What is the number one cause of in Golden Retrievers

Common Golden Retriever Allergies: Causes & Treatments

Dog allergies come in many different types. Finding the cause and deciding on the right treatment can be difficult. We are here to help. In this article we will help you identify the problem and decide on the best treatments to make your Golden Retriever comfortable.

Types of Dog Allergies

Allergies. Oh,those pesky allergies. Even though Golden Retrievers are predisposed to varioushealth conditions, allergies are probably one of the most frustrating to haveto deal with. Dogs can develop allergies at any stage in their life. They candevelop one or multiple of the following types of allergies:

• Environmental/seasonal allergy
• Food allergy
• Flea allergy

Allergies in dogs usually cause incessant itching. However,depending on the cause of your dogs allergy, the symptoms can vary. In thearticle below, well discuss the different causes of allergies. Well alsodiscuss what symptoms you may see if your dog is suffering from seasonal versesfood verses flea allergy, along with available treatments for each.

Its important to note that there is not a cure for allergies.All of the treatments available are aimed at decreasing the intensity of theallergy and managing it. But nothing developed, as of yet, will truly cure it.

Environmental Allergies

Anything and everything from inside the home to outside the home can cause environmental allergies. The following things inside the home can cause allergies in your Golden Retriever.

Causes

• dust mites
• air fresheners
• candles
• shampoo you may bathe them with
• laundry detergent you may wash their bedding in
• cigarette smoke
• mold

Things outside of the home that can cause allergies include:

• pollen (all kinds and any kind!)
• grass
• trees
• hay/straw

Some Goldens can suffer from environmental allergies allyear long. Others have particular seasons that are worse for them. Itsactually not uncommon for a dog to even have worse allergies in the wintermonths.

Symptoms of dogs with seasonal allergies:

• Itching all over the body
• Licking in between the toes
• Itching only during certain seasons or times ofyear
• Runny nose
• Watery or itchy eyes
• Itchy ears

Treatments

If you are not able to get in to your vets office right away, you can try giving them some Benadryl (generic version is fine). Make sure its regular Benadryl and nothing with a decongestant in it. Dont ever give your dog Benadryl-D or any anti-histamine with a decongestant in it, as these are very toxic to dogs. Here is the dosing:

Once you are able to take your Golden to the vet, the following are some things they may recommend.

Itch-Relieving Medications

For some dogs, anti-histamines, such as Benadryl, just dontcut it to relieve their itch. Stronger prescription medications are needed. Thesemedications can come in either injection or pill form. Based off of your petsexam and their medical history, your vet will prescribe which one may best suittheir needs. Here is a list of some of the medications that are available:

• Apoquel (safe to use long-term as needed)
• Prednisone/prednisolone (a steroid, so usuallyjust used for short-term relief)
• Temaril-P
• Cytopoint
• Atopica

If your dog is experiencing dandruff, be sure to check out our article on dog dandruff. We cover the treatments for dandruff in that article.

Antibiotics

If your itchy Golden has scratched so much that they are starting to lose fur and their skin looks really red, they may have a secondary bacterial infection. Your vet will prescribe antibiotics for this.

When your dog has allergies that cause itchiness in their skin, there is a break down in the normal skin barrier. This allows your dogs normal skin bacteria to over-produce and invade the skin barrier, contributing to the itchiness. These bacteria are not contagious to other dogs.

Anti-Fungals

Anti-fungals are used to treat secondary yeast infections. Many dogs with allergies have an overgrowth of yeast on their skin (or in their ears). These happy yeast organisms over-produce for the same reasons mentioned above about bacteria. They just like to take advantage of the havoc going on within your poor dogs skin.

Allergy Testing

If your dog has been suffering from allergies all year long,or if their itching is intense and not controlled well with the abovemedications, your vet may recommend allergy testing. This will let you knowexactly what the culprit allergen is that is causing all your dogs problems.Your vet can obtain a blood sample and send out to an allergy lab. You will geta full report back with everything your dog is allergic to.

The purpose of allergy testing is to develop specificallergy shots for your dog. Based off of the allergy test results, the lab canprepare the right mixture of all the things your dog is allergic to. Theyprepare them in small enough amounts to desensitize your dog to the allergens.Its sort of like a vaccine, actually!

