Allergies can take many forms, including inhalant allergies, contact allergies, food allergies and flea allergies. Inhalant allergies are the most common allergies in pets. Environmental allergens such as pollen, dust, mildew and mold can all be culprits. These allergies can be seasonal, or your pet may suffer year-round if the allergen is in the home. Most pets that have inhalant allergies are actually allergic to more than one thing, making it even more difficult to nail down the cause. Contact allergies are not common in pets, but they do occur. For example, the chemicals in flea collars can become an allergen for some pets. Food allergies and food sensitivities can develop at any time, even if your pet has been eating the same food for years. In addition to digestive distress, skin problems are a common symptom. Symptoms are usually caused by a reaction to a protein or carbohydrate molecule found in one or more ingredients in your pet’s diet. The molecule causing the reaction can be found in any ingredient that is part of your pet’s diet, including food, treats, human food and flavored medicines. Flea allergies are common in pets. The allergen is actually the flea saliva, not the flea, and pets with these allergies can suffer from significant reactions to a single flea. Allergies cannot be cured–they are chronic conditions—however they can usually be managed. Treatments vary depending on the allergens and symptoms, and may involve food or environmental changes, immunosuppressants, allergy shots, antihistamines or steroids. Patience is important, as many of the treatment protocols can take months to become effective because allergens can remain in the body for a long time.
Posted on: Fri, 11 Apr 2014 15:25:08 +0000