Did you know Labs are capable of getting allergies just like humans? It’s one of the least known Labrador retriever characteristics. Most of the time Labrador allergies are skin-based, but sometimes respiratory allergies can occur as well. If you notice a change in your Lab’s behavior, be sure to monitor their actions closely to determine whether the change is serious enough to visit your veterinarian or not. Even minor allergies can require some sort of treatment, and knowing which one they are suffering from can help prevent some irritating symptoms in the future. Here are the three most common allergies Labrador breeds can suffer from.
Flea Allergies
Labradors with flea allergies will constantly scratch themselves. A flea bite generally isn’t what causes an allergy, but it’s the saliva they leave behind that could react adversely with your dog’s skin. Many times a flea allergy will get worse before it gets better, simply because of the uncontrollable scratching. If your Lab is showing these symptoms, be sure to visit your vet for treatment options.
Food Allergies
Different Labrador breeds can have different food allergies, and you won’t know it until symptoms arise. Noticing a significant change in their behavior after switching their food is a pretty good sign they may have an allergy to new foods. Alternatively, food allergies can develop over the course of several years even if you continue feeding them the same thing. If your dog doesn’t seem to enjoy eating or can’t hold down their food all the time, it could be a sign of a food allergy and you should take them to the vet as soon as possible.
Contact Allergies
Contact allergies can happen anywhere and at any time. And many times you may not even know what caused it. Some Labrador information suggests even the wool from a blanket can cause a contact allergy in some Labrador breeds. Most of the time the side effects of a contact allergy include some redness, bumps or swelling. These side effects should subside over time, but the scariest part for a pet owner is not knowing how their Lab got the allergy to begin with. It’s obvious if symptoms occur after you changed to a new shampoo or gave them a new blanket. However, even some grass your dog rolled on could cause an allergy, unbeknownst to you until you see symptoms.
Constantly monitoring a Labrador is important for any pet owner. Of course, you can’t watch every move they make to ensure they don’t develop a contact allergy, but you can identify behavioral changes and take action accordingly. The important thing is to visit your veterinarian if you see signs of your dog having allergy symptoms.
