Allergies in dogs are the worst. Not only is your pet miserable, but you are too listening to the sound of them scratching away all night long. Some allergies can be avoided, such as keeping a dog with flea allergies on a flea and tick medication, or not feeding a certain food you know your dog is allergic to. However, what do you do for seasonal allergies, or unavoidable triggers? These natural supplements can help dogs with allergies.
Fish Oil
Most people don’t get enough omega-3 fatty acids, and the same is actually true for dogs. Fish oil is one of our favorite natural supplements for dogs because it works to treat skin problems from the inside, where it really counts.
Omega-3 fatty acids, such as those found in fish oil, help your pet in a variety of ways. Fish oil has been shown to help reduce inflammation, and helps to strengthen skin so that it has a greater ability to protect your dog against environmental allergies.
Vitamin E
Omega 3 fatty acids work great on their own, but they actually need an important vitamin to help them work to the best of their ability. Vitamin E is essential to your pet’s health, and if Omega-3s aren’t working for your pet, he or she might need vitamin E to help boost the effects. It’s an anti-oxidant that helps maintain cell health!
It’s very important when supplementing your pet with Vitamin E not to overdose your pet. Vitamin E is fat soluble, which means any excess in the body won’t flush out like water soluble vitamins.
Probiotics
Another great way to help your dog with allergies is to help boost their immune system with probiotics. Probiotics are friendly bacteria that live in your dog’s gut and feed off indigestible materials in your dog’s system, such as fiber. In return, they help in a variety of essential functions in the body, such as boosting our mood, converting indigestible materials into digestable ones, and boosting the immune system.
Probiotics are complex, but we do know that they have a profound effect on allergies. A 2015 study found that probiotics drastically improved atopic dermatitis in dogs when taken over a course of about 2 months.[1]
CBD Oil
By far one of the greatest natural supplements for dogs with allergies is CBD oil. CBD oil has been shown to help with allergies in a variety of ways. It’s a powerful anti-inflammatory, and while no research has formally been conducted on it, some researchers speculate that it may help at the source, helping the dog’s endocannabinoid system stop overreacting to allergies in the first place. The best CBD oil for dogs is a high quality brand from a reputable source.
To date, most of the studies done on CBD and allergies have been done for respiratory reactions, but there has been one study done on CBD and skin allergies.[2] This 2018 study recommends more research, but found that CBD oil is very promising as a possible treatment for skin allergies.
All of these supplements are great for your dog, and they can be used in combination safely. With the right supplements, your pet could well be on their way to an itch-free allergy season.
[1] https://www.dogtrainingme.com/best-probiotic-for-dogs-with-allergies/