Spring is in the air! And unfortunately, that means seasonally high amounts of pollen, ragweed, and mold are also in the air. If you’ve noticed your pet suddenly seems itchier, sneezier, or wheezier, allergies may be the culprit. This month, we’re looking at how to diagnose and manage your pet’s allergy symptoms to help keep them happy and healthy all year round.
Types of Pet Allergies
Allergies occur when the immune system overreacts to typically harmless substances (AKA allergens). When pets with allergies come into contact with an allergen, their immune system mistakenly identifies it as a threat. This leads to inflammation, itching, and other allergic reactions. Just like people, pets can have different types of allergies with different symptoms and severities. The three most common types are environmental, food, and flea allergies.
Environmental Allergies: Environmental allergens include things like tree pollens, dust mites, grasses, ragweed, and molds. These allergens can be inhaled, as with pollen, or absorbed through the skin when your pet comes into contact with them.
Flea Allergies: Though all flea bites cause some itching and irritation, dogs with a flea allergy can have a severe reaction with even one bite. More specifically, flea allergies are a hypersensitive reaction to proteins in the flea’s saliva.
Food Allergies: Pets can develop food allergies at any time throughout their lives. Most often, the allergy will be to a specific ingredient in the food. Most commonly, dogs will develop an allergy to a common protein source in their diet, like chicken or beef.
Contact Allergies: Some pets can have allergic reactions to common household items, like laundry detergents, cleaning products, or certain types of bedding material.
Allergy Symptoms
Allergy symptoms are highly dependent on the type and severity of your pet’s allergies. Most commonly, pets with allergies will have:
- Respiratory symptoms: Sneezing, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and a runny or stuffy nose. In extreme cases, anaphylaxis (a severe allergic reaction) can occur.
- Skin symptoms: Red, inflamed or infected skin, excessive scratching and chewing, fur loss, or recurrent skin and ear infections.
- Gastrointestinal symptoms: Vomiting, diarrhea, and loss of appetite.
- Uncommon symptoms: Behavioral changes like restlessness, pacing, or acting less social than usual.
What To Do If Your Pet Has Allergies
Dogs and cats of any breed, age, or lifestyle can suffer from allergies. While there’s no cure, there are treatment options to help pets with allergies live more comfortably.
Diagnosis & Treatment
If you suspect your pet has allergies, the first step is to get in touch with your veterinarian. They can use clinical diagnostics to confirm that your pet has allergies and not a viral or bacterial infection. Additionally, they can perform testing to pinpoint specific allergens causing your pet’s symptoms.
Treatment options will vary depending on the type of allergens your pet reacts to, and the severity of their reactions. While over-the-counter treatments might be enough for mild allergies, severe allergies often require more intensive treatment and even lifestyle changes.
Treatment For Severe Pet Allergies
For severe or complex allergies, your veterinarian may refer you to a board-certified veterinary dermatologist. These specialized clinicians are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of skin, ear, and nail conditions, as well as allergies (environmental and food) and autoimmune diseases. They’ll work collaboratively with your primary care veterinarian to ensure your pet’s treatment plan is on track!
Worried Your Pet Has Allergies? Pine Point Animal Hospital Is Here To Help!
Whether your cat has the seasonal sniffles or your dog seems extra itchy, Dr. LaRue and the Pine Point team are here to help diagnose and treat your pet’s allergy symptoms. Just give us a call to schedule your appointment: (503) 912-4477.