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People, Dogs & Cats can all suffer from
allergies. As in people, the incidence of allergies in
pets is increasing. Where humans sneeze, wheeze, or have
serious respiratory problems, only cats show similar
symptoms, even to the extent of the development of
asthma. Most allergies in pets are characterized by
scratching and itching. Cat and dog allergies fall into
three categories: flea allergy dermatitis, atopy, and
food allergy. Pets can be affected by one or more.
Food Allergy
Food Allergy is an
allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in a pet's
food. The most noted are beef and milk products, cereals
(wheat, corn, soya), chicken and eggs. It is possible
that a change in the pet's immune system may be a cause
of food allergies, but the exact causes to the condition
are not known. A pet's immune system helps the pet fight
off "perceived" intruders in the system, an unbalance of
the immune system can cause the system to react to these
products as foreign entities.
Food Allergy diagnosis is
done by your veterinarian and is where your pet is
placed on a "hypoallergenic" diet for a minimum of 8 to
12 weeks. Such a diet contains ingredients to which the
animal has not been exposed in the past. Because most
often protein is the cause of allergic reactions,
exclusion diets use proteins, such as venison, fish,
duck, meats that are not normally found in dog food. The
exclusion diet may include home prepared food or
prescription commercial hypoallergenic products.
Treated Food Allergies can
be best accomplished by carefully monitoring your pet's
diet, In rare cases, your veterinarian may also
prescribe antihistamines and corticosteroids.
Atopy
Atopy or
environmental allergy, is an allergic reaction
to substances which are airborne, such as pollen, mold,
house dust mites and animal dander (skin or hair
fragments.) Atopy is most common in dogs, but can be
found in some cats as well. The incidence of atopy may
vary depending on your pet's genetic susceptibility as
exposure to the allergen. Terriers, Setters, Retrievers,
Dalmatians, and Chinese Shar-Peis are particularly prone
to atopy. Itching mostly around the face, feet,
lower chest and belly are the primary symptoms.
Depending on the cause, this may only occur during
certain times of the year (pollen) or year around (dust
mites, molds, and dander.) "Hot Spots," ear problems and
other skin infections can develop from the excessive
scratching, as well as hair loss. Signs of this can be
seen from 4 months to 7 years of age, but are noticed
usually around 1-3 years of age.
Atopy diagnosis is
confirmed through the process of elimination. Other
causes such as fleas, mites, lice, bacterial & yeast infections, as
well as food allergies must be ruled out first. At Klima Small
animal Clinic we ask you for a detailed history of your pet's
itching problem. We generally take blood serum for testing
for different allergies to help pinpoint the exact cause.
Atopy treatment or management of the atopy can be
accomplished in a variety of ways; however, there is no known cure
and it is a lifelong condition.
Treatments can consist of one of more of the following:
- Immunotherapy uses a series of injections to gradually
accustom your pet's system to the allergen (s) that are
causing the problem. The effectiveness of this treatment varies
but it may provide some relief for approximately 70% of the
pet's with atopy.
- Removing the source of the allergy from the environment your
pet is living in.
- Anti-Itch therapies including the use of drugs, medicated
shampoos and conditioners.
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