Allergies in dogs and cats
Dog and cats can have allergies just like humans.
And just like human allergies, spring and late summer
will cause the most runny noses and itchy eyes for your pets.
More than one third of all skin irritations can be traced to some kind of allergy.
Cats tend to suffer from more respiratory problems than dogs.
Dogs tend to show more skin irritations because of allergies.
Signs of allergic skin reactions show themselves as scratching, licking, and chewing on skin.
Respiratory allergies cause sneezing, runny noses, and runny eyes.
Your dog or cat can have food allergies too.
Food allergies can manifest as skin irritations,
but it is not uncommon for animals to vomit or have diarrhea when
they've eaten something they are allergic to.
Your cat or dog can be diagnosed with a simple blood test.
These blood tests look for allergies to pollens, grasses, fungus,
dust, and basic food ingredients used in cat and dog food.
The best way to treat allergies is to remove the allergen.
This is not always possible.
In extreme cases steroid drugs are used as a short-term treatment of symptoms.
A series of allergy shots can also be administered to build up an animal's tolerance.
When the animal has a food allergy your veterinarian can recommend foods
that are free of the ingredient that causes a reaction in your dog.
Just like us, dogs and cats can tolerate a touch of sneezing and
scratching when the symptoms are not persistent and painful.
If your pet seems uncomfortable for a prolonged period of time have
them checked out by your veterinarian.
And just like humans, allergies can come and go,
so don't be surprised if find Tuxedo Tex with a runny nose one spring.