Just understand that allergy shots will not completely getrid of your dogs allergies. They will simply decrease the intensity of thesymptoms your dog has during their peak allergy season. They will also decreasethe amount of other medications your dog needs to relieve their symptoms.

Food Allergies

Ingredients in food; usually the protein source, such as chicken, pork, or beef can cause food allergies. Other ingredients that could cause food allergies are the carbohydrate source (potato, rice, or corn), or even a food coloring/dye.

Causes

It can be extremely difficult to identify the exact cause of your dogs food allergy. Observation and testing will be key at this point.

Symptoms of dogs with food allergies:

• Itchy ears
• Hives
• Anal gland problems (abscess, impactions,fistulas)
• Itching all year long (no seasonality to it)

Treatments

If you suspect your dog may have a food allergy, first look at the bag of food they have been regularly eating and determine what is the main protein source.

Try Different Food

Try to find a comparable dog food that contains a different protein source (one your dog hasnt been exposed to before), such as salmon or lamb. Slowly transition your dog to the new food over the course of 1-2 weeks. Gradually increase the amount of the new food and decrease the amount of the old food mixed together to prevent causing any digestive issues.

Its imperative that you feed your dog the new food for at least 6-8 weeks to know if the new food helps with their itchy skin. Its also very important to not feed your dog anything else during this process- no treats, no table scraps, and no flavored bones or chew toys.

If your dogs skin starts to be less inflamed and less itchy, at the end of the food trial, reintroduce the old food into your dogs diet and see if they start itching again. If they do, then we can be fairly certain of what your dog is allergic to.

Many people choose not to reintroduce the old food to avoid their dog getting itchy again, which is fine as well. Its completely understandable to not want your dog to go through that again.

Prescription Food

Your vet may also recommend starting your dog on a prescription food for your dogs food allergies. Prescription foods are usually better because they are made in very specific facilities to not allow cross-over between foods, preventing contamination with other ingredients.

They also break down the proteins in the food into very small pieces, so your dogs body cant even recognize them, which prevents the itchiness from happening.

Flea Allergies

Even though fleas can cause most dogs to itch some, dogs with flea allergy itch much more severely than those without flea allergy. They will itch with a fury and find it hard to focus on other things

Causes

Allergens within the fleas saliva can cause a dog to have an allergic reaction. Avoiding fleas is important in all dogs, especially those with allergies.

Symptoms of dogs with flea allergy:

• Intense itching
• Itching mostly near the rump and tail base
• Itching along the back legs
• Hair loss at the rump and tail base
• Hair loss along the back legs
• Very reddened skin
• Small black specks on your dogs skin or leftbehind in their bedding (this is flea poop!)

Treatments

Dogs with flea allergy need to stay on flea prevention all year long, even throughout the winter months. If your dog brings fleas on them inside the home, you will need to vacuum daily and wash their bedding weekly.

Fleas reproduce very quickly and they lay eggs within the home environment. The flea eggs can hatch weeks later and get back on your dog.

If you are not able to get your dogs flea allergy under control with flea prevention alone, schedule an appointment with your vet. Your dog may need a course of antibiotics. Your vet may also be able to get you prescription flea prevention that works better against some fleas.

Conclusion

Oftentimes, we never get down to the root cause of the allergy and usually just treat the symptoms, including the itch and any secondary skin infections that develop. Do your best using the methods above and be sure to visit your vet for further assistance.

Having a happy, healthy Golden Retriever is what we all want. Im sure your dog will thank you for helping them through this! Be sure to check out Common Health Issues with Golden Retrievers to learn more!

How To Prevent Hot Spots On Golden Retrievers

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Now Its Patched Up You Need To Remove The Most Common Cause Of Hot Spots On Dogs

Hot Spots

The number one cause for hot spots on dogs is food sensitivity, with the number one food item to cause hot spots in dogs being wheat gluten. By removing wheat-based foodstuffs from the dogs diet the issue of hot spots can usually be cleared up. So no more dry food, dental sticks, bread, pasta or cereal-based dog treats not a crumb. This is not the only food that can cause this problem to arise, however. For more please check out the most popular article on our site Allergies in Dogs, this will explain to you the cause of and solution to your dogs recurring skin issues.

