Allergies in Pets

Allergies in Pets

               Dogs and cats can suffer from many types of allergies including food allergies, contact allergies, and allergies to things in their environment.  In fact, allergies are one of the most common causes of itching in our pets.  Allergies can cause red, itchy skin, hair loss, scabs and odor to the skin.

               Food allergies can cause both itchy skin and intestinal problems for pets.  Most pets become allergic to the protein source in their food—chicken, beef and dairy are the top allergies we see in companion animals.  Pets may become allergic to these proteins even after years of eating the same food.  Many pets with food allergies may develop chronic ear infections, be itchy around the head, neck and face and may have digestive issues such as vomiting or diarrhea. Food allergy rarely has anything to do with the brand or quality of pet food.  Diagnosis is best made by performing a food trial.  Pets are fed a hydrolyzed diet (proteins are modified to prevent inciting an immune response in the body) for 2-3 months.   If allergic symptoms disappear during this time on the novel diet, a food allergy is diagnosed.  Tests on hair, saliva or blood samples are not considered to be accurate ways of diagnosing food allergy in pets.  Pets may then be challenged with individual ingredients to determine which foods they are allergic to, or they may continue to eat the restricted diet long term.

               Allergies to plants such as grasses, trees, weeds and molds are extremely common and often have a seasonal pattern.  Dogs and cats with environmental allergies typically have more severe symptoms during the spring and fall. Some pets can be managed with anti-itch medications such as Apoquel, Cytopoint or Atopica (cyclosporine).  Antihistamines typically have minimal effect on pets in reducing itching but may help if itching is mild or if the pet has sneezing or watery nose or eyes.  Steroids such as prednisone are used less frequently now that newer medications are available as steroid can have significant side effects such as increased drinking and urination but they may still have their place in treating some forms of itching and allergies. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections are common in pets with allergies and must also be treated properly to allow the skin to heal and reduce the itch.

               Pets may also be allergic to fleas, to other insects such as ants or cockroaches, dust mites and some may have contact allergies to fabrics like wool, to cleaning solutions/detergents or to other fabrics or things they come in contact with.  It’s also important to rule out parasites like demodex and sarcoptic mange.

               It is often not possible to remove allergens from the pet’s environment, but, veterinarians can provide a number of treatments to make pets more comfortable and reduce that itch.  As stated, anti-itch drugs are the mainstay in treating allergies but medicated shampoos, omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil) and good quality flea and tick preventatives are also very important in treating and preventing allergies in pets.

               If your pet is itchy, make an appointment with your veterinarian to make sure any skin infections are properly treated and to try to determine the cause of the itch.  Allergies cannot be cured, but most can be managed with proper veterinary care and owner dedication.

               This blog brought to you by the Patton Veterinary Hospital serving Red Lion, York and the surrounding communities.

 https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/dog-allergies-symptoms-treatment/