Allergies & Cures

Unlike people, pets aren’t suffering from watery eyes, runny nose and sneezing when dealing with an allergy. Instead, they are more likely to experience hair loss and itchy skin. There are 4 main ways your pet may be exposed to various allergens that can trigger his allergy. For instance, dogs and cats may experience strong allergies due to flea bites. Even if there is no infestation, just one flea bite may cause an allergic reaction. So, you will notice that your pet begins to lick, scratch and even chew at his own skin soon after he has been bitten by a flea. Also, you may notice patches of hair loss. Once you know that your pet is allergic to flea bites, you will have to treat him for fleas and do this at your home too in order to get the most out of the prescribed treatment.

Another allergic reaction that may affect your pet is the contact dermatitis – an allergic condition that can be caused by substances that touch your pet’s skin. Some of the triggers that can cause such allergic reactions in your pet are wool, plastic, grass and a wide range of chemicals used in carpet cleaning or lawn care. This contact dermatitis is to be regarded as a common cause of allergic reactions in cats and dogs, but it is also the easiest to prevent. Inhalants may cause serious difficulty in breathing for a pet – inhalant allergies are also known as Atopy and are the most common ones in the case of dogs.

Also, a dog or cat may suffer from irritated and itchy skin due to the seasonal changes – for instance, a pet may develop allergic reactions to pollen, dust, smoke and mold spores. One of the most difficult to diagnose allergies that may affect your dog or cat is the one triggered by food. A food allergy comes with itchy skin and other problems that may be caused by the constant scratching. If other allergies cannot be confirmed in the case of your pet, you will have to do your best and help your vet to determine the exact food ingredients that trigger the allergic reactions in your pet.

Some of the most common foods that may trigger an allergy in your pet are milk, wheat, soy, beef and chicken – and, as you may see, each of these ingredients may be found in commercial pet foods. So, you will have to switch to a particular food formula for your dog or cat – the vet may recommend you one or you will have to take care and prepare a special homemade diet for your beloved pet.  Once you notice that your pet shows allergy signs, you will have to take him to the veterinarian in order to get prescribed with a particular treatment.

For instance, the veterinarian may prescribe several antihistamines that may be similar to the ones used in the case of people suffering from various allergies. Also, the vet may prescribe your pet a special steroid treatment – a topical one or a pill. However, steroid treatments are more likely to come along with side effects that may include increased urination and thirst  and this is the main reason why steroids are not used for long term treatments. Another alternative treatment for the allergy in your pet is desensitization – your pet will be given a special injection under his skin over a determined period of time. The injection will contain the allergy causing substance in order to build the animal’s future resistance to that particular allergen.