What are pit bulls usually allergic to

What Are The Most Common Pitbull Allergies?

If your Pitbull has been itching, scratching, biting, or licking like crazy, youre most likely more than a little concerned about your pet.

Allergies are common among some bully breed dogs like the American Pit Bull Terrier and the American Staffordshire Terrier.

Allergic responses occur when your Pitbulls immune system reacts abnormally to common substances in the environment. Such substances are known as allergens. Pitbull allergies cause inflammatory reactions in your pups body that can range from mild to life-threatening.

Determining what your Pitbull is allergic to can be challenging, and some allergies may go undiagnosed. Since pets cant tell you that they have allergies, its up to you as their guardian to stay vigilant and aware of common Pitbull allergies.

Allergies can be pretty painful, and no one wants to see their pup suffering through potentially life-threatening allergic reactions.

Due to their sensitivity, Pitbulls and allergies sometimes go hand in hand, and particular precaution is necessary if you have one of these dogs at home.

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Regardless of how sheltered your pets are, theyre likely to experience irritation at some point. The innocent itchy spots and occasional rashes can be precursors of something more severe.

The only way to provide relief for your pup is to identify the source and know how to address it. In this article, well explore what Pitbulls can be allergic to and how to protect your pet from common Pitbull skin allergies.

Youll also learn about the best dog food for Pitbulls with allergies and find answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about this topic.

What Are Pitbulls Allergic To?

Pitbulls allergies can be caused by various ingested, inhaled, and contact allergens. Your pet can be allergic to environmental irritants, food, grooming cleaning products, or fleas. Their skin can overreact from even a single flea bite.

The most common Pitbull allergies include:

1. Pitbull Food Allergies

Pitbull food allergies occur when your pets immune system reacts abnormally to something they eat. Pitbulls are most commonly allergic to food that contains wheat, soy, and corn.

A true food allergy will result in immune responses with symptoms ranging from skin conditions (facial swelling, itchiness, and Pitbull hives) to gastrointestinal signs (diarrhea and/or vomiting) or a combination of both.

In rare cases, a severe, life-threatening allergic reaction resulting in anaphylaxis can occur.

Food sensitivities are more common than true food allergies. You might confuse a sensitivity with Pitbull food allergies, but theyre more often intolerances than allergies.

Unlike true food allergies, food sensitivities dont involve an immune response. Your buddy can present several symptoms if they have food sensitivity.

These symptoms can include gastrointestinal signs like diarrhea or vomiting, chronic foot or ear infections, and dermatologic signs like poor skin / coat or general itchiness.

2. Pitbull Skin Allergies

Pitbull skin allergies are the most common type of allergic reaction in bully breeds. Their skin conditions and allergies can result from a variety of causes:

Genetics

Genetics plays a crucial role in the life of a dog with sensitive skin. The rare and often sought-after blue and white-coated Pitbulls are usually susceptible to skin allergies and problems.

The recessive genes responsible for the beautiful colorations and sometimes poor breeding practices make the blue-nosed Pitbulls more likely to suffer from skin allergies than other Pitbulls.

Its more common to see white and blue ones with a rash, red bump, or scratching their coat from some type of irritation than Pitbulls of different coat color.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

With flea allergy dermatitis, your Pitbull can have allergic reactions to fleabites. Some Pitbulls are allergic to flea saliva, making them highly itchy, especially at the base of the tail.

Pitbull skin allergies caused by fleas can result in inflamed, red, and scabbed skin, and you may see the flea themselves or notice signs of fleas, like flea dirt.

Flea allergy dermatitis usually requires veterinary attention because of the severe irritation left behind. Your vet will help deal with any current fleas and offer the best support for the irritation and any infection present.

Atopic Allergies and Environmental Irritants

Pitbulls dont have a thick undercoat to protect their skin like other breeds. This gives the animal sensitive skin thats easily affected by irritants in the environment.

Your dog can come into contact with irritants every day. These include grass and seasonal allergens like pollen they can pick up on a walk or in your backyard.

Mold and dust can also cause atopic allergic reactions or atopic dermatitis. In most cases, youll notice your Pitbull itching at certain times of the year. Commonly affected areas include the ear and paws.

Other areas that can be affected include the muzzle, ankle, wrists, groin, underarms, between the toes, or around the eyes.

Zinc Deficiency

These dogs are highly susceptible to developing zinc responsive dermatosis. It results from the bodys inability to absorb zinc properly and is most often seen in large breeds. It can also occur if your pal doesnt get enough zinc in its diet.

Your Pitbull may experience fur loss, dry skin, or a dull coat. Flaking and hair loss around the mouth are common and cause a typical pattern thats easily identified by professionals.

You may also see lesions in your dogs footpads, ears, and nose. If you suspect your Pitbull has zinc deficiency, its best to consult your vet first before adding zinc to their diet.

High quantities of zinc can be toxic and potentially fatal to your Pitbull. Finding dog food that contains zinc as part of the ingredients and then serving in the correct portions is a good way to get your Pitbull just the right amount of zinc.

