can react differently to certain food substances in their pet foods. Most food allergies are caused by dog food additives like artificial flavors, food coloring dyes, and preservatives. Other times, it could be as a result of contaminated dog food prepared in unhygienic environments. Pugs are known to be intolerant to certain foods like dairy foods(milk products), wheat, corn, soy, and grains. These foods can trigger allergies, which may lead to dangerous health conditions if left unchecked.
- Airborne Allergies
Sometimes, the allergens are airborne and cause allergies in your pet dogs when they inhale them. Some common culprits for environmental allergies include weeds, pollens, dust mites, and even particles from air freshener sprays.
- Contact Allergies
Most pug owners have expressed concern over the causes of some pug allergies, which can be traced to something the dogs had physical contact with. The allergens that trigger dogs may even be everyday household items like clothes, plastics, or toys.
How to Find Out if Your Pug Has Allergies
If you suspect that your pug has allergy issues, you should visit the vet for confirmation. The veterinarian will run a series of tests to determine the allergy. Alternatively, you can test your pug for allergies in the confines of your home using the elimination technique. By simply removing some common allergy triggers, you can diagnose the cause of your dog’s allergy and work towards natural home remedies such as eliminating the causes.
We’ve listed some common allergy symptoms below-
- Gastrointestinal Problems
Food-related allergies often cause all kinds of stomach issues that lead to severe cases of diarrhea, flatulence, dehydration, etc. If you notice these symptoms in your Pug, you shouldn’t rule out the possibility of a food allergy. Symptoms may be mild or extreme, depending on the severity of the health problems. Sometimes the texture of the food could cause your dog to have gastrointestinal problems in these cases try mixing wet and dry dog food to soothe your dogs tummy.
- Itching and Biting
Itching, skin irritation, and biting are common allergy symptoms. Depending on the severity, your pug may itch in certain places or all over if it has a skin allergy.
You would know if your pug is itching when it scratches a lot with spots and scars accompanying each scratch. Your dog may also begin to lick its paws or scratch its ears in response to the itching caused by skin allergies. You should watch out for these signs to mitigate the effects of skin allergies on your dog.
- Coughing and Sneezing
Like humans, your dog can cough, sneeze, or wheeze when it gets an allergy. This is usually a sign of an airborne allergy. Pet owners must note that such conditions may quickly worsen and incite more severe respiratory issues like troubled breathing and shortness of breath.
- Body and Mouth Rashes
Your dog may begin to develop skin irritations and rashes, both of which are common symptoms of contact allergy. Make sure you treat this symptom immediately. Try to discover it early to avoid worse complications on the immune system of the dog.
- Nasal / Eye Discharge
Discharge from the eyes and nose is a common symptom of an allergy. It often has to do with food sensitivities from dog foods; however, other external factors may cause this in pugs.
What to Give Your Pug for Allergies
Now that you’re sure that your pug has an allergy or food sensitivity, what can you do to manage it? There are several remedies for different allergy types that you can explore. The good thing about treating allergies is that you don’t need to know the cause sometimes. Some treatments work for all kinds of allergies, and all you need to do is administer them properly.
You can try these treatments for your pug’s allergy:
- Remove all suspected culprits like plastic toys and bowls
- Ensure that your Pug is always clean.
- Vacuum the house with high-quality equipment to get rid of allergens
- Use a Quality paw wax once every week.
- Use allergy sprays, lotions, or shampoos to treat skin reactions.
- Purify the air with air purifiers
- Administer omega fatty acids supplements
- Keep allergens away from your home
- Administer Benadryl
10.See your veterinarian for expert advice on topics such as food intolerance in pugs, ear infections, and dairy intolerance.
Consider These 3 Best Allergy-friendly Pug Feed
What can I give my pug for allergies?
There are some tremendous allergy-friendly feeds you should offer your pug if it has an allergy. But it’s challenging to make the right choice if you haven’t bought one before. We’ve simplified your decision-making process by listing the three best allergy-friendly pug feeds you should consider.
The Royal Canin Plug food – hydrolyzed & hypoallergenic protein is a popular name among dog food buyers. It’s specially formulated for pugs with allergies. This feed breaks down proteins into amino acids to prevent protein allergies and ease digestion. It’s rich in vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids that help reduce inflammations and skin reactions.
This feed contains all the nutrients your pug needs to stay healthy while fighting allergies. It has excellent fiber content for easy digestion, omega 3 for skin repair, and zero colorings.
This feed is grain-free and contains fiber-rich sweet potatoes that are a perfect anti-allergic food choice for your pug. It would help keep your pugs skin healthy and lacks artificial coloring or flavors that pugs adversely react to.