Owning a Golden Retriever is always a matter of pride, and whenever you look at its rich golden hair, you may fall in love all over again. But what about the time when you find it shedding excessive hair in an unusual pattern along with a persistent experience of itching? If this happens to your dog chances are that your dog is experiencing allergies. Apart from Golden Retriever allergies, these symptoms may occur as a result of parasitical intervention or any form of infection. Golden Retriever allergies may be of four types – flea allergies, atopy, food allergies and contact allergies.

Flea allergies or skin inflammation may occur from flea saliva. The most common symptom of flea allergies is the formation of papule, a small red growth. This, in time, may change into a crusty patch if left untreated. Lower back, back legs, hind legs, upper thighs and belly areas are the most affected body areas. In addition, the dog experiences an extreme feeling of itching and scratching. If these symptoms occur, you can suspect Golden Retriever allergies.
When flea allergies occur, the affected areas become hairless. In addition, the areas change color and the skin becomes thickened. As few a couple of bites or less can make a dog react if the skin is sensitive to flea biting. If you can control the flea population, then you can possibly offer effective treatment measures to your dog. Additionally, you have to control flea population in the external environment. There are few advanced methodologies and products that are beneficial in controlling flea infection.

When a dog becomes sensitive to any particular substance in the environment, atopy occurs. The harmful substances are either inhaled or soaked up by the skin of the dog. This is one of the major forms of Golden Retriever allergies, which may affect different body parts including groin, feet, underarm and face. Atopy also affects areas close to ear. Cat dander, fungal spores, weeds, pollen and grasses are the most common factors of atopy. Common interventions may involve antihistamines, antibiotics, cortisone administered either by shampooing or spraying.
Food allergies are another common form of Golden Retriever allergies. The symptoms are quite similar to atopy however the root cause differs significantly. Food allergies occur due to adverse reactions to specific foods like beef, dairy, wheat, soy and few poultry products. Only by changing the entire diet pattern can you identify whether your dog is suffering from a food allergy or not. You need to feed the dog continuously for eight weeks. This is the observation period when you need to observe any possible allergic reactions in the dog.

Contact allergy is another form of Golden Retriever allergies, however, it is not as common. This occurs only when any other form of allergy like atopy affects the dog or a flea reaction causes the area to become hairless and the dog becomes vulnerable towards contact allergies. Paw, underarms and belly are the most affected regions. Chemicals used in carpet cleaning, polishes, grasses, waxes, and pollens may contribute to contact allergies in Golden Retrievers.

Owner must be aware of proper Golden Retriever care so that the dog can grow with optimum health. If you would like to know how to choose a vet for your Golden Retriever, this article can teach you the basic information about Golden Retriever allergies.

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