Our pets are our “furry family.”  But like our human family members, our pets can suffer from allergies.  Contact allergens are, by far, the most common of pet allergies, but inhalant (or ingested) allergies can also affect our pets.

Inhalant allergies are generally allergic reactions to food and/or oral drugs.  Most ingested allergens are derived from your pet’s food – but not from what you might think!  The majority of a pet’s allergic reactions from food come not from the coloring or preservatives in the food, but rather from the meat, dairy, or grain products from which their food is comprised.

Inhalant allergens also include a reaction to medication given by mouth, as well as an episode precipitated by your pet “snacking” on a plant.

Surprisingly, an allergic reaction to food can take anywhere from seven days to ten years to exhibit!  Therefore, it is often one of the last things you, as an owner, may suspect.  (After all, if your pet has been eating the same brand/type of food for several years, it’s not going to “top of mind” when considering what caused your pet to become ill.)  As is the case whenever your pet becomes ill, it is wise to take them to your veterinarian to correctly diagnose the problem and begin treating your pet to get them back on the road to recovery!  (Many veterinary pet insurance plans cover the lab work/tests and medications required to treat your pet’s allergies.)

An allergic reaction to medication or plant ingestion will manifest much more quickly. Felines and canines share identical symptoms including an itchy rash, and possibly diarrhea and vomiting. Additionally, your cat may also have an excessively oily coat.

Fortunately, treatment for this type of allergy is relatively simple. If your pet has a reaction to a plant, just remove the plant from your pet’s “realm.” If it is an allergy to a medication, your veterinarian may suggest an antihistamine, in conjunction with the medication, until it is finished.

Often, food allergies are treated by implementing a bland, hypoallergenic diet for your pet. Many pet supply stores offer hypoallergenic foods, which usually consist of rice and boiled chicken or lamb. Using distilled water for your pet instead of tap water is also recommended, as the minerals and chemicals in tap water can also cause a reaction. Your pet’s symptoms should subside within a week.  However, if your pet continues to scratch incessantly, you may want to consider a veterinary dermatologist for further testing.

For the younger set a sore throat often means a day off from school, a television tuned to the Cartoon Network, and an extra bowl of ice cream. It almost makes the suffering seem worthwhile. Grown-ups, of course, don’t have the time for such pampering. We go about our daily business, thinking we can tough out the rawness, burning, and scratchiness that make it painful to talk, much less swallow food. But by day’s end, the sore throat has left us virtually speechless. We do tend to think that sore throat as kid stuff. But the fact is that every year about 40 million adults come down with one. Usually it is a symptom of a viral or bacterial infection. But it can also be instigated by irritants such as stomach acid, tobacco smoke, smog, dry heat, dust, pollen, and other allergens. Overuse is also a factor. Here are some tips that you can consider to adopt to relieve your soreness.

1. Address Any Allergies

Common allergies can cause postnasal drip, which irritates the throat. A throat that is itchy, not just painful, points to an allergic condition. If you have an allergy, an over-the-counter antihistamine may help relieve your symptoms. Antihistamine can have a drying effect, so be sure to increase your fluid intake while you are on the medication. They can also make you drowsy.

2. Line Up A Lozenge

Not all throat lozenges are created equal. The best ones contain glycerine. It keeps the throat tissue well-hydrated. You may find these lozenges at health food stores or specialty drugstores. It is also recommended avoiding lozenges that contain either mint or menthol. Both ingredients tend to be drying and are bad for the larynx.

3. Treat Your Beak

A stuffed-up nose can force you to breathe through your mouth, which irritates your throat. So taking an over-the-counter decongestant may help ease your sore throat as well.

4. Get Steamed

You can also keep your throat tissue moist with the help of steam. It is recommended that you run hot water in your kitchen or bathroom sink, then drape a towel over your head to trap the steam and inhale. Or you could just turn up the hot water in the shower to create a steam bath.

5. Have Some Tea, Honey

Tea with honey is a traditional sore throat remedy. You can boost its therapeutic benefits with this spicy twist. Stir into your tea 1 tablespoon of honey and the juice of half a lemon, then add ground red pepper to taste. The pepper probably has a mild anesthetic effect. It also stimulates the immune system.

6. Turn Down The Volume

If you must talk, then refrain from using your voice in an unnatural way. Do not try to talk over the loud noises. And do not try to project your voice at a pitch that is out of your range.

7. Think Twice About Gargling

Gargling can actually aggravate and prolongs a sore throat. Doing it once or twice with salt water might make you feel better by increasing blood flow to the throat area. But doing it regularly, especially mouthwash, can be very irritating. If you opt for an occasional saltwater rinse, then it is recommended to have a solution of ¼ teaspoon of salt in ½ cup of water. Just be sure to only rinse with, not swallow, the salt water.