You should note that all skin allergies pose the risk of secondary infection. The more your Pitbull scratches, licks, and bites at their skin, the greater the risk of opening up the skin to bacterial and yeast infections that will require treatment.

How To Protect Your Pitbull From Skin Allergies

The best way to protect your Pitbull from skin allergies is to avoid the cause and allergen, but this may not always be possible.

Here are some easy to implement options you can try out:

Diet Change

The best way to prevent Pitbull allergies caused by food is to switch up the diet. A good choice is our own range of Spot & Tango recipes, which has a reputation for being excellent for pets with allergies.

Food allergies in dogs are diagnosed through an elimination diet. It involves feeding your Pitbull a new food they havent eaten before for 6-8 weeks to see if the allergy symptoms resolve and dont return.

Feeding a raw unprocessed diet and adding a fish oil supplement can help boost your Pitbulls immune system, skin, coat, and overall health.

It will also have fewer ingredients which means fewer chances of something upsetting your Pitbulls system.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies are appropriate prevention and treatment options if your Pitbull has already developed a skin condition.

Coconut oil is an effective and low-cost solution you can put on affected areas. It has antifungal properties and is an excellent moisturizer for your pups dry skin. It can help improve your dogs skin in a couple of weeks.

Eliminate Fleas and Ticks

You can prevent Pitbull allergies caused by parasites like fleas, mange, and ticks by eliminating them with flea medication, a medicated shampoo, or dips.

Regular grooming and wiping your dog down can also help prevent any infestations.

Consult Your Vet

You can get guidance on the best preventive and treatment measures for your Pitbull from your vet.

They can also quickly diagnose any issues youre unaware of and provide the best prescriptions according to your dogs profile.

What Is The Best Dog Food For Pitbulls With Allergies?

The best food for Pitbulls with skin allergies or food allergies should have natural ingredients with no additives or fillers.

A limited ingredients recipe or formula makes it easy to narrow down potential allergens and gives you more control over what your pup is eating. Allergy-friendly protein sources are also a great option.

Spot and Tango make it easy for you to get the best food for Pitbulls with skin allergies or food allergies. All our meals can be personalized with the meal plan selection, to your Pitbulls unique profile with allergy-friendly options that are gluten-free and non-GMO.

Our meals are made with fresh, human-grade, natural ingredients with no additives or fillers that cause allergic reactions. All of our recipes are designed by vet nutritionists with sensitivities and allergies in mind.

Frequently Asked Questions About Pitbull Allergies

What Are The Best Non Allergic Protein Sources For Pitbulls?

The best non-allergic protein sources for Pitbulls include potato, duck, salmon, lamb, and turkey. You will find all the best hypoallergenic ingredients in Spot & Tango dog food.

How Fresh Food Can Help?

Fresh food ensures that youre not feeding your Pitbull anything artificial that might cause a reaction. Fresh food doesnt contain any preservatives, additives, or fillers which are common allergens.

This is where Spot & Tango comes in, with recipes that include fresh human-grade ingredients cooked to perfection. There are no additives, preservatives, or fillers included in our meals.

What Are Pitbull Hives?

Pitbull hives are a common skin reaction to allergens that produces raised, red bumps that cause intense itching. Its also known as urticaria, and it can disappear spontaneously on its own.

However, if it persists, pitbull skin bumps allergy treatment can range from natural remedies like colloidal oatmeal and essential oils to antihistamines like Zyrtec and Benadryl.

Final Thoughts

One of the most loving dog breeds out there, Pitbulls are also prone to allergies. Most of these allergies are easily treatable, so just pay attention to your dogs behavior all the time.

Consult your vet immediately when you find rashes on your pets skin or other symptoms that you find odd. They will tell you what is best and recommend you alternatives and treatment.

If you need to adapt your dogs diet to avoid allergenics, check out our recipes section and you will find something that fits your pets needs.

Want to Learn More?

Are American Pitbull Terriers Bad for Allergy Sufferers?

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You probably already know that allergy sufferers get allergic reactions due to exposure to triggers such as dust, smoke, animal hair, urine, dander, or saliva. Some people keep Poodles because these dogs dont shed much.

But what about those who want to adopt American Pitbull Terrierswill these dogs cause them allergic reactions?

American Pitbull Terriers can be bad for allergy sufferers because, like most dogs, they shed hair, leave saliva droplets in the house, or sometimes urinate on furniture in the home. But allergy sufferers can keep their allergies reactions at bay by prioritizing cleaning at all times.

Keep reading to learn about the American Pitbull Terriers shedding pattern, the allergic triggers this breed causes, ways of keeping allergies at bay, and personal care to control allergic reactions. Lets dive in.

Are American Pitbull Terriers Hypoallergenic Dogs?

Hypoallergenic means that a pet or any animal kept at home will not cause allergic harm to people that come in contact with them.

American Pitbull Terriers are not hypoallergenic dogs; no dogs are completely hypoallergenic. All dogs shed fur and dander, common allergy triggers, and the American Pitbull Terriers are no different.

