One of the more common maladies we see a pet for is the itchy pet. More often than not this family friend is suffering from allergies. Pets can have allergies just as people can. However, with people the respiratory tract is usually the organ system that shows symptoms; in pets it is the skin that is the primary target. Dogs and cats can get environmental allergies, food allergies, or both.
DIFFERENTIATING ENVIRONMENTAL AND FOOD
Environmental allergies: Dogs and cats can react to pollens, grasses, weeds, molds, and even dust mites. These allergies tend to flare up in the spring and fall, when plants are blooming or shedding.
Food allergies: Food allergies can develop at any age, even if your pet has eaten the same diet for years. The immune system mistakenly reacts to proteins—such as chicken, beef, etc.
SYMPTOMS
Your pet will usually present with some type of skin or itching issue.
This can be as mild as:
- Ear infections
- Anal gland issues
- Chewing at their paws
In more severe cases we will see these lesions progress to:
- Reddened skin
- Hot spots (moist dermatitis)
- Secondary infectionsÂ
- Other skin irritations
While both food and seasonal allergies present similarly with the skin, they do each have some unique symptoms.
Environmental allergies unique signs can include:
- Red, watery eyes
- Sneezing or nasal discharge
- Seasonality
Food allergies unique symptoms can include:
- Digestive upset (vomiting or diarrhea)
- Year round
DIAGNOSIS
This is the challenging part. A true diagnosis for environmental allergies can be determined via a blood test or an intradermal skin test with a veterinary dermatologist. And while there are blood tests for food allergies, they are not as reliable and an elimination diet trial is often necessary to determine the cause.
TREATMENT
Initially we will usually try a treatment for allergies. You can try over the counter antihistamines such as benadryl or zyrtec; however these are only successful in about 20% of pets. Other treatment trials are medications. Oral options include Apoquel, Zenralia, prednisone, Temaril P. There is also an injectable option, Cytopoint, that can last 4-6 weeks.
A veterinary dermatologist can also prescribe immunotherapy (think, allergy shots for people) if the allergens have been identified. This can be oral or injectable.
IN CONCLUSION, IT CAN BE FRUSTRATING FOR YOU, YOUR PET, AND YOUR VET
Since allergies are an overactive immune system and that immune system isn’t going anywhere, this is usually a lifelong issue. Additionally, severity of symptoms can vary. Your pet may have both food and environmental allergies. All this can make it difficult to determine the cause and find the right treatment to help your furry friend. If I suspect allergies in a pet I try to prepare owners that we are in this for the long haul. Also, we may need to accept some level of symptoms as long as the pet is comfortable. And it is going to take patience and diligence to help keep allergies at bay.
Finally, there are many nuances to this conversation and addressing this potential issue with your pet. If you would like to delve into the details, please don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment at Pet Menders!