Costs Of Dog Cataract Surgery

The costs of cataract surgery are high, especially if the recommended lens prosthesis is applied, running $1,500 to $5,000 per eye. Most veterinarians will typically treat one eye, allowing the pet to experience functional vision after surgery.

The best prevention is restricting breeding in affected petsand in first-degree relatives of those pets affected when possible.

To help make life easier for your new puppy it is important to stress the below 5 tips recommended for new owners when choosing a healthy Goldendoodle puppy.

Ensure your Goldendoodle has a better chance at a healthy life by knowing the breeder you are choosing, and the health history of the parents.

How To Tell If Your Dog Has A Hot Spot

Many pet owners welcome doggy kisses as a sign of affection. The American Kennel Club explains many dogs lick their owners to greet them and show love. But when your dog starts licking himself obsessively, its time to take a closer look at whats going on.

Obsessive licking, especially around the paws, is a sign your pup may have a hot spot. If you peek at the area your dog is licking, you might see:

• Raw, red patches of skin
• Swelling
• Hair loss
• Drainage from the wound

Hot spots are both itchy and painful, and if your pup cant lick the hot spot, he may resort to scratching. Common problem areas for hot spots on dogs include the head, paws, and hips.

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Preventing Hot Spots In Dogs & Cats

• Hypoallergenic diets can help prevent hot spots caused by food allergies.
• Pets that are prone to skin conditions may benefit from taking an essential fatty acid supplement.
• A summertime buzz cut can help long-haired pets keep dry and cool in hotter months.
• Hot spots caused by obsessive licking or chewing are usually caused by anxiety. Ease your pets stress with new toys, puzzles, playtime and exercise.

Trim Around The Infected Area

You will need to trim the area around the lesion with animal clippers. This will allow the infection to breathe and for the medicine to do its work. If you dont have animal clippers handy, you can use electric clippers. You may need a muzzle or a friend to hold your dogs head while you work.

First, fill the wound with a water-soluble liquid. Cut the fur back around the wound until you have about a one-inch border. The height of the hair should be cut down to about half an inch.

After youve finished trimming, rinse the area thoroughly with warm water.

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How To Treat Hot Spots On Dogs: Natural Remedies

When it comes to skin conditions, hot spots on dogs are some of the most common, yet challenging to deal with. They can appear seemingly out of nowhere and stick around despite all our best efforts to get rid of them. Whats more, it may seem impossible to determine the source of these recurring issues. Its no wonder hot spots leave pet parents frustrated and confused.

-Dont worry, though! There are natural remedies for hot spots that will get rid of existing outbreaks and keep your dog hot spot free for good!

How To Prevent Hot Spots

The underlying cause will determine the path you take to prevent them. If an allergy is causing them, such as a food allergy you will need to switch to a different food. Sometimes it can be a contact allergy from your yard. There might be certain weeds that need to be eliminated to stop the allergy. If it is caused by fleas, then you will need to use a flee control. If the area is being licked due to boredom, then consider new activities. Exercise them with fetch and daily walks. Sometimes stress is a cause, so try and eliminate stress that may be affecting your dog. If there is a big change going on in your home, consider how that might be affecting your dog. Grooming your dog regularly may be essential to remove insects such as mites. It will also help with maintaining their coat and creating airflow in summer months. Treat any injuries your dog may have suffered.

Hot spots are painful. So its important to access the situation quickly. Your dogs will thank you if you do.

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What Kind Of Dog Chews Off Its Fur

Atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction affecting the skin is more common in Chinese Shar-Peis, Wirehaired Fox Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, Scottish Terriers, Shih Tzus, and West Highland White Terriers.

Monitor For Foods That Can Cause Hot Spots

Treating and Preventing Hot Spots on Dogs

In Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine , foods can be used for their energetic properties to help treat a medical condition. To use foods in this manner, one must understand the TCVM diagnosis and the specific properties of foods that can be used to correct the energetic imbalance. Hot spots are classically considered in TCVM diagnosis as Damp Heat. These are moist, red, and inflamed skin lesions that are warm to the touch.

Keep a healthy coat by introducing essential fatty acids into your pets diet.

