Does My Pet Have Allergies?
It’s that time of year…as we all start to sniffle a bit and our allergies begin to drive us all crazy. Your pet may have allergies too. Is your pet scratching, wheezing or even vomiting? Allergies can be quite complex. Having allergies is not considered a one-size fits all diagnoses.
There are different types of allergies as well as many different signs and symptoms. Below, we discuss the different types of allergies and what to be on the lookout for.
Symptoms of Pet Allergies
- Rubs his face on floor or furniture
- Sniffles or runny nose
- Sneezing, coughing, wheezing
- Chronic ear infections, scratches ears frequently
- Chews on his paws or other body parts
- Open wounds, hot spots, rashes
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Watery or oozing eyes
Types of Pet Allergies:
Food Allergies
Many common food allergens in pets are beef, chicken, wheat, soy, eggs, and corn.
Signs of Food Allergies: Scratching, skin infections, ear infections. The presence of loose stool may also be indicative of food allergies. It is very common for them to coexist.
Treatment of Food Allergies: Remove the food from your pet’s diet. Identifying which food or foods your pet is allergic too is usually a time consuming task as you will need to go through a period of trial and error. Your pet will need to follow a strict diet that includes adding and taking foods away until the culprit is identified.
Flea Allergies
One single flea bite will send your dog into overload if he’s allergic to fleas. He will scratch and bite the affected area, often breaking the skin.
Signs of Flea Allergies: Hot spots and skin infections may persist. You will notice that the legs and hind quarters are the areas most affected.
Treatment of Flea Allergies: To keep your pet safe from suffering, you will need to have him on a very strict flea prevention regime. There are many choices for this, including holistic options. Check with your veterinarian for the best option for your pet.
Airborne Allergies (Atopy)
If your pet suffers from airborne allergies it means that something in the air or something that he breathes in is causing the allergy. Some offending airborne allergies are: tree pollens, grass pollens, weed pollens, dust mites, and mold.
Signs of Airborne Allergies: Scratching the face, feet and other body parts.
Treatment of Airborne Allergies: For this type of allergy, treatment can be tough because it involves eliminating your pet’s exposure to the culprit. However, your pet may also be given allergy shots or Benadryl by the vet to combat symptoms.
Acute Allergic Reactions
Your pet can have an allergic reaction that are so severe that they go into anaphylactic shock in response, also known as anaphylaxis. It is an immediate allergic hypersensitivity to a foreign substance. Anaphylactic shock is rare in dogs and cats, thank goodness, but can be fatal if not treated properly. Some causes: bees, wasps, ants, or reactions to antibiotic ointments and other medications.
Signs of Acute Allergies: Hives, swelling of the face, lips, throat, eye lids, ear flaps, hives, drooling, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing.
Treatment of Acute Allergies: An anaphylactic reaction is a pet medical emergency and immediate treatment is required. Check our Guide to Emergency Vets should your pet need medical attention.
Your best course of action, if your dog or cat has an allergic reaction, is to take him to a veterinarian.
