Inhalant seasonal allergies - Page 1

Are any "lines" free of inhalant seasonal allergies?  I have never treated a dog for allergies...never.  I do not have a dog that I treat for ear problems.  I do not use any meds for fleas, ticks, lice, etc.  I do use ivermectin for heartworm (not on bitches that will be bred that month and not given until puppies are weaned)  and my guys get a tablespoon of DE every day.  In the early 90's I used "a common heartworm preventive"......a few pups would be born with cleft-palates.....my vet would tell me that it was "genetic".  I stopped using the "preventive"  and no more cleft-palates......not saying that it caused them....just saying when I no longer used it.....the problem left.   Anyway, inhalant seasonal allergies have come up........does anyone test for such in your breeding dogs?  There are so many things out there....household/property cleaners, etc. that it seems rather impossible.  Somebody is going to have a problem  with some odor.  Maybe it is possible......that's reason I am asking. 

Thanks

I hope you get some responses to your query.  But I would break it down between inhalant or contact allergies, seasonal or year-round.  It's difficult to test for and the dog could be fine at age 1 or 2 or 3, but begin showing signs at age 4.  My dog suffers from environmental allergies...it could be a combination of inhalant and contact...it most likely involves both internal (dust mites) and external (grass, tree pollen) irritants.  He started showing signs at age 3; he is now 4 1/2.  My experience with him over the last year seems in line with the current veterinary literature that says  if a dog is going to be affected by environmental allergies, the symptoms will show up by age 4 or 5.  So, I would like to add a question for breeders...would you be willing to wait until about age 5 to breed your dogs so that you are relatively certain the breeding dogs are allergy-free?

Only time my guys have problems is with anything with Flax, either seed of oils??  Hate that stuff.  Wished they would quite putting it in foods and have people just add the oil/seeds if they want the option of using it. 

The only info that I can offer is to help boost the immune system which can be done by diets, supplements of various types and possibly giving a teaspoon of coconut oil daily may help.  Definitely helps to boost immune system, antimicrobial, antibacterial, anti fungal, anti everything.  Also maniuka honey. 

And to your question Zenit about waiting until 5 until you breed a possible allergy carrier,  doubt that anyone is going to do that;  but maybe...  Nan

@ Zenit -  in my opinion asking a breeder to wait until the bitch is 4 or 5 years old would be the equivalent to asking humans not to have babies (their 1st) until their mid 30's or ealy 40's. You are creating way more health problems than you are trying to prevent

I am not a breeder so I do not have any knowledge of breeding.  I asked the question out of curiosity because I have heard the appeal many times on this board for breeders not to breed allergic dogs.  My curiosity stems from own experience of owning an allergic dog.  What if my dog was a female, had working titles, show rating and breed survey, and hips/elbows/DM clearances and I had bred (her) at 3?  Then I find out about the allergy problems?  I would then have possibly passed on the genetic contribution to developing allergies to possibly 10 puppies.

As the owner of a dog with severe allergies, it is a costly life-long problem that now requires a strong medication (Atopic) to keep under control.  And who knows what will be the long term consequences for my dog's overall health to be on Atopica for the rest of his life.

If you have already used a dog for breeding before it exhibits symptoms of allergies, there's nothing you can do about that. However, don't do it again, notify the breeder of the dog and notify the buyers of the puppies you have already bred. As anyone knows who has dealt with allergic dogs, one of the most frustrating parts is diagnosing and treating the condition in a timley manner. A lot of time is generally wasted switching dog foods, trying different supplements, etc, etc, etc.. If the buyer knows there is a history of allergies they may have to deal with, that will help to get the dog diagnosed and treated sooner. Most dogs I've seen personally with allergies express them before they are a year old.