One of our dogs has a mild allergy. We think he's allergic to dry, decomposing leaves because the only time he has trouble is after he's been pushing his nose through (and under) layers of old tree leaves. The only symptom is that Lobo's upper eyelid - usually only one lid - will swell up. He looks rather odd, and it took a while for us to realize what was happening!
Check out this picture to the right, where his swollen right eye shows, to another picture(normal), below.
Check out this picture to the right, where his swollen right eye shows, to another picture(normal), below.
This snow picture is from 2005, but shows you that both eyes look the same. One article about allergies in dogs, this one: http://www.homevet.com/petcare/allergy.html, gives reasons for a dog's allergies and possible treatments of the allergy. Dr. Feinman mentions inhaled allergens, for instance, as one type of allergy (versus contact allergy or food allergy - among others). The inhaled allergen for a dog can be similar to the inhaled allergen for a person. Putting a name to this type of allergy: Atopy (inhalant allergy).
Personally, I am quite allergic to dust mites, and I react with sneezing, runny nose, and swollen eyes. Apparently, Lobo is allergic to something about the decomposing leaves. He will sneeze, shake his head, and then we'll notice the eyelid swelling. The swelling lasts several hours, but does not seem to bother him, so we don't treat him with any medications. Another web page I've looked at is: http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/allergies.html. If your dog has more severe allergies than ours, you should see your veterinarian first. The vet may recommend a treatment such as an anti-inflammatory, a shampooing or a hyposensitization therapy. Each of these therapies is discussed in brief in the above mentioned web pages. But talk to your veterinarian before trying anything on your own!
