There are many things that both the Shih Tzu and the Shih Tzu owners could have in common. For example, both Shih Tzu and Shih Tzu owners could be prone to obesity if not regulating food intake and by not exercising.

In addition, Shih Tzu and humans may also acquire diseases that results from improper dietary regimen like diabetes, heart diseases, etc.

Moreover, the most amusing thing that both Shih Tzu and humans share is the fact that they are both vulnerable to allergies.

Sounds impossible? Think again.

Veterinary experts assert that Shih Tzu have allergies too. One of the primary signs of allergies is the itching of their skin. Their respiratory tract system can also be affected with allergies.

Normally, Shih Tzu will manifest symptoms of respiratory tract allergies like sneezing, wheezing, and coughing. Their nose and their eyes may also manifest a discharge just like humans do whenever they have colds or flu.

There are also allergies that may have an effect on their digestive system; hence, it may result as watery stools, diarrhea, or vomiting.

Experts say that almost 20% of the Shih Tzu in the United States suffer from several types of allergy. So, for people who want to know more about the different allergies that Shih Tzu acquire, here is a list of the most common allergies:

1. Allergies with fleas

It is a well-known fact that Shih Tzu are usually infected with fleas. However, what most people do not know is that they can get allergies through these fleas, too.

Well, it is not the fleas that actually cause the allergic reactions in Shih Tzu but the flea’s saliva. Hence, it is important for the Shih Tzu to undergo a skin allergy examination so as to determine if a particular dog is sensitive to flea saliva.

In the event that the Shih Tzu is allergic to flea saliva, it would be better for the owner to implement a rigorous flea control or flea eradication treatment in order to lessen the allergic reactions. Though, it must be kept in mind that solutions that are used in flea control should be safe for the Shih Tzu.

2. Allergies pertaining to foods

Like humans, Shih Tzu gets allergies from food as well. There are instances wherein Shih Tzu gets allergies from foods that their system cannot tolerate, such as wheat, soy products, pork, beef, whey, fish, eggs, milk, corn, artificial sweeteners, and chemical preservatives that are placed in their food.

Moreover, Shih Tzu can get allergies in food that they have not tried before. The best way to combat this particular allergy problem is to feed the dog commercial dog foods more often instead of homemade products.

Some signs of allergic reactions to food in Shih Tzu are shaking of the head, scratching the ears, irritated skin, biting and licking at the rear feet, inflammations in the ear, sneezing, behavioral changes, vomiting, diarrhea, etc.

3. Atopic Dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a known allergic skin disease in dogs. This is usually caused by the hypersensitivity of the dog’s immune system to ordinary substances that can be found in the environment like molds or dust mites.

Usually, a Shih Tzu is said to be suffering from atopic dermatitis when the Shih Tzu begins to excessively lick and chew its paws, licking the abdomen and its rear feet.

Atopic dermatitis can be seen as a saliva staining found in the armpits, between the toes of the paws, and in the groin. In light-colored canines, atopic dermatitis can be seen as a red-brown stain found on the same parts that were mentioned.

4. Allergies resulting from bacteria

This is the most common cause of serious allergies in Shih Tzu. Generally, there are certain bacteria that thrive in the dog’s skin. This is known as the species of Staphylococcus bacteria. In most cases, this does not cause allergies in Shih Tzu. However, there are certain types of dogs that develop an allergy to it.

The most common symptom of this kind of allergy is hair loss along with the development of ringworm like marks in the Shih Tzu skin. The areas where these marks appear usually get infected, hence, it is important to treat them with antibiotics.

Indeed, allergies are not for humans only. Allergies greatly affect almost 20% of the total population of dogs in the United States, and that is a pretty alarming number. Therefore, it is extremely important for dog owners to know these dog allergies in order to prevent them from further exposure.

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Author: Connie Limon. I raise Shih Tzu puppies from top champion bloodlines in many different colors of blues, reds, chocolates, blacks. We have the small AKC standards, imperials and teacups at reasonable prices. We offer you educational material, dog bows and dog clothes. Visit us online at: http://www.stainglassshihtzus.com and sign up for our FREE newsletter. We are the largest privately-owned Shih Tzu site on the World Wide Web.

