Allergies can affect your pet's quality of life, and it can be important to have expert vet care to determine causes and solutions. We at Walnut Valley Animal Hospital serve pet owners and help with pet allergies in and around Rowland Heights, CA. Our veterinarian is here to help.
Types of Pet Allergies
Your furry companion can suffer from a variety of allergies. Problems with food affect many dogs and cats, and cats.
Flea saliva from bites can irritate the skin, and there are many household items that can cause contact dermatitis. These include detergents, soaps, shampoos, and carpeting. Environmental allergies are very similar to those occurring in human beings and can be seasonal. Pollen, mold, dust, and may be the culprits.
Understanding Pet Allergies
The exact reason allergies occur has to do with misfires in the immune system towards certain allergies. These can be attributed to genetic and environmental factors. In pets, the majority of these will not be life-threatening, however, they can be a significant source of discomfort, even causing sores and infection due to excessive scratching. Generally, the immune system will be activated into attacking substances perceived to be a threat but are not inherently harmful.
Detecting Pet Allergies
The symptoms may be visual, so that you can tell at a glance what your pet experiencing. These include hives and inflamed, reddened skin. You may also observe that he licks or bites the same area repeatedly.
It may be harder to tell if he is suffering from gastrointestinal pain, but this may present itself as vomiting and diarrhea. Also, the eyes may be irritated, just like in people, and your pet may develop ear infections, evident by a waxy appearance with discharge and odor.
Paws may be swollen, particularly in the webbing portion between toes, and his coat may be dull with or without hair loss.
How to Handle Pet Allergies
Isolate your dog or cat as much as possible from substances that trigger allergies, limiting outside contact if necessary or changing his or her diet. Dust and vacuum frequently and use vet-recommended shampoos that are gentler for the skin. You can also ask our vet for advice and different medications that may be available to help your pet manage his symptoms.
Visit Us for More Information from Our Animal Hospital
We at Walnut Valley Animal Hospital are here to aid with a variety of pet ailments in the Rowland Heights, CA, area. Call our animal hospital at (626) 965-4941 for more information from our veterinarian.