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The Dirty Secrets Behind 3 Popular Allergy Relief Products for Dogs

Do you ever feel guilty when you see your dog scratching, itching, and paw licking? Do you wish there was something you could do to help bring them relief so they could enjoy their environment without miserable symptoms?

There are plenty of allergy 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

Over-the-counter antihistamines are one of the most commonly used allergy options for dogs for a reason: they're easy.

If your dog's allergies are making them miserable, you can give them some antihistamines and in 30 minutes they'll probably start to feel better.

There's also a good chance they'll take a nap.

But antihistamines don't target the root cause of allergy symptoms. They're temporary, and that means your dog's newfound relief won't last long.

They can also be potentially dangerous if you don't give your dog the right amount. 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 isn't common, and as long as you give them the right amount as prescribed by your vet, you shouldn't have anything to worry about.

But there's another big problem with antihistamines as an allergy relief product for dogs, and this one might be the worse one yet.

It's just not very effective.

Several studies have shown that antihistamines  are often not very effective at managing allergic itchiness in dogs. ^1.2

They’ve also been shown to be ineffective at relieving allergic itch flare-ups.³

Antihistamines aren'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 managing itchy skin due to allergies, what about hypoallergenic shampoos? Those are perfect for relieving 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 Managing 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 target allergy symptoms 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 product that DOES manage allergies at the source.

These blood plasma-infused dog chews 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 for 40+ years now. They use it to help keep work animals healthy 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 manage the inflammation that leads to allergy problems.

That’s a big reason why these blood plasma-infused chews are so effective at providing allergy support dogs.

The Only Blood Plasma-Infused Chews on the Market

If you want to see just how well blood plasma-infused treats work to manage your dog’s nagging allergy symptoms, there’s currently only one option available.

Fortunately, it’s a well-formulated and highly reviewed supplement 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.