Common Allergies in Husky Dog Breeds

Siberian Huskies are built to survive in the cold weather of Alaska, to cope with the freezing temperature these dogs have a double-coat of fur. But having thick fur and other health factors makes them prone to different types of allergies. The most important thing about Huskies is that they get affected by zinc deficiency, which can cause lesions, itching, and hair loss on the genitals, footpads, and the face. This condition can be treated with zinc supplementation, and it gets healed too. Another condition in Huskies is nasal solar dermatitis, which is also known as “Collie Nose”, it mostly impacts Border Collie dogs, but it also affects Huskies.

This disease is related to sun exposure and zinc deficiency, which causes the nose skin of the dog to look sunburnt as it changes color; this health issue can also cause lesions, redness, and hair loss around the nose. In addition, environmental allergens can cause atopic dermatitis, a type of skin inflammation in Siberian Huskies. Pollen, grass, dust, and mold can cause allergies in your beloved Husky. Also, ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes may cause skin inflammation. Let’s know more about common allergies in Husky dog breeds.

COMMON ALLERGY SYMPTOMS IN HUSKIES

* Paw chewing
* Watery eyes
* Itchy and dry skin
* Sneezing
* Breathing troubles
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Chronic ear infection
* Nasal discharge

The good news is that, you can boost the immune system of your Husky and reduce the effects of allergies. Right doses of Omega fatty acids can fight against degenerative disorders and allergies that can cause arthritis and inflammation in dogs. According to research, Omega fatty acids can prevent allergies in puppies.

But the issue is, that dogs can’t produce Omega fatty acids in their bodies, so they need an external dose of it.

COMMON ALLERGIES IN HUSKY DOG BREEDS

Huskies have some common allergies in them, and before you feel confused over the type your dog is affected with, let’s know about the common allergies.

1. FOOD ALLERGY

Food allergies can cause scratchy ears, and itchy skin, just like other allergies, and your Husky may start to lick and bite their paws, rub their faces on the floor, can have diarrhea, start coughing, sneezing, flatulence, seizures, gagging, ear inflammation and other issues.

The most common allergens are found in day-to-day foods like chicken, whey, soy products, wheat, corn, preservatives, artificial flavorings, sugar, additives, eggs, milk, fish, pork, and beef. Therefore, you need to talk to the vet about identifying the allergic foods, and this will take weeks to figure out, but after you have decided on the foods, you need to create a diet chart for your Husky. The most common foods that can cause allergy in dogs are dairy products, corn, soy, wheat, eggs, fish, lamb, rabbit, chicken, pork, and beef.

2. BACTERIAL ALLERGY

Some dogs normally develop bacterial allergies, and when it happens it affects their skin and fur. Staphylococcus is the common bacteria that cause allergies in Husky dog breeds.

3. FLEA ALLERGY

Fleas can be the cause of allergies in Huskies, and it’s important to note that the saliva of fleas can cause itching. If you were unable to find any fleas on your dog, you must take your pooch to the vet to perform a flea detection test, and if the result comes positive, you need to remove the parasites and use the vet-prescribed shampoos, sprays on your dog and feed them the capsules with or without food.

Parasitic, food and flea allergy have similar symptoms. You need to check for fleas, and if the parasites are present, you need to use the vet-prescribed shampoos, and medications to eliminate the allergy issues. Also, you must identify your dog’s behavior and health.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL ALLERGENS

Environmental allergens can cause itching in your dog, and this mainly happens when your Husky comes into contact with wood, grass, specific plants, flea collars, and sometimes dog shampoo as well. It’s crucial to talk to your vet when you notice an allergic reaction in your puppy, and after the right diagnosis, you can take the right actions to prevent the allergies.

DIAGNOSING ALLERGIES IN HUSKIES:

Diagnosing allergies can be difficult. In the initial step, the vet will rule out the conditions that may be causing the allergic reaction in the dog. If the vet feels that allergy is the main reason, they will prescribe testing to decide on the cause. However, allergy tests for dogs do not always give the right solution.

In addition, food allergies can be diagnosed by the elimination of certain foods. Flea allergy can be diagnosed easily, as the dog already has the parasites on its coat, and killing the fleas can solve the issue.

HUSKY ALLERGY TREATMENT OPTIONS:

You need to look for organic shampoos that are sulfate-free and hypoallergenic. You can choose shampoos with natural ingredients like quercetin, aloe vera, and thyme can provide better assistance against allergies. Your vet can prescribe antihistamines or corticosteroids if the allergy issue in your Husky is causing more distress.

If your dog is still suffering from itchiness, you may have to look at the foods you feed them. You can consult a veterinary nutritionist who can help you find out the allergy source for the foods. The vet nutritionist may recommend eliminating some food items, and it may consist of fresh foods, which can help in the identification of the allergies in dogs. You can follow the below steps to apply the food elimination diet for your Siberian Husky:

* For eight weeks feed the dog the foods that he or she hadn’t tasted before.
* Avoid giving the Husky supplements, flavored medications, table food, or treats within these eight weeks
* The diet must have single types of vegetable protein, carbohydrate, and animal protein. You can give your pooch peas, rabbit, potato, and fish.
* When the eight weeks are finally over, you can return to the normal diet. Observe, if your Husky is still having any allergic reactions.
* You can also try adding probiotics to the dog diet. It can strengthen the immunity system of your Husky and may reduce allergic reactions.

CONCLUSION

If you are trying to eliminate the food base allergies in your Husky, you need to add more minerals and vitamins, and it must include zinc, which is the main reason for allergy issues in Huskies. Give your dog fresh foods which will provide better antioxidants, and it will support the health of the Husky. Furthermore, take a look at this article to know more about Husky allergies and their remedies.