ALLERGIES 

General Information:

Allergies are caused by a reaction between the bodies immune system and some substance in the environment (allergen). In Humans, allergies are manifested as sneezing, red and tearing eyes ("hay fever"). The most noticeable sign in an allergic pet is ITCHING. Typical allergens include: grasses, pollens, molds, dust, spores, fleas, trees, smoke, feather dust, animal dander and food components.

While itching is the most frequent sign seen with allergies, allergy is not the only cause of itching. Your pet should be given a complete physical exam, checked for parasites (fleas, ticks and mites) and infection (bacteria and fungal). Only after eliminating other causes can your pet be treated properly for allergies.

Some pets are affected at certain times of the year (seasonal), while others have problems continually (non-seasonal). Many pollens and grasses bloom seasonally while you would expect house dust or food allergies to cause year 'round problems. As a general rule of thumb animals with inhaled allergies tend to chew their feet and rub their face but animals with flea allergies tend to scratch and chew at the base of their tail. This can sometimes give you a clue to the type of allergy your pet has..

Diagnosis and Treatment Information:

There is no known cure for allergies. The objective of allergy management is to identify the allergen (allergy testing). Once the cause is identified the effort is to either eliminate it or desensitize the pet to it. Some pets with severe allergies require medication to control the itching and prevent self-mutilation.

Allergy Testing

There are thousands of allergens that could potentially cause a reaction in an animal. There is no feasible way to test for every allergen a pet may become exposed to. Allergy tests are tailored to test for the most common allergens in a particular geographic area. Once the causes of your pet's allergy are identified, the effort is to eliminate those causes from you pets environment. If this is not feasible or does not result in satisfactory control,  the pet is then given a series of hypo- sensitization injections (shots that help your pet become less sensitive to those allergens).

Hypo-sensitization is not a "quick fix" for your pets allergy. It can take nine months to two years to achieve a satisfactory result. It is unrealistic to expect a totally itch free pet. Many animals require some medication while the hypo-sensitization process takes effect. Many consider a successful hypo-sensitization as one that relieves enough of the itch so as to be controlled by antihistamines rather than with cortisone (prednisone). If hypo-sensitization is effective it will reduce the need and expense of a lifetime of medications to control your pets discomfort.

Medications:

Despite our efforts, some pets will require medication to reduce their itching, discomfort and self mutilation. Antihistamines, Omega Fatty Acids, and cortisone are some of the more frequently used medications. Each of these medications, when used properly, can provide the much needed relief your pet discomfort. There are benefits and limitations to each of these medications. Frequently, your veterinarian will start with an antihistamine and/or Omega fatty acid to control itching in your pet. If this is not sufficient, cortisone can be used alone or in combination with these medications to give relief to your pet. Your veterinarian will advise you on which of these medications will be most effective for your pet.

Fleas:

Most pets will itch when they have fleas but this does not mean they are allergic to fleas. Pets that are allergic to the saliva from a flea bite will react to a single bite. Inspection around the base of the tail will reveal live fleas or perhaps "flea dirt" (flea excrement). Flea dirt looks like pepper on the skin. Since it is composed mostly of dried blood it will turn red when it is moistened with water.

Obviously the most efficient way to control a flea allergy is to eliminate the fleas. There are several new products available that work extremely well to get a flea problem under control quickly.  We  recommend the following products Program,  Advantage, or Frontline.

Food Allergies

Food components can also cause allergy in your pet. Dietary proteins are responsible for a small but significant number of allergies in companion animals. As with all allergies the best treatment is avoidance of the offending allergen. The most effective way to determine if your pet has a food allergy is to change your pet's diet to one that has only one or two unique protein sources (proteins that your pet has likely never been exposed to before: lamb and rice, venison and potato, duck and barley). This provocative food trial can take 6 - 10 weeks before you may notice a difference. After which time you would try another provocative diet for 6 - 10 weeks. This trial and error can be frustrating but, if you pet is one who is food allergic, it can be a rewarding endeavor. While allergy testing for food proteins is thought be less accurate than provocative food trials, these tests can offer the owner a starting point of which foods to avoid.