The Dirty Secrets Behind 3 Popular Allergy Relief Products for Dogs

Do you secretly feel guilty whenever you see your dog scratching, itching, and rubbing due to allergies? Do you wish there was something you could do to help bring them relief so they could enjoy the spring weather without the miserable symptoms?

There are plenty of allergy relief products for dogs out there, and the manufacturers of these products want you to believe they’re the perfect solution for your dog’s allergy problem. But are they really?

Let’s take a look at the dirty secrets behind 3 allergy relief products for dogs—and learn why these popular products might not be all they’re cracked up to be.

1: Antihistamines Aren't As Effective As You Might Think

Antihistamines like Benadryl are among the most commonly used allergy medications for a reason: they’re easy. If your dog’s allergies are making them miserable, you can give them some Benadryl and in 30 minutes they’ll probably start to feel better. There’s also a good chance they’ll take a nap.

But Benadryl—and other, similar antihistamines—don’t treat the root cause of allergies. It’s temporary. And that means your dog’s newfound relief won’t last long.

It can also be potentially dangerous if you don’t give your dog the right dose. Side effects can include increased heart rate, rapid breathing, urinary retention and more. It’s even possible for dogs to overdose on antihistamines.

To be fair, overdosing on Benadryl isn’t common, and as long as you give the right dose as prescribed by your vet, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.

But there’s another big problem with Benadryl as an allergy relief product for dogs, and this might just be the worst one yet:

It’s just not very effective.

Several studies have shown that antihistamines (like Benadryl) are often not very effective at treating allergic itchiness in dogs.^1,2 They’ve also been shown to be ineffective at treating allergic itch flare-ups.³

Benadryl isn’t the worst thing in the world. And depending on your dog’s symptoms, it might be an OK solution once in a while. But if itchy skin is one of your dog’s allergy symptoms, you’re better off looking elsewhere.

2: Hypoallergenic Shampoo Is a Lot of Work for So-So Results

So if antihistamines aren’t great at treating itchy skin due to allergies, what about hypoallergenic shampoos? Those are perfect for treating itchy skin, right?

Well…maybe—if you have time to give your dog frequent baths.

But before we get into that, let’s step back and ask a basic question: do hypoallergenic shampoos even work?

The answer is: it depends. Some “hypoallergenic shampoos” are really just gentle shampoos that don’t contain any known allergens. They might help improve your dog’s symptoms simply by virtue of rinsing allergens off their skin, but they don’t actually contain any effective allergy-fighting ingredients.

Other hypoallergenic shampoos are more potent, and can contain active ingredients that effectively provide some relief for itchy skin. The only problem, though, is that they need to be used several times a week.

Now, be honest: do you really have the time or the inclination to give your dog a bath 3-4 times a week? Every week? Even the best owners in the world would struggle to keep that up over the long haul.

This isn’t to dismiss these shampoos altogether. They might be especially helpful if your dog has a particularly bad rash or itch, for instance. But for long-term use, they’re just not convenient enough to stick with.

3: Most "Allergy Products" Are Just Cleverly Marketed Multivitamins

If you search Google or Amazon for allergy relief products for dogs, you’ll see no shortage of results containing products promising to fix your dog’s allergy problem like magic.

Like all “miracle cures,” these ought to make you skeptical.

The vast majority of popular allergy products for dogs online are little more than multivitamins marketed as allergy relief solutions.

Their effectiveness depends on the product and the ingredients. It’s true that there are a handful of extracts that have been shown to be helpful in relieving allergies in dogs, such as nettle root and the antioxidant quercetin.

But most products online feature ingredients like fish oil and vitamin C because they’re more marketable and less expensive.

Unfortunately, they’re also not very effective at relieving allergies.

That’s not to say these products aren’t “good” for your dog. Fish oil and vitamin C are perfectly healthy supplements. Just don’t pay extra for the allergy relief marketing on the label.

The Little-Known Secret to Stopping Your Dog's Allergies at the Source

If there’s a common thread between the 3 dirty secrets we’ve shared in this article, it’s the fact that none of those popular allergy products actually treat allergies at the source. At best, they’re Band-Aids—which means that even if they do work, they’re not so much preventing your dog’s symptoms as covering them up.

But now that we’ve shared the dirty little secret behind allergy products, it’s time to share the little-known secret of an allergy relief product that DOES treat allergies at the source.

These blood plasma-infused dog treats are still fairly under-the-radar, but they’re rapidly gaining popularity due to their ability to give your dog the powerful and proven health benefits of blood plasma injections—but without the high cost and hassle.

Farmers have known about the immense benefits of blood plasma injections for 40+ years now. They use it to help keep work animals alive during times of stress and high physical exertion.

Then in 2013, blood plasma products made their way into the performance horse market, where they boosted performance so much that leading trainers and riders began calling it “a performance revolution.”

Most importantly for you, blood plasma’s mechanism of action also works to reduce the inflammation that leads to allergy problems. That’s a big reason why these blood plasma-infused treats are so effective at providing allergy relief in dogs.

The Only Blood Plasma-Infused Treats on the Market

If you want to see just how well blood plasma-infused treats work to relieve your dog’s nagging allergy symptoms, there’s currently only one option available. Fortunately, it’s a well-formulated and highly reviewed treat made with a generous 2,500 mg of porcine blood plasma along with 3 natural allergy-fighting extracts:

• Pineapple stem to promote healing and calm inflammation

• Nettle root extract to minimize pain and soothe irritation

• Plant-based quercetin to act as a natural, side-effect-free antihistamine

They’re made by WINPRO, a trusted name in canine products that abides by the strictest USDA and FDA regulations. They’re refreshingly transparent about their formula and provide scientific proof of their products’ effectiveness online.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Scientific Sources

1. Hsiao Y-H, Chen C, Willemse T. Effects of cetirizine in dogs with chronic atopic dermatitis: a randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled trail. J Vet Sci. 2016;17(4):549-553.

2. Marsella R, Sousa CA, Gonzalez AJ, Fadok VA. Current understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of canine atopic dermatitis. JAVMA. 2012;241(2):194-207.

3. Olivry T, DeBoer DJ, Favrot C, et al; for the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals. Treatment of canine atopic dermatitis: 2015 updated guidelines from the International Committee on Allergic Diseases of Animals (ICADA). BMC Vet Med Assoc. 2015;241(2):194-207.