Dog Skin Allergies

Bernie’s Perfect Poop can naturally alleviate dog skin allergies

If your dog is suffering from excessive scratching or licking, you may suspect skin allergies. How can Bernie’s Perfect Poop naturally help alleviate skin allergies in dogs?
Photo of Bernie's Perfect Poop grass bits up close.

Allergic reactions are immune system reactions. Your dog either encounters an allergen through inhalation, ingestion or contact. Any of those three encounters can cause what seems to be an allergic skin reaction. But, when a dog’s digestive system is balanced, his immune system is healthier. He is less likely to react to common allergens because his body can more effectively eliminate toxins and allergens. This can help strengthen his immunity and improve skin and coat allergic reactions to dog skin allergies.
Much of the food we give our dogs today is quality food but still needs help to be properly digested. This means it needs the right amount of high-quality fiber as well. The perfect combination of Miscanthus grass, pumpkin and flaxseed in Bernie’s gives your dog the fiber to move food through the digestive tract and get rid of allergens and irritants that may irritate your dog and cause him to struggle with an allergic reaction.
Over 70% of your dog’s immune system is controlled by your dog’s microbiome (gut). When your dog’s gut is unbalanced, he may struggle with irritation and inflammation. This is what can cause excessive dog skin allergic reactions like licking, scratching, hot spots and more. To help balance your dog’s microbiome and to strengthen his gut, pre-and probiotics encourage a thriving gut flora. When your dog’s microbiome has the right balance of beneficial bacteria, it can help reduce inflammation and irritation. It can also help keep gut walls strengthened and prevent allergic reactions from occurring.
Your dog’s cells need nutrients. When your dog cannot easily break his food down, he won’t fully absorb all the nutrients, and some of the unbroken-down food can even be seen by your dog’s immune system as an ‘invader.’ This is what allergens are seen as, and your dog’s immune system reacts to protect him. The combination of digestive enzymes in Bernie’s Perfect Poop will help break down the food your dog eats from the first bite—meaning it’s more absorbable for proper nutrition and less likely to cause an allergic reaction or irritation.
Bernie’s Perfect Poop is the perfect 4-in-1 combination of fiber, prebiotics, probiotics, and enzymes. Good dog gut health is key to battling skin allergies in dogs. Too often, a dog who excessively scratches or licks or shows other signs of allergic reaction like hot spots or sores, is suffering from an unbalanced gut microbiome. Bernie’s Perfect Poop helps balance the digestive tract and provides a better gut microbiome. This means fewer irritations and allergic reactions for your dog.

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What other pet parents say

My pup had several episodes of soft stools. I attempted so many supplements and vitamins and oils. I was so frustrated. I changed his food to several different expensive brands but his stools still weren’t formed well. His allergies were also acting up; he was licking his paws raw. I know if you’re reading this, just like me, you love your fur baby. I just wanted him to feel and actually be better and healthy.. Finally I found Bernie’s Perfect Poop, and my Scooter is doing amazing. His stool , his overall health including his allergies are so improved. When I adopted my 9 year old boy, I thought his soft stool was just normal for him. Since using this supplement probiotic, his stool is finally formed and normal. His breath is amazing, and his farts are gone. Even when he does, there’s no putrid smell. I am so grateful. So happy! So grateful! Please give it a try. Your fur baby deserves the best. – Carolina

What are skin allergies in dogs?

When your dog has skin allergies, you’ll likely hear a lot of scratching, itching and even whining. Also called canine atopic dermatitis, it’s a condition that brings on an allergic reaction in your dog when he’s exposed to a triggering allergen. Whether it’s inhaled, ingested or simply comes in contact with your dog, it’s not just the result of an allergen in your dog’s environment. It’s more the reaction your dog has to any given allergen and that largely depends on your dog’s gut health. Common dog allergies that can make them struggle with skin reactions include flea allergy or environmental allergies from mold, grass, or pollen. For some dogs, it’s not the flea bite itself that will cause the excessive itching (though the bites themselves do itch) as much as the flea’s saliva that causes his immune system to release too much histamine to battle it. When he comes in contact with things like mold, grass or pollen, his immune system may also see those as invaders looking to harm him and will react with an overproduction of histamine. This is why he’s licking and scratching and even creating hot spots because of his excessive licking and scratching.

The symptoms of skin allergies include:

Excessive scratching
Reddened skin
Patchy hair loss
Hot spots
Asthma
Hives
Lumps bumps
Facial Swelling
Gastrointestinal problems (including diarrhea, constipation and vomiting)

Common skin allergy causes in dogs

Typically, allergic symptoms happen when your dog’s immune system overreacts. It is an overreaction to a ‘perceived’ invader or something it sees as a danger to your dog. With skin allergies, it could be food, environmental triggers, bites or more. Your dog’s immune system will erroneously see those things as foreign substances that need to be taken care of and it’ll initiate a response that produces histamine. This histamine will also be accompanied by inflammation that may make your dog cough, sneeze, vomit, or rash.

Possible causes of dog allergy	Can Perfect Poop help?
Food allergies	Yes
Medications	Yes
Heavy metals	Yes
Flea allergies	Yes
Parasites	Yes
Yeast overgrowth	Yes
Leaky Gut	Yes
Environmental allergies (pollen, mold, etc.)
Soaps, shampoo, wool, leather, plastic/rubber dishes, insecticides, fertilizers, carpet fibers

Illustration of Bernie sitting and smiling.

