Pet Health Information

Pets with allergies often exhibit recurring skin and/or ear infections. Signs include general itchiness, rubbing or biting until raw, blackened and/or thickened "elephant" skin, patchy haircoat, chronic ear infections with little debris present.

Once you suspect your pet has allergies, your veterinarian will discuss the steps required to make the diagnosis. Sometimes a new rug or cleaner can be incriminated for cases of contact allergy, but more often than not a more lengthy process of tracking down the problem is necessary.

The pet’s skin problem is usually treated while the suspect allergy is being identified. A pet may be put on a special diet s/he had not yet been exposed to, kept out of a certain room or treated along with the environment for a suspected flea problem.

If initial treatment yields little response, skin biopsies and cultures, and/or blood tests may be taken to look for endocrine imbalances such as hypothyroidism, Cushing's syndrome, diabetes, sex-hormone imbalances and other systemic diseases.

When an allergy is suspected, the allergen (the item that causes the pet to itch) needs to be identified. Allergic pets have an immune system that over-reacts to common environmental proteins as "invaders" that must be eliminated. The body’s immune response to these allergens is what causes the pet’s discomfort.

If an inhalant allergy is suspected, a skin test is done to identify the specific pollens, weeds, grasses, molds, and etc. that the pet is allergic to. A vaccine specific to that pet can be made up. This vaccine is given by the owner at home and continued all year round. By desensitizing the pet, his/her itchiness should decrease significantly. Some pets have more the one allergy, and owners should not be discouraged when one treatment does not "cure" their pet.

The first step to treating all allergies or cases of suspected allergies is to have your pet examined by one of our veterinarians. He or she will discuss a treatment plan which is appropriate for you and your pet.

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