Do you suspect your pooch or kitty has allergy? Is she showing signs like licking the feet, red or itchy skin, watery eyes, coughing, sneezing, diarrhea, vomiting, bum scooting, ear infections etc. then there are chances she may have contracted any allergies. These symptoms are reactions shown by any cat or dog allergic to varied substances, food or environment. Whenever you observe this behavior, it is time to meet the vet and get your pet examined for allergies of any kind.
What are the basic causes of allergies in cats and dogs?
Basic three reasons that affect pet health and cause allergies:
- Fleas
- Environment
- Food
Flea Allergy Dermatitis: Flea saliva is one of the most common causes of allergy in pets. Any dog or cat allergic to flea saliva may develop inflamed and itchy skin. This condition is very painful for the pet and needs to be treated at the earliest. Flea treatments and preventives are the best solution to rule out these situations. In worst cases, when the pet develops skin lesions then she needs to be treated with antibiotics. Make sure you take all actions under the supervision of a vet.
Allergy due to environmental factors: Your pet may be reactive to allergens found in the environment. It can be anything like grass, pollen, dust, mold, mites etc. It is practically impossible to avoid these factors. For a safer side, it is important to do allergy testing to find the cause of allergy. Once the reason of the allergy is detected, prevention becomes easy. Treatment involves steroid medication, antihistamines and allergy shots. Allergy shots are injections with very small dose of allergen used to desensitize the pet against them.
Food Allergy Dermatitis: Any cat or dog allergic to the content of food may develop itchy bums, chronic ear infections, itchy feet, itching in the anal glands, vomiting, diarrhea etc. When you observe these symptoms, go for strict food trials. This means you need to give only that food which is prescribed by your vet. Such hypoallergenic food is best for your pet and will aid in reducing the symptoms of existing allergy. In addition, the current allergy will subside within some time.
Apart from these three reasons, pets also inherit allergies from their parents. Some of the breeds that are susceptible to predisposed allergies are Labrador Retrievers, Bulldogs, German Shepherds, and Cocker Spaniels etc. Thus, a complete check of the pet along with his medical history and genetic details are necessary to find the root of any allergy. If you know the reason then precautions can be taken, otherwise treatment is the only way. In a nutshell, to avoid taking any chances, go for allergy testing of your pet at the earliest!