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There are many conditions that can make a dog itch or have hair loss, including endocrine, autoimmune, infectious, and parasitic skin diseases. It takes some detective work to identify the cause. A veterinarian may be able to diagnose the problem or may refer your dog to a veterinary dermatologist, a specialist in treating skin conditions in animals. If allergies are suspected, the first thing a veterinarian will usually ask is if the pet is on a flea-control product, Flea allergies are the most common type of allergies and the easiest to control. Dog owners have many options for flea control on dogs and in their environment.

Once flea allergies are ruled out and if the itch is non-seasonal, food allergies are checked next. Food allergies are not related to a season, while many atopic allergies start out as a seasonal problem. Dogs that develop atopic allergies usually show symptoms between 1 and 5 years of age, but food allergies can crop up at any time. They are high on the list of suspects when a dog first exhibits itchy skin at an age less than 6 months or over 5 years.

To test for food allergies, the dog is put on an “elimination diet” for at least 10 weeks, which means it is fed food that consists of a protein and carbohydrate that the dog has not eaten before, such as duck, venison, and potatoes. Veterinarians offer these special foods, and some may be found in retail stores. Or the owner may choose to feed the dog a homemade diet of foods recommended by the veterinarian.

If the dog’s itching subsides by at least half, the allergen is considered to be one or more food ingredients. To confirm this, the owner can reintroduce the old food to see if the symptoms return. To find the specific ingredients that trigger the allergy, the owner should feed the special diet again and add one ingredient at a time from the old diet for at least a week until the itching increases, indicating that the last added ingredient is an allergen. Or the owner may choose to stay with the special food to avoid causing the dog discomfort each time an allergic ingredient is fed.

While the dog is being tested for food allergies, it should not be given treats, chewable medications, table scraps, or rawhide toys that may contain an allergen.

To check for atopic and contact allergies, veterinary dermatologists use an intradermal allergy test, or skin reaction test. The dog is mildly sedated, a postcard-sized area on the side of the dog is shaved, and small amounts of potential allergens are injected into the skin on the shaved area. If the dog is allergic to a particular substance, the skin will become inflamed at the area of the injection.

Find out more information about how Immunotherapy is used in treating dog allergies at http://dogallergiestreatment.com

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So you think that your dog has allergies and are wondering if there are any medicine for dog allergies that helps your dog feel better or even cure his allergies?

The first and most important step, is to find out if your dog really has allergies in the first place, and if he does, what exact type of allergy it is.

Because then it helps you find the best cure for it, which otherwise will be impossible.

To find out if your dog really has allergies or it is just a temporary irritation or sickness, it is helpful to look at some of the most common symptoms of allergies in dogs:

Scratching – because of skin irritation
Sneezing
Coughing
Hair loss
Vomiting

If you see one of more of these signs more than seems to be normal, it is safe to think of the possibility of your dog having allergies.

But still another important question remains…

What type of allergies does your dog have?

The two most common ones are:

1. Food Allergies

2. Skin Allergies

Depending on which one it is, the medicine you’ll need to use for your dog will be different.

The good new is, for dog food allergies there may not be any medicine even necessary. Because the cure can be as simple as removing the allergic food from his diet.

Also you can always use “allergy free” dog food formulas that are available through many experienced vets.

But for skin allergies which are usually more serious, there are very likely some medicine necessary – depending on how serious it is.

Because some dog skin allergies are even infectious and viral, so special medicine will be needed to help cure your dog.

Since every dog is unique and his allergies are as well, if you see serious signs of a skin allergy, it is highly recommended that you give a visit to the vet with your dog to find out the unique solution for him.

It is much safer than just guessing – especially when it comes to using medicine and your dog’s health.

About The Author:

Julia Carter is a dog allergies expert who is giving away FREE Dog Allergies Tips and Secrets to help you discover and cure your dog’s allergies.

Find out the latest tips and news to help your dog cure faster and easier and get an allergy-free life again!

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