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AllergiesJanuary 29th, 2011
Dog allergies of all kinds are just as common in dogs as they are in humans. Dog skin allergies are one of the most common forms of allergies that you may experience. These allergies are characterized by having your pet chew, lick and paw at her itchy skin, her eyes and nose may have some sort of discharge (usually a clear discharge) and there may be digestive upsets involved. Skin lesions are another sign that your dog is probably suffering allergies of skin.
What Causes Dog Skin Allergies?
All allergies are a result of our immune system being hypersensitive to some sort of substance (which is referred to as an antigen or allergen). Dog skin allergies can show up at any point of your dog’s life, though they tend to come about during the first five years of your dog’s life.
The most common of the dog skin allergies involves dog fleas. The saliva of dog fleas will often cause the area of skin where the bite occurred to become incredibly itchy and irritating.
There are also atopic dog skin allergies, which is the result of your pet inhaling some sort of substance that does not agree with their immune system. These allergens are similar to the inhaled allergens that bother humans, such as dust, mold, dander, and pollen. This type of allergy usually is noticeable when your pet is quite young (under 6 months in age) The best way to try and stop atopic allergies is to keep your home and the area that the dog lives in very clean and well ventilated.
How are Dog Skin Allergies Diagnosed?
Where the skin lesions are present on the body will often help the veterinarian decide if your dog has an allergy or not. Your veterinarian may also put your dog on some sort of a flea medication, and different foods may be tried so as to rule out whether or not your dog is having a dog food allergy rather than an allergy of skin. Blood tests and allergy testing may also be involved in more complex cases.
How do you Treat dog Skin Allergies?
Unfortunately, allergies are very rarely “cured”; it’s more a matter of trying to control them and to keep them in check. Antihistamines as well as corticosteroids are popular ways to treat allergies, though some pet owners are also choosing “immunotherapy”. This type of therapy is a bit controversial as it is not guaranteed to work, though if it does, it will take up to 12 months to work properly.
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AllergiesJanuary 6th, 2010
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.
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