Pet Allergies
Just like humans, pets suffer from a wide range of allergies. Typically, allergies in pets are either due to diet, environmental conditions, or flea irritation. If your pets are displaying common symptoms of allergies, our veterinarian at the Duarte Azusa Animal Hospital in Durate, California can provide vet care treatment to minimize the effects of the allergen.
What are Pet Allergies?
An allergy occurs when the body comes in contact with a foreign substance, such pollen. When your pets are exposed to the allergen, this makes the immune system to mistakenly recognize it as a harmful substance, which then creates a reaction. The allergic reaction can range from mild to severe, depending how a pet’s body reacts to the allergy.
Common Pet Allergies
Fleas are one of the most common causes of pet allergies. When fleas bite, a small amount of saliva is injected into the skin. This, in turn, can make the skin hypersensitive, and trigger symptoms of inflamed, red skin, sores, and hives. Food allergies are another type of pet allergy. This is caused by sensitivity to specific ingredients in your pets’ food. It can cause vomiting, diarrhea, and weight loss. Finally, environmental allergies like mold, mildew, pollen, and dust mites can affect pets just as they do in people. Symptoms for those can include watery eyes, stuffy nose, coughing, and inflamed ears.
Diagnosing Pet Allergies
When diagnosing your pets for allergies, the vet at our veterinary clinic may perform a skin test to rule out specific factors. If your pets have a food allergy, our vet may recommend an elimination diet trial in order to find the cause of the allergen.
Treating Pet Allergies
Once the exact cause of the allergy is determined, our vet can suggest a form of treatment. If the reaction is due to a simple environmental factor, our veterinarian may recommend antihistamines or corticosteroids to help with the symptoms. If it is food allergy, a hypoallergenic diet can be introduced to your pets.