I got a phone call from my sister-in-law over the weekend. Seems she and her dog, Wilbur, have an allergy problem. I say they have an allergy problem for a good reason. Besides the obvious misery for Wilbur, watching and listening to a dog that is constantly licking and scratching is very stressful for pet owners, too. I should know because my little dog Darcie went through a bout with allergies when we lived in the Midwest.
It really can drive both owner and pet nuts. You feel helpless sitting there watching your dog or cat dig at its own skin, toes or ears.
Believe it or not, dogs and cats are often allergic to the same things we are. The more common forms of allergy in pets involve sensitivity to environmental allergens like pollen or house dust. Flea bite allergies are also very common. Dogs and cats get sensitized to allergens in the saliva of the flea and once sensitized one bite from one flea can send them over the edge.
Food allergies are less common but can certainly be an issue for dogs and cats.
True allergies take time to develop. The dog or cat must be exposed to the offending allergen for months or years before they develop clinical signs. As such young puppies and kittens are usually not affected by allergies.
The best way to manage allergies is to avoid contact with the allergen. That's easier said than done in some cases. With food allergy an elimination trial with a
special diet can provide a respite in clinical signs and confirm the diagnosis. If flea allergy is diagnosed, removal of the fleas from the dog and cats environment will provide relief. But with environmental allergens it's tough to completely avoid them as they are often airborne and present at all times.
There are a number of ways to control the symptoms including avoidance, drug therapy and gradual desensitization using immunotherapy.
We've got a great
video in the PurinaCare Pet Health Library on the subject. It covers everything above and treatment options, too.