Foods and conditions that can lead to damp heat

• Dry kibble diet
• Diet rich in carbohydrates
• TCVM hot or warming foods
• Dairy and fatty foods
• Obesity

To treat damp heat via TCVM food energetics, you can use an herbal formula and foods that have a cooling and damp draining effect.

Food with cooling properties

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Are Canine Hot Spots Contagious For Humans Or Other Pets

Most cases of hot spots on dogs are caused by bacteria and are not contagious to other dogs and humans. However, if the underlying cause of the hot spots is found to be fungal or parasitic then its possible it may spread to other dogs and humans. Contact your veterinarian immediately so they can take a sample and run a culture to identify the cause of the hot spots.

When To Call The Vet

• There is a foul odor: If it gets to this stage, your dog will need veterinarian-prescribed antibiotics and possibly hydrocortisone to control the itching and promote healing.
• Your dog fights you/shows signs of pain and discomfort: If your pup tries to bite you or yelps out when you try to treat the hot spot, it may be best to let the vet anesthetize the area and apply treatment.
• The hot spot doesnt show signs of improvement or gets worse after two days: If you dont see progress even after using the home treatment, you may need stronger reinforcement from a veterinarian.

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Why Does My Golden Retriever Have Hot Spots

Identifying and addressing the underlying cause for your dogs hot spot is one of the most important factors in preventing future skin problems. Some breeds such as Golden Retrievers, St. Bernards, German Shepherds, Labradors, and Rottweilers are predisposed to developing hot spots due to their thicker coats.

When a dog is chewing fur off one area of her fur, this is known as a hot spot. Hot spots can grow and become more serious as the skin is disturbed from the repeated licking, chewing, biting, and scratching, which in turn makes your dog even more anxious to relieve her itch.

The fur begins to grow back within two weeks. This severe case of active moist dermatitis on a Golden Retriever shows how extensive the infection can be and the degree of damage a hot spot can do to the skin of a dog.

Atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction affecting the skin is more common in Chinese Shar-Peis, Wirehaired Fox Terriers, Golden Retrievers, Dalmatians, Boxers, Boston Terriers, Labrador Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, Scottish Terriers, Shih Tzus, and West Highland White Terriers.

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Golden Retriever Rash On Belly Top Reasons Why

Tom Thorpe Blog

There may be the underlying reason why your golden retriever has rash on the belly. For them, its uncomfortable and it can sometimes lead to excessive itching. For us pet owners, it can be unsettling for us to see our pets that are experiencing rashes. These rashes have various root causes some of them are just plain bacterial skin infections. To other pets, it can just be a springboard leading to a more severe condition such as Cushings disease. Regardless of how bad it is, a simple rash thats occurring to your dog can be worrisome.

With that in mind, what are the chances that your golden retriever has something more than a rash on belly? If left unnoticed, it might turn into a skin infection that will require your local vet, to interfere. We have listed the most common causes as to why your golden retriever is having a rash on belly.

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Trim The Hair Around The Hot Spot

Trimming the area helps prevent matting and problems associated with tight knots of hair. It also gives you a clear view of the wound so you can keep tabs on the healing progress. For example, if you see an increase in oozing, its time to head back to the vet as this is a sign of a bacterial infection.

Why Do Dogs Get Hot Spots

There can be several reasons why your dog may end up stuck with hot spots. Much of it depends on the specific breed of your dog, the condition of his skin, and many other factors that work together to create an irritating hot spot.

When your dog scratches, licks, or chews the affected area, the hot spot becomes much worse. Once the skin is extremely irritated, it becomes inflamed and can be vulnerable to bacterial infection. When this happens, its even itchier to your dog, thus beginning the constant cycle of biting, itching, and scratching.

If your pooch feels itchy on any part of his skin, it has the potential to turn into a hot spot. Thats why its so important to get to the root cause of the itching before it gets out of hand.

There are a few different reasons why your dog might seem itchy and irritated. The most common reason is due to pests like fleas or insect bites from mosquitos. Some dogs are allergic to flea bites which can cause flea allergy dermatitis.

Other reasons your BFF might be super-scratchy is that he has food allergies, atopic dermatitis, or a possible ear or skin infection. If your dog comes into contact with certain irritants, this could also trigger the itchiness.

