Could Your Pet Have Allergies?

By Raj Singh, DVM, M.S.

Scratch, scratch, scratch, lick, lick, lick, shake, shake, shake. Pets find numerous ways to profess an allergy. Some of the most common ways are scratching, rubbing and licking the pruritic (itchy) body part. Some pets may also lose hair and develop scabs, offensive odors, and discharges. By recognizing these signs of allergies, we can take steps to make our pets more comfortable and more enjoyable to be around.

As a veterinarian and owner of two dogs and one cat with allergies, I am familiar with the problems allergies present to pets and their owners. In fact, allergic skin disease is one of the most common problems veterinarians treat. Fortunately, new products are making treating most allergies easier, with better results.

If your pet displays any of the signs described above, you may want to have him or her examined by a veterinarian. The physical exam is the first step in diagnosing allergies after you notice the signs. At the exam, your veterinarian needs a good history from you about the nature of the problem. He or she may recommend specific tests to determine the cause of the allergy. Often the cause is not obvious and a trial therapy is instituted. A recheck exam is often scheduled to review the results of the treatment and make adjustments for long-term control. Most allergies can be controlled, but are rarely cured. As the old adage goes, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”

The most common allergens are flea and other insect bites, pollens, dust mites, molds and foods. Keeping your pet free of fleas and other parasites, bathed regularly to remove pollens and dust, and fed high quality food are important steps you can take to help prevent or decrease your pet’s exposure to allergens.

If your pet is diagnosed with an allergy, your veterinarian may prescribe corticosteroids to stop the itch and make your pet immediately more comfortable. Corticosteroids can be administered by injection at the hospital or in topical and oral form at home. It is ideal to limit the use of corticosteroids to short periods of time because these medications have unwanted side effects in some patients if used long-term. Antihistamines and fatty acid supplements can be prescribed as well as or instead of corticosteroids to decrease the itchiness. They are safer to use long term with few or no side effects.

Antibiotics and antifungals may be prescribed in oral and topical form to combat the infections that commonly result from chronic allergies. If left untreated, these infections may lead to permanent scarring or damage to the affected skin, ears, and eyes. Severely debilitated patients can become very ill and require hospitalization to prevent loss of life.

Finally, a hypoallergenic or limited antigen diet may be recommended if a food allergy is suspected. This diet is usually restricted to a single protein and single carbohydrate that your pet has not been exposed to before. The new diet usually needs to be continued for 9-12 weeks before its effectiveness can be determined. If good results are obtained, it is usually recommended that your pet continue on this diet for the rest of his or her life.

In summary, if any of your pets seem uncomfortably itchy, carries a strong undesirable odor, or is losing hair, they should be examined by your veterinarian as soon as possible Although pets can have allergies all year long, the spring through fall months are usually the worst time for allergic pets. The sooner you address the problem, the easier it will be to control.