Allergies are among the most com­mon diseases seen by veterinarians. While some pets require treatment with corticosteroids such as prednisone, all too often this is the only treatment offered.

Fortunately there are many “green” alter­natives that can help your pet live comfort­ably with his allergies without the side effects seen with chronic corticosteroid therapy.

Every pet is an individual, and no one ther­apy is appropriate for every pet. Still, there are several therapies 1 prescribe to help my allergic patients that can benefit every itchy dog.

In using a natural ap­proach to treat allergies, it’s important to minimize putting things in a dog’s body that can contribute to further inflam­mation and cell damage. Many pets are fed a diet full of byproducts and chemicals that can contribute to its itching. I recommend feeding the most natural diet possible, whether it’s pur­chased or homemade.

Fish Oil

Fish oil is one of the best supplements that every itchy dog should take. It reduces inflammation and itching by actually altering your pet’s biochemistry. In order to achieve the best results, you must use several times the label dose. I recommend starting with 10 mg of the active omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil, EPA+DHA, per pound of body weight at least twice daily.

Antioxidants

Antioxidants reduce damage that is caused when cells die and re­lease chemicals (oxidants) that damage other cells. There is no one best antioxidant; I prefer us­ing products that contain multiple antioxidants to achieve a bal­anced approach, which decreases the chance of imbalances in your pet’s body. Antioxidants containing vitamins such as vitamin A, vita­min C, vitamin E, as well as coenzyme Q-10, bioflavonoids and grape seed extract; cutcu-min and resveratrol are particularly helpful.

Bathing

 Rinsing the allergens oil or your pet’s skin that cause him to itch reduces the amount of itching, inflammation and odor, as well as decreases the chance of your pet developing a secondary bacterial or yeast infection (com­mon in allergic pets). Frequent bathing also decreases the amount of medication your pet needs to control his itching. However, it’s important to use a shampoo specifically designed for frequent bathing in order to mini­mize damage to the pet’s skin.

Reduce  Vaccinations

Most pets only need vaccines a few times in their lives. And since many allergic pets expe­rience flare ups of their itching following vaccination, I prefer to limit vaccinations in all of my patients but especially in my allergic patients.

By following these few simple guidelines you will improve your dog’s health and be well on the road to relieving his itching.