While people battle stuffy noses and watery eyes at the peak of this allergy season, we are not the only one’s suffering from the sniffles and sneezes. Our pets are also experiencing the irritation of allergies, too.

The respiratory system is the primary target of allergies for humans, but for our pets, the skin is the major target, so severe itching and scratching, which may lead to raw and irritated areas on the skin, are the main symptoms to look for. The most common pet allergy is the fleabite allergy, however, fleas may not be the only reason behind your pet’s discomfort.

Continue Reading "The Sniffles, the Sneezes and Our Pets" »

A few months back I talked about the terrible skin issues my little girls were having. Well, its back. But, just on Maizie this time. It is either a skin allergy or premature balding. I don’t know which I would rather her have.

I noticed it a couple weeks ago, the small hairless patch in between her shoulder blades. I didn’t think anything of it, I actually just thought it was where Marleigh pulled some of her hair out during a wresting match. It didn’t seem to be bothering Maizie, so it wasn’t bothering me.

Continue Reading "The Case of Maizie's Missing Hair" »

Summer is a time to enjoy soaking up the sun with your family, two and four-legged. The warmer weather is when our pets are busy exploring the great outdoors and when some parasites become especially active.

You don’t have to take your pet hiking, camping or even through the woods to expose them to fleas. Anywhere animals come into contact with each other – boarding facilities, pet daycare, the park or in your backyard – you can find fleas. They jump on pets and then take a free ride inside where they quickly make your carpet and furniture home.

Continue Reading "The Ferocious Flea - Size Doesn't Matter" »

I know for most everyone else in this country, allergy season is still a month or two away. Well, for us here in Texas, it is at our doorstep. When I woke up the one morning feeling as if my head was going to implode, I knew the lovely season of oak was here. What I didn’t expect, however, was how quickly the yellow dust was going to get to my girls.

While out on one of our morning walk / drag sessions, Maizie and Marleigh found their way into a pile of freshly fallen pollen. I didn’t think much of it, except when I had to pull millions of tiny pollen seeds from their hair and millions more from every surface of my apartment, but I didn’t think it was going to have any other effect aside from being a hassle to deal with. It wasn’t until a week later that I noticed a problem. My girls would not stop scratching.
Continue Reading "The Potency of Pollen" »