Pet Allergies: Causes, Symptoms and Treatments
Just as humans do, your pets may also have allergies. These allergies can produce several different symptoms and have many causes. The treatment will depend on what type of allergy your dog or cat has. At Oak Ridge Animal Hospital in Greensboro, we are specialists in the pet allergy field and we’re here to help your pet feel better quickly with a hand-tailored veterinarian treatment plan.
Pet Allergy Symptoms
Pet allergies are caused by the same things as human allergies. They are caused when the immune systems mistakes some environmental factor as harmful and their bodies try to fight them off. It’s estimated that 20% of all pets have allergies. The allergies can be caused by items such as pollen, mold, smoke, dust, grass, dander, perfume or even certain foods or ingredients in their pet food.
The symptoms for both dogs and cats are the same. Your pet may be scratching excessively and display scabby skin as with skin allergies or seasonal allergies. They may have watery, red or crusty eyes and be sneezing and wheezing. They may be constantly licking themselves or have swollen paw pads as well as chewing at their paws. Some pet’s allergic reactions include vomiting and diarrhea from food allergies. All of these symptoms are very aggravating to your pet and if not solved quickly, they can develop into a secondary infection without proper pet care, such as an eye infection or skin infection that will need antibiotic treatments in addition to treating their allergies.
How Are Pet Allergies Confirmed?
Your veterinarian can diagnose pet allergies from a skin scraping, a blood sample or an elimination diet if they believe it to be a food allergy. Food allergies usually require prescription pet food without any allergy-triggering ingredients in them and then they slowly reintroduce foods to see which is the offender.
What Are Pet Allergy Treatments?
Depending on the cause of your pet’s allergies, he or she may have several different veterinarian treatments. The most common treatments are allergy shots, prescription shampoos, skin-soothing ingredients and possibly certain canned or bagged food without the ingredients that cause your pet’s particular skin allergies or seasonal allergies.
Trust the Pet Allergy Specialists
Our team at Oak Ridge Animal Hospital in Greensboro specializes in pet allergies. We will examine your pet, make a diagnosis and then form a treatment plan to provide your furry friend relief from their allergic reactions. Call us now for a happier and healthier pet.