The papillons, also known as butterfly dogs get its distinct butterfly wing looking ears with fringed hair. They are delicate, quirky looking dogs with abundant, silky flowing coat. They do not have an undercoat and their hair is quite long. Although they are not as sensitive like other toy dogs, when it comes to allergies, papillons can still suffer from it and even cause it to their owners. Owners should always be on the look out for any allergic symptoms their pets may exhibit.
Symptoms that your papillon is having an allergic reaction could include excessive scratching, itching and licking of the ears, muzzle, paws or other parts of the body. Other symptoms could also include hair loss, recurring ear infections as well as changes in bowel movements. A pap experiencing an allergic reaction could also salivate and start licking his body, orange or red tinged hair is a sure sign of allergies in dogs. Difficulty breathing is a symptom mostly experienced by humans rather than dogs.
Allergies do not always begin from birth some papillons get them even well into maturity. Allergic reactions can come from food, parasites, insects, molds, pollen, changes in the weather, rage weed and fall seasons. Knowing what your dog is allergic to does not have to be a trial and error experience, just like with humans there is a test available to determine elements or food that dogs can be allergic to. Knowing is winning half the battle by helping papillons avoid such allergens. There are a few basic allergens that dogs can be susceptible to, these inlcude;
Flea and Bacterial Allergies – this is most common especially to hairy dogs. Dogs can suffer from extreme itching on the bite area, causing redness, hair loss and sometimes even sores. The flea is actually not as dangerous as its saliva which passes through your pet and causes the allergic reaction. Flea bites are harmful to both dogs and humans an can be addressed by proper grooming, cleaning and a medicated shampoo if necessary. Garlic added to the dogs food is known to repel fleas and other bugs. You can also spray vinegar water on the dogs’ outdoor living space to get rid of the bugs. Bacteria can also affect dogs, normally it would also cause severe itching and lesions, this could be a Staph infection; if this is the case immediate medical attention is needed for both dog and owner.
Inhalants – these are also called atopy or hypersensitivity allergens in the environment. Symptoms would include scratching, itching and salivating that cause orange or reddish fur, This would include those that can be inhaled, it may come as a surprise for new dog owners, but they can be allergic to pollen too. Other inhalants include cigarette smoke, molds, mildew, dust and dust mites. This is usually treated with antibiotics, shampoos and antihistamines. Hypersensitation or exposing your pet to the allergen little by little to get the papillons immune system going is often used as the last resort.
Food Allergies – this type of allergy is often easy to spot as it can have an immediate reaction. Food allergy can be differentiated from intolerance judging by the symptom. Intolerance often causes diarrhea or an upset stomach while allergies can show similar symptoms as atopy. Dogs can often be allergic to specific foods such as beef, dairy, eggs, chicken, lamb and fish.
With allergies, prevention is always better than the cure and it is important to know what your pap is allergic to. Although papillons are generally healthy dogs, they are fragile and severe allergic reactions can be fatal to them.