If your dog’s skin allergies aren’t treated, they can lick, scratch or even chew/bite excessively. This can be a perfect breeding ground for a hot spot or infection. If your dog is biting at his skin (especially paws, anus, etc.), or you notice warm, reddened skin or hair loss, it’s a good idea to see your veterinarian to ensure there’s nothing more serious going on.

More information about dog skin allergies

Dogs who suffer from skin allergies also have affected immune systems. The immune system is so intricately connected to your dog’s gut, and that’s why an unhealthy gut often means a weaker immune system. When the immune system is unbalanced, it may overreact with inflammatory responses (releases of histamine) and this may be what causes your dog to scratch, lick and whine with pain. According to Eddy Beltram, DVM, of the Blair Animal Hospital in Ottawa, “Allergies are of gut origin unless proven otherwise. Lungs, feet, ears, and skin are the tip of the iceberg. The problem is in the bowel.” If your dog’s digestive system is unbalanced, it simply can’t release toxins appropriately. Your dog’s largest organ is his skin. If he cannot remove toxins through organs like his liver and kidneys because they’re overwhelmed, his skin will take on the task. That effort to eliminate toxins through the skin is what causes the reddened areas, the inflammation and the itching. All these signs point to imbalanced gut health.

Fiber may help with canine skin allergies

A dog’s digestive tract is where he begins to eliminate toxins. If his digestive system is balanced, he won’t have over- or under-reactive allergen responses to triggers. He will be able to eliminate toxins effectively without having to rely on his skin to do so. Adding premium fiber to your dog’s diet can help as well.

Fiber aids your dog’s digestive system and moves food through at the appropriate speed for maximum nutrient absorption. The right combination of insoluble and soluble fiber, like in Bernie’s Perfect Poop, helps build a more robust and healthier digestive system and gut. The Miscanthus grass, flaxseed and pumpkin can help prevent adverse allergic reactions because more food is digested and moved through his system properly. A diet rich in quality fiber helps create the healthiest gut flora he can have.

Prebiotics and probiotics may help dog skin allergies

Your dog’s digestive tract is loaded with bacteria. Some of the bacteria are harmful while other bacteria are highly beneficial. When your dog’s microbiome is balanced, that means there are enough beneficial bacteria present to ensure the harmful bacteria is kept to a minimum and doesn’t overwhelm your dog’s gut.

However, when it’s not balanced, harmful bacteria can crowd out helpful bacteria and make his intestinal lining weak. Think of helpful bacteria as the defenders of your dog’s intestinal tract. They allow nutrients to be absorbed by the bloodstream. They also prevent harmful bacteria, virus, allergens and more from entering the bloodstream and causing a reaction. If your dog’s gut has too little of this helpful bacteria, his immune response may not be as strong as it needs to be to prevent allergic triggers to cause a canine skin allergy reaction. Instead, his immune system may recognize unbroken down food and other allergens as invaders and send histamine to protect him. This causes an excess of histamine in his system and that’s why your vet may recommend an antihistamine for dog skin allergy relief.

Prebiotics and probiotics are key supplements to helping your dog’s gut health be at its strongest and healthiest. Prebiotics and probiotics balance your dog’s digestive tract bacteria and microbiome. One prebiotic in Bernie’s Perfect Poop is Inulin, which acts as a fertilizer to feed the good bacteria in your dog’s lower digestive tract. Additionally, an added bonus of the Miscanthus grass as the main fiber ingredient is that it has Xylooligosaccharides (XOS). The XOS prebiotic in Miscanthus grass has been clinically proven to add beneficial bacteria (and prohibit the growth of bad bacteria) in the gut.

Probiotics are the good bacteria in your dog’s gut. When you add the probiotics in Bernie’s Perfect Poop to each of your dog’s meals, you’re ensuring that there are plenty of good bacteria to fight inflammation and irritation that come from an allergic reaction. With proper nutrition and supplementation, good bacteria thrive and keep your dog’s gut healthy and balanced. This will also help keep their immune response appropriate when it comes in contact with triggers.

Enzymes may help with your dog’s reaction to skin allergies

Enzymes in Bernie’s Perfect Poop will help your dog’s digestive tract break food down better. This can help your dog’s skin allergies. When your dog’s food is broken down better, they are able to absorb more nutrients. Additionally, one of the enzymes found in Bernie’s Perfect Poop is Bromelain, a natural antihistamine and anti-inflammatory. The added digestive enzymes in Perfect Poop will help boost his immune system and this may help reduce symptoms brought on by skin allergies.

Other ways to help

Baths, oatmeal especially
Flea protection regularly
Avoidance of allergen
Use of hypoallergenic dog shampoos
Food elimination diets
Allergy shots
Anti-itch medicines (if flare-ups occur)
Benadryl (vets recommend 1 mg/lb. dosage)
Feed quality foods
Make sure your dog is hydrated
Keep your dog well-groomed
Keep your dog’s ears clean and dry

Additional reading

Related terms

Dog hot spot / canine hot spot
Atopic dermatitis
Doggy dandruff
Canine dermatitis
Itchy skin
Reddened dog skin
Canine hair loss
Canine skin irritation
Itchy butt
Licking disorder