As the weather begins to heat up, you might start hearing the familiar sounds of your four-legged friend scratching or licking while you’re trying to get to sleep. It’s infuriating for us, so imagine how they must feel.
Allergic disease in dogs and cats is something we see often, and becomes even more common in the warmer months. Symptoms can range from general itching and chronic ear infections to vomiting and diarrhoea, and are generally triggered by either the environment or diet.
Environmental allergies vs food allergies
Environmental allergies are brought on by things that your pet comes into contact with in their environment – things like grasses or pollen. Symptoms usually include red and itchy skin, often on the paws, groin and stomach. It tends to flare up over spring and summer and ease in the cooler months.
Food allergies are caused by a reaction to something in your pet’s diet, most commonly a protein like chicken, beef or egg. Symptoms can be similar to environmental allergies (red skin and constant itching), or gastrointestinal (vomiting and/or diarrhoea). Unlike environmental allergies, food allergies tend to persist all year round.
How do I know what my pet is allergic to?
Unless you visit a veterinary dermatologist for specific testing, determining the cause of your pet’s allergies is often by process of elimination.
If their symptoms come and go – typically becoming worse in warmer months and easing in cooler months – your pet is most likely allergic to something in the environment.
Food allergies tend to take longer to identify. Typically this involves strict diet control for 6-8 weeks, before slowly re-introducing ingredients one by one and monitoring for reactions.
What can I do if my pet suffers from allergies?
Once you’ve determined the cause of the allergy, it’s a matter of controlling exposure to it.
If it’s environmental, reducing access to grassed areas can be helpful. If that’s not possible, washing your pet with a medicated shampoo can help to remove any lingering irritants from the skin.
If it’s food based, removing the specific allergen from your pet’s diet should do the trick. Fortunately, there are lots of specialised diets available these days. Single Protein Diets are designed specifically for pets with food allergies – just remember to check the full ingredient list to be sure.
Can medications help?
There are a range of prescription medications available to help pets with environmental allergies. They work by essentially blocking the itch receptors in the brain, which helps to ease symptoms. While they aren’t a cure, they can definitely make your pet more comfortable!
Can my pet see a dermatologist?
Absolutely. We are happy to refer you to a specialised veterinary dermatologist for more advanced diagnostics and treatments.
Please contact us on 4256 3638 if you have any further questions.