Doggie DayCare San Diego

Canine allergies can cause bacterial and yeast infections. Once the itching starts the potential for scratching until the dog bleeds can occur. The wound can easily turn into an infected, raw "hot spot" - the perfect place for bacteria and yeast to flourish. The infection can begin when these organisms have the opportunity to invade the raw wound. When your dog scratches, this can spread the infection from ears to face or to his abdomen, as well as between the "toes" of your dog's paws. Nasty odors (yeasty ear smell, etc.), scabs and flaky, oily dandruff are clues that the spread of these pathogens is occurring.

Canine allergies are a state of over-reactivity or hypersensitivity of the immune system of a pet to a particular substance called an ‘allergen’. Most allergens are proteins. The allergen protein may be of insect, plant or animal origin. Initial exposure of the dog, or more likely multiple exposures, to the allergen may over-sensitize the immune system, such that a subsequent exposure to the same or related allergen causes an over-reaction. This means that the immune response, which normally protects the canine against infection and disease, can be harmful.

Changing a dog's diet, in my opinion, should be the first action taken. Many dogs are sensitive to wheat products, and low quality grains. Most commercial dog foods, even those that are supposedly "high-quality", contain grains, and fillers such as corn. The ingredients may not be human- grade and therefore of inferior quality. Grains are highly susceptible to toxic molds which can trigger allergies and possibly cause severe illness or even death.