Pet Allergies: What You Need to Know and How to Help!
Skin allergies are one of the most common reasons cats and dogs end up at the vet. But despite how common they are, there is a surprising amount of misinformation what could be causing symptoms and how best to treat them.
In this article, we’re going to take a detailed look at the symptoms allergies commonly present, potential causes, and usual methods of treatment so that your pet can be comfortable once more!
Allergy Symptoms
Pet allergies can cause a variety of symptoms, all of which can leave your furry friend in a miserable state.
If the allergy is quite minor, it commonly will lead to intense itching, over-grooming (licking and chewing), and inflammation of the affected area. Unfortunately, your pet itching usually does not help, and will likely cause further damage.
Therefore, if you notice that your pet has seemed to have suffered from some skin irritation and it hasn’t cleared up on its own after a day, it can be a good idea to make an appointment with your vet as soon as possible. The quicker you get it sorted, the quicker your pet will be free of the urge to itch!
It’s also incredibly important to note that if your cat or dog is suffering from facial swelling, vomiting, weakness, difficulty breathing, diarrhea, and/or a weak pulse, they must be taken to a vet immediately. Your pet could be suffering from anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening allergic reaction that requires immediate attention.
Common Allergens
If your pet is having repeated allergic reactions, the next step is to attempt to deduce what exactly your pet is being irritated by so that you can prevent future discomfort.
Sadly, there is a long list of potential allergens for both dogs and cats, some of which that can be quite sneaky!
Environmental allergens such as grass, trees, pollen, dust, mold, and fleas are a common cause of dog skin allergies and cat skin allergies.
It’s also possible for your dog or cat to be allergic to chemicals within shampoo and other grooming products.
Pharmaceutical drugs are another cause of allergies and are usually easy to pinpoint. If your pet has started having allergy symptoms at the same time they have started a new medication, notify your vet for advice on the best course of action.
Finally, another common cause of allergic responses in pets is a food allergy. It seems strange that ingesting food would cause skin irritation, so many don’t even think about this as a possibility! They sometimes come with tummy upsets too, so if you notice your pet has a combination of itchy skin and vomiting/diarrhea, try switching their food around to see if symptoms persist.
Treatment and Prevention of Future Allergic Reactions
Once the cause of your pet’s allergies is ascertained, you and your vet can begin to make steps in soothing your pet’s irritation and possibly preventing future reactions.
Depending on the cause of the allergy, it may be possible to outright avoid the allergen and never have to deal with it again. For example, if your pet is allergic to a certain type of food, substituting that for something else in their diet will remove the possibility of reactions.
However, if the cause is something that cannot be controlled so easily, such as pollen or dust, extra steps may need to be taken to help keep your pet as comfortable as possible. Antihistamine medication may be necessary in some cases.
You should be able to work with your vet to create a treatment plan that works best for your family situation and your pet’s allergy.
What we at Groomit Offer
At Groomit, we understand that some shampoos can cause allergic reactions in pets. As our focus is on helping your pets feel great, that’s no good!
Therefore, we offer hypoallergenic shampoo at no extra cost to those who suffer such allergies.
Along with this, we offer a bath in all our grooming packages, which can really help soothe the irritation brought on by allergies. If your pet has seemed a little irritated and itchy lately, our service can do wonders in relieving that discomfort!
We hope this article has helped you and your pets and we look forward to seeing you soon!
