Battling Allergies in Pets

Skin allergies are one of the most common problems we veterinarians see on a daily basis.  It can be a very frustrating problem for the doctor, the owner and the pet.  Signs of skin allergies can include itchiness, dry flaky skin, chewing at the feet, ear infections and many times presents as a combination of these signs.  Animals may be reacting to ingredients in their food or to allergens in the environment (inhalant or contact allergens).  Like people, animals can benefit from treatment for their allergy symptoms.
For significant allergies, it is often recommended to pursue allergy testing to determine if the pet is reacting to ingredients in the food or to outside allergies, or both.  Once it is determined which food allergies the pet may have, we can change the diet to eliminate those allergens and help to resolve the itching.  Some dogs are allergic to many different ingredients commonly found in their food and need to be placed on a very limited ingredient diet to help keep them comfortable and prevent flare ups.
Treatment options for preventing flare ups caused by environmental allergens may include using antihistamines or steroids to help bring down inflammation of the skin and reduce itchiness, using medicated shampoos and topical medications containing steroids and anti-fungals to help with certain conditions of the skin, and using systemic antibiotics and anti-fungals when necessary to treat secondary bacterial and fungal skin infections.  In some cases, immune modulating types of medications need to be used, like Cyclosporine to help the pet’s immune system to not overreact to the allergens.  Hypersensitization injections can also be beneficial to the chronically allergic pet to help their bodies not react as much to specific environmental allergens.
Whether allergies are year-round or seasonal, they are usually a chronic condition that requires life-long care to keep signs in check.  Owners that know what signs to watch for including redness of the skin, itchiness and shaking the head, will help to catch flare ups early while signs are milder and easier to treat.
Cinema Veterinary Centre is located at 23460 Cinema Drive, Suite L in Valencia.  For more information, please call 661-253-9300.