Your pet can suffer from the same sorts of allergies that you may have. Inside your house, your pet may experience symptoms set off by dust mites, cat dander or even mold. For pets that frequently go outdoors, pollens and ragweed – even fertilizer and pesticides — can trigger allergic reactions. Symptoms like redness, itchiness or even perpetual ear infections, may signal that your pet has allergies.
But how do you know what’s bothering your dog or cat? Ordinarily, we investigate the most common allergies first and work from that point. If flea allergies are ruled out, then some type of food may be the culprit, and a food trial should be conducted to see if food allergies are the culprit.
If a food trial doesn’t yield conclusive results, you may be dealing with an environmental allergy. We can take a blood sample so that an appropriate allergy injection can be formulated or the offending allergen can be avoided. Initially, if immunotherapy is chosen, a weekly shot is needed; we train you to administer it. After a recommended time, the shot is only needed monthly.
You can also talk to us about Apoquel® and Cytopoint® , medications used to treat the itchy skin associated with allergies. They work by inhibiting the body’s trigger for itchiness and inflammation.
Your pet completely depends on you – for her food, exercise and where she’s allowed to sleep. He can’t shop for gluten-free pet food or arrange for all your house’s air ventilation ducts to be professionally cleaned. It’s safe to say that without your intervention, it’s nearly impossible for your dog or cat to avoid certain allergens.
Taking simple steps can help your dog or cat feel much more comfortable, no matter the environment.