Dogs that are stressed or bored may participate in excessive licking, which can lead to hot spots. Dirty or matted coats and trapped moisture on your dogs coat are just a few other factors. If any of these problems remain unmanaged, they can lead to hot spots on your dog.

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Additional Signs Of Hot Spots In Dogs

Recognizing the physical signs of hot spots is the first step to diagnosing it. However, this is not the only way you can help to stop hot spots in their tracks.

The following signs are also associated with hot spots in dogs. However, as you will see, many are non-specific signs. In other words, they can also occur with a slew of other conditions. It is important to definitively diagnose whether your dog has a hot spot before beginning the appropriate treatment.

You should also look for the following signs of hot spots:

• Unusual aggression and behavioral changes
• Whining, wincing, or crying out in pain, particularly when touched
• Excessive itching of the skin
• Persistent chewing, biting, licking, or grooming
• Scaly skin surrounding the sore area
• Sores that are scabbing or filled with pus
• Excessive warmth that can be felt on the dogs coat or skin
• Matted fur
• Hair Loss
• Fever
• Lethargy and depression

Determine The Underlying Cause

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Treating a current hotspot now doesnt mean its not going to come back. The best way to prevent hot spots is still addressing the root of the problem. One of the things you can look at is allergies. Allergies can be:

• Food Allergies
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis
• Contact Irritants

Although uncommon, food allergies just like in humans can happen to dogs. Some of the symptoms you can look out for are itchiness, hair loss, and digestive related problems like diarrhea and vomiting. An important note to remember is that dogs can be allergic to any food ingredient. However, proteins especially dairy products like lamb, beef, chicken, and grains are one of the common food allergies. Check the label of the food you give to your pet to see if any of these ingredients are present. Switching to a hypoallergenic diet may be the solution you are looking for.

In a similar way, Atopic Dermatitis can also be one of the reasons your pet is itching. Atopic Dermatitis is a hereditary disease that often shows between the ages of one to three years. Certain breeds are more prone like Golden Retrievers, terriers, Lhasa Apsos, and bulldogs. However, other mixed breeds can have Atopic Dermatitis as well. Atopic dogs lick, scratch, rub and chew a spot in their skin causing redness and hair loss in the area.

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Symptoms Of Hot Spots In German Shepherds

There are common symptoms of hot spots to watch out for.

Skin-related problems generally begin with related symptoms. However, you can inspect and generally determine hot spots in German Shepherds to help you evaluate the severity and treat your dog.

German Shepherd hot spots symptoms are typically observed as:

• continual licking of the affected area
• painful, red, moist and sometimes blistered areas of skin
• swelling at the affected area which is warm to the touch
• intensely itchy, round patches that vary in size and can grow in size quickly
• loss of hair or matted fur very often coated with a viscous smelly discharge , which crusts over and sticks to the fur
• thickening and scarring of skin may develop due to the persistent self-trauma of licking and chewing their inflamed skin, more so in dogs that go untreated for too long

As a result of the irritation and pain caused by the hot spot, your German Shepherd indulges in continuous scratching and chewing of their own skin. In turn, this leads to the formation of red lesions on the affected area.

Unfortunately, this self-trauma only makes the area itchier. This skin irritability causes a self-perpetuating cycle of itching and scratching. So, any irritation that causes your GSD to feel itchy has the potential to result in a hot spot.

Hot spots are extremely uncomfortable for your German Shepherd. And, if left untreated, can become seriously infected.

Dont delay treatment for a German Shepherds hot spots.

Home Remedies For Hot Spots On Dogs

If you arent able to get to the vet right away, there are a few things you can do at home to help heal hot spots.

Human medications such as Neosporin, hydrocortisone, and Vaseline should NOT be used. Topical creams and ointments tend to cause dogs to lick the area even more, so they should be avoided if possible.

Follow these steps to promote healing of the hot spot:

Contact your veterinarian for an exam to treat the underlying issue, and notify them if the area is not healing or is getting worse.

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Golden Retriever Skin Issues Made Easy

So there you have it! Now that you know these common golden retriever skin issues, you know what to look out for.

Thick undercoats make golden retrievers very vulnerable to skin issues. Especially if they remain wet. Trapped moisture and a natural disposition for skin issues can be a disaster. The key is to be vigilant and make sure youre checking your dog on a regular basis.