| Allergies in pets(mostly dogs and cats) are | | | | |
| diagnosed far more frequently these days than | | | | before professional help is sought.In most |
| in the past. This | | | | allergy cases the veterinarian (and the |
| | | | suffering pet!) are relying on you |
| is probably due to a combination of factors | | | | |
| - more pets being | | | | to give an accurate account of events |
| | | | leading up to when the symptoms were first |
| taken to vets, better diagnostic tools, an | | | | |
| increased allergen load in the environment, | | | | observed. An accurate history can eliminate |
| and | | | | many possible causes straight away |
| | | | |
| probably indiscriminate breeding.Any animal | | | | and allows the veterinarian to narrow the |
| can be allergic to any substance or product | | | | search down quickly to the most likely |
| but generally pet allergies fit into | | | | |
| | | | set of possibilities. This saves time and |
| one of several broad categories. These | | | | money and can speed up the diagnostic |
| are:1) Contact allergies.2) Inhaled allergies | | | | |
| (Atopy)3) Food allergies4) Flea allergyThe | | | | process. The faster an accurate diagnosis is |
| animal's immune system is responsible for the | | | | made, the faster the relief for your pet.A |
| allergic reaction, which in many cases is | | | | few warnings are in order though. From a |
| seen as an intense itchy | | | | veterinary point of view, allergies |
| | | | |
| skin which makes the animal scratch a | | | | can be an extremely frustrating! It is not |
| lot.However, a food allergy can also lead to | | | | uncommon for weeks and months of |
| vomiting | | | | |
| | | | diagnostic effort to come up with nothing |
| and diarrhoea.Unfortunately, once an animal | | | | conclusive in terms of identifying |
| is allergic to one factor, the chances are | | | | |
| good that | | | | the allergen. This is because many cases are |
| | | | multi-factorial in origin, with |
| it will be more likely to become allergic to | | | | |
| other things in its environment. Likewise, | | | | many allergens possibly playing a roll.In |
| | | | any event, it is highly unlikely that you |
| the older the animal gets, the more severe | | | | will be able to "cure" an allergy. |
| the allergy is likely to become.As a result, | | | | |
| one of the methods used to control allergies | | | | Mostly the best you can hope for is to |
| is to minimise the allergen | | | | manage the condition by limiting your |
| | | | |
| "load" on allergy prone individuals. This | | | | pets exposure to the offending allergen(s) - |
| involves measures like using hypo-allergenic | | | | the aforementioned allergen load.There is |
| | | | little or anything the animal can do to avoid |
| shampoos to wash the pet, minimising the | | | | allergens |
| flea and tick load on the animal, feeding | | | | |
| | | | in the food you feed it or the surrounds you |
| hypo allergenic diets etc.The first and most | | | | keep it in.Your task then, as yourpets |
| important step in treating an allergic | | | | minder, is to enure that this allergen load |
| reaction in a pet is | | | | is |
| | | | |
| trying to identify the allergen i.e. what | | | | kept to a minimum which in turn will |
| caused the allergic reaction. This is often | | | | minimise the need for ongoing |
| | | | |
| easier said than done, especially if the | | | | treatment and will ensure a happier, |
| condition has been present for some time | | | | healthier pet. |