Signs of Immune System Problems in your Dog

Immune system problems in dogs can be complicated to deal with especially if you do not know what to do.

To be able to understand better, we need to explain how the immune system of your furbaby works.

Types of Immune System Disorders in Dogs

To become a healthy dog, your dog's immune system should be able to function properly. But the bad news is, it does not ALWAYS function properly that's why our furbabies are faced with immune system disorders. These diseases happen when the immune system is either under-active or overactive. Disorders from an under-active immune system are called immunodeficiencies. While the ones from an overactive immune system attack parts of the body misidentifying it as a foreign invader.

Immune System Disorders of your furbaby can be categorized as:

Type I Reactions (Anaphylaxis). These are immune system disorders that are triggered by mast cells and antibodies. It includes immediate allergic reactions to something your furbaby has inhaled, eaten or has been injected with.

Signs include but not limited to:

• swelling of the face
• vomiting
• difficulty breathing
• sudden collapse
• restlessness
• convulsions

Type II Reactions (Antibody-mediated Reactions). These disorders happen when an immune system's antibody has attached together with an antigen in the cells. These disorders are triggered by infections, resulting in tissue and cell damage.

Signs of these immune problems in dogs include but not limited to:

• rash
• chills
• itching
• fever

Type III Reactions (Immune Complex Disease). These immune system disorders occur when antibody-antigen complexes stay in certain organs of your furbaby and cause great damage to the blood vessels. These disorders include cancer and persistent infections.

Signs include but not limited to:

• swollen joints
• abdominal pain
• diarrhea
• skin lesions
• behavioral changes

Type IV Reactions (Cell-mediated Reactions). This type is also known as delayed hypersensitivity. Delayed hypersensitivity is a common immune response that transpires through the direct action of T cells when stimulated by association with an antigen.

Signs include but not limited to:

• fever
• malaise
• wheezing
• difficulty breathing

Immune system problems in dogs can be life-threatening if not given attention immediately. But know that you can always make your furbaby's life a lot easier.

Proper Management of Immune System Problems in Dogs

Here are what you can do to help alleviate immune system problems' symptoms and help your furbaby get back on track:

Prescription Foods.

A dog with an immune system problem needs the type of diet that greatly depends on his diagnosis and symptoms.

Talk to your vet so he can give you the right foods for your dog.

For example, if your furbaby has an immune system problem that includes diarrhea in its symptoms, your vet may provide a dairy-free, bland diet for the regulation of his bowel health.

And since a number of immune system problems in dogs cause diarrhea and gastrointestinal upset, letting your furbaby wear dog diapers or belly bands and supporting it with pee pads in places your dog usually rests on or sleeps, is great for no leakage and messy clean-ups at all.

Supplements for immune support for dogs.

You can provide Pet Parents® Dog Multivitamin that will provide your furbaby with beneficial ingredients that help promote powerful daily health support. Aside from promoting skin & coat health, hip & joint support, digestive function, and heart health, it has an Immune Complex that contains Vitamin A, C & E and may help provide antioxidant support to promote immune health for your furbaby.

You can also give him Pet Parents® Probiotic Supplement for dogs that will provide your furbaby with valuable nutrients that can help support his immune & digestive health because, as not all of us are aware of, the gut is the largest part of the immune system.

Note: Pet Parents® Dog Multivitamin and Probiotic supplement do not cure immune system problems, but they do provide immune support for dogs.