Allergies: A very common and frustrating condition

October brings the change of seasons in full swing and with that we can often see flare-ups of our pet’s allergies or discover new irritants.

Allergies can be quite distressing for both animal and owner so we wanted to take a moment and go over some of the common questions regarding allergies that we see.

Understanding Animal Allergies

One of the biggest differences between humans and animals when it comes to allergies how the body is most likely to react. In humans the lungs are often referred to as the “shock organ” meaning that should a human be exposed to an allergen whether it be environmental or food they are most likely to display respiratory signs with shortness of breath. Dogs and cats “shock organ” is the skin. This means that the most common clinical signs that you will see a pet display after being exposed to an allergen is itchy skin.

Common Sources of Allergens in Animals

Exposure to an allergen can come from a variety of causes:

• Environmental: This can include everything from blooming plants to external parasites like fleas
• Food: Just as with people pets can be sensitive to different ingredients, but they will show it by developing a skin rash or ear infection

Signs of an Allergy in Pets:

You can help determine a bit of what your pet is allergic to based on how they display their signs

• Environmental: Environmental allergies typically display more evenly around the body with the back and belly being the most common areas affected. This is often accompanied by hair loss, red skin, and severe itching. Rashes under the armpits of the forelimbs are also often affected. Secondary skin infections from self-trauma seen as pustules within the hairless, red area with scabs is also very common.
• Food: Food allergens will often present with reoccurring skin infections. These infections are often accompanied with some hair-loss and a distinct smell with greasy feel to the skin. The smell and feel of the skin is due to the overgrowth of yeast on the skin from chronic inflammation. The most common areas on the body affected include the feet and the ears. Many times, feet and ears will occur in combo but can present individually if the allergy is only mild or occasionally experienced.

One of the biggest signs that will help you to distinguish food from environmental allergies is cyclicity from year to year. If your pet displays allergies year round or throughout multiple seasons then most likely there is a food component. If the allergies are only displayed during the same time every year, then most likely environmental allergens are your main concern.


The Role of Allergy Management

The goal of allergy treatments is to keep the patient comfortable and able to enjoy their life with out distraction. A secondary, but also very important goal, is to keep everyone else in the household from going crazy listening to the affected patient scratch all the time. Most of the chronic allergy patients that come into our office are “just looking for a good night’s sleep.”

When to Seek Veterinary Care

Allergy intervention is most effective when implemented at the earliest signs of discomfort. The early signs of head shaking, scratching, and minor hair loss are the perfect time to make an appointment. If you wait until there are open wounds and secondary skin infections it makes treatment much more costly and lengthy complete. With this in mind, if you know your pet gets itchy at the same time every year, there are several preemptive treatments that can be used to keep everyone from experiencing the effects of seasonal allergies.

Our Commitment to You

At Carrollton Animal Hospital, we provide comprehensive allergy management solutions for your pets. Our team of experienced veterinarians are trained to assess and address your pet's individual needs and will work with you to come up with the right plan to fit your family’s needs.

Resources for Pet Owners

To further your understanding of animal allergies, consider exploring reputable resources such as the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and Spectrum/Nextmune pet allergy testing.

In Conclusion

As we move into another season, we need to keep in mind that our pets may not be adapting to the changes as well as we would hope. Allergies may not always present the way would would initially think, but a pet that can’t stop itching, or sleep is an uncomfortable pet that needs our help.

If you think your pet may be suffering from an allergy, do not hesitate to give us a call. The earlier we can get the needed meds the sooner everyone can get some relief.