Major Irritants That Come From American Pitbull Terriers

The most common irritants from dogs like American Pitbull Terriers are:

• Dander: Dander is dead skin flakes shed from pets skin. Its the most common trigger of pet allergy.

• Fur: American Pitbull Terriers are heavy shedders. They shed twice per year during the shedding seasons. However, they shed some hair from scratching against walls when they get itchy skin from time to time. Every time they do this, they leave tiny particles of hair flying all over the place, triggering peoples allergies.

• Urine: Some people are allergic to strong smells from pets urine. Your American Pitbull Terrier can urinate on the carpet, sofa sets, bed, or anywhere within the compound. When ammonia from the urine evaporates into the air, it generates some toxic fumes that act as allergy triggers.

• Saliva: Some people react adversely to a dogs saliva. Some wheeze, while others start itching.

How To Control Allergies Triggered by American Pitbull Terriers

Its now clear that American Pitbull terriers arent hypoallergenic. That means if youre allergic to dogs, you can potentially have a terrible experience living with the American Pitbull Terrier as a pet. So what can you do to keep allergy triggers from dogs at bay?

Maintain Proper Nutrition and Diet

Check on what you feed your American Pitbull Terrier. Like humans, dogs can experience food allergies that affect their skin and cause shedding.

You should also ensure your pet gets all the necessary nutrients from feeds. Feeding your dog with the proper nutrients keeps its skin healthy and shiny, which in return reduces shedding.

Moreover, its vital to be in constant communication with your vet. These professionals are better positioned to advise on the best and the most effective dog diets. The vet will also advise what foods you should stop feeding your dog. Your vet will also help you introduce a new diet for your dog if need be.

Groom Your American Pitbull Terrier Regularly

Regular grooming can help reduce too much shedding. You cant change how much your dog sheds, but you can control the frequency through proper grooming.

Brushing and bathing greatly help reduce shedding. You should adopt these practices as part of your pets essential grooming process to ensure it maintains healthy skin.

Scheduled regular brushing helps reduce the quantity of hair that drops around the house and the compound. For home brushing, you can use a good-quality slicker brush.

Moreover, ensure to use the right shampoo when bathing your dog to avoid triggering skin irritation that can cause it to scratch and release more dander or fur.

However, proper grooming doesnt mean bathing your dog every day. Doing that will rip off essential oils from your dogs skin; hence your dogs skin can become dry and irritated. As a result, your dog will be scratching against walls and other surfaces, leaving hair and dead skin all over the place.

Ensure that you have an excellent brush or shedding tool for your pitbull to help you get rid of all excess fur during the shedding season because American Pitbull Terriers are heavy shedders.

Consider the FURminator Undercoat Deshedding Tool. Its stainless steel de-shedding edge reaches through the coat to quickly and safely remove all the loose hair and undercoat without hurting the skin if you use it as directed.

Contain Your Pets Hair

Containing your pets hair means controlling shed-off points.

Dogs shed off more hair while asleep, meaning the best place to manage their hair shedding is in the areas where they sleep.

Containing your dogs hair makes it easier for you to clean every morning and prevents the hair from scattering all over the house.

You cant achieve this control measure without training your pet first, meaning you need to introduce your American Pitbull Terrier to sleeping in one specific place at all times, whether napping or taking long hours of sleep.

Keep Your House Clean

If you take care of your dog without considering your space, your work is in vain. Keeping your house clean at all times will significantly help to keep pet allergies at bay.

Vacuum your carpets and couches daily to get rid of pet hair.

Apart from vacuuming and cleaning sofa sets and carpets, ensure that you change your bedding daily if you sleep with your dog. That way, you reduce the chances of accumulating pet hair in your room.

Better yet, if you can, dont welcome your dog to your room. By doing that, you wont be troubled in your bedroom, and itll remain your safe place.

As a way of promoting cleanliness, teach your American Pitbull Terrier to stay away from your sofa sets. Itll reduce your exposure to dog hair.

Practice Personal Hygiene

Ensure to wash your hands or take a full-body bath after handling your pet. Every time you do that, you remove any hair the dog could have left on you.

Washing your hands protects you from the irritation of touching your face with contaminated hands.

Use Medication To Control Your Allergies

A physician may recommend any of the following medications to help control allergies:

• Antihistamine: These medicines work wonders on allergic reactions. They help minimize the harshness of irritation caused by allergens. You can find them in different forms, such as sprays, tablets, eye drops, or creams. Whichever you choose to buy depends on the area affected. Antihistamine medications are readily available in your nearest pharmacy.

• Decongestants: These medicines help reduce inflammation on the nasal passages, making breathing through the nose easier.

Final Thoughts

American Pitbull Terriers can be bad for allergy sufferers. They shed off hair and dander, causing allergic reactions.

However, having allergic reactions shouldnt be the reason for you not to keep your favorite dog since there are ways to control the intensity of the allergies. Keeping an American Pitbull Terrier shouldnt be a problem as long as you adhere to the laid-out guidelines of controlling allergies.

I created this blog to share my passion for bullies, and help current and future pitbull owners with things like diet and education.

Hope you find it useful, dont hesitate to drop a comment on my articles!