ALLERGIES in Dogs and Cats

from Las Vegas Pet Scene Magazine, March/April 2023

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By Elizabeth Racine, DVM

Allergies are a common issue in both dogs and cats. They can range from mild skin irritation to severe reactions that can impact the animal’s health and quality of life. Allergies can be triggered by a variety of things such as food, flea bites, and environmental factors. Understanding the symptoms and treatment options for allergies in pets is crucial for pet owners who want to ensure their furry friends live happy and healthy lives.

Symptoms Of Allergies In Pets

Unfortunately, heart disease is sometimes only detected when it becomes severe or when a pet dies suddenly. When pets do display symptoms of heart disease, they may include signs such as:

• Recurrent skin or ear infections

• Frequent licking or scratching the skin and ears

• Redness or rashes of the skin

• Salivary staining of the fur

• Overgrooming behavior

• Hair loss

• Vomiting

• Diarrhea

• Flatulence

• Weight loss

• Abdominal discomfort

Diagnosing Allergies In Pets

Diagnosing allergies in pets can be a difficult process because allergies can cause symptoms identical to other skin and gastrointestinal conditions. To diagnose allergies in your pet, your veterinarian will first ask you questions about your pet’s history, including asking about your pet’s diet and medication history. Your veterinarian will also perform a comprehensive head-to-tail physical examination on your pet. Testing for allergies may include skin scraping to rule out parasites, skin cytology to identify infection, intradermal or blood testing to identify sensitivity to environmental allergens, and an elimination diet trial to diagnose food allergies.

Treating Allergies In Pets

Treatment for allergies in pets depends on the type of allergy and the severity of the symptoms. For food allergies, avoidance of foods that trigger the allergy is the best and most effective treatment. These pets often do best on a prescription hypoallergenic or limited ingredient diet.

Pets with flea bite allergies can be managed with year-round flea prevention. These pets often experience extreme itching after even just one flea bite, so prevention is essential for their well-being.

Pets with environmental allergies can be more difficult to manage. These pets often react to allergens such as pollens, dust, molds, grasses, and other environmental factors that may be unavoidable in day to day life. These pets may be managed with medications such as corticosteroids to manage itching, or allergy medications such as antihistamines, Apoquel, or Cytopoint (dogs). Pets with environmental allergies may also benefit from immunotherapy, which involves giving the animal small doses of the allergen to build up a tolerance over time.

Pets with allergies of any kind may also need additional medications such as antibiotics or medicated shampoos, mousses, or creams to manage the secondary skin infections that often go hand in hand with allergy flare-ups.

It is important to remember that an allergic pet may experience more than one type of allergy. For example, a pet could have both food and environmental allergies, making diagnosis and treatment of the condition more complex. Your veterinarian will determine the best combination of treatments for your pet’s needs based on the type and severity of allergies your pet is experiencing. Management of allergies is a lifelong process, but your pet can still live a long and comfortable life with this condition.