Dog Allergies - Bacterial allergy

Bacterial allergies
Staphylococcus (Staph) is a bacterium found on normal dog skin. If the skin is normal and the dog's immune system is normal, Staph causes no problems to its host, but some dogs develop an allergy to it.

With this type of allergy the dog develops areas of hair loss that looks similar to ring worm. The hair loss is often round and anywhere from 1/2 to 2 inches in diameter.

These areas become infected and need to be treated with antibiotics. The Staph allergic dog usually has recurrent Staph infections. The lesions will usually clear up with appropriate antibiotics, but return as soon as the antibiotics are discontinued.
After a while, some dogs become resistant to antibiotic treatment.

Treatment of Staph allergy involves antibiotics to control the immediate problem and desensitization with Staph antigen for long-term relief.

Finally, here are some tips for helping a dog with allergies:

- use air conditioners rather than open windows
- dust and vacuum often
- treat your pet for fleas, regardless of whether or not you see them
- use a dehumidifier and place activated charcoal around house plants to decrease molds
- give your dog an oatmeal bath (some pet stores carry oatmeal formulated shampoo)
- allow your dog to sit in a bath filled with Epsom salts
- after discussing this with your vet, try using essential fatty acids, namely omega-3 and omega-6. They have natural anti-inflammatory agents and can be purchased at most pet stores or veterinarians
- use a hypoallergenic dog food or create a homemade diet for your pet (ask your veterinarian for suggestions on foods and supplements
- be careful what you are washing your dog's bedding in

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