An allergy is an abnormal immune system reaction to something in the environment. Our pets can be allergic to the same things that their humans can be, including: pollens, weeds, grasses, mold spores, and dust mites. We often see “flea allergy” as well, which is not a reaction to the flea itself, but to the flea’s saliva. Less commonly, pets can be allergic to an ingredient in their food. The most common food allergies in cats are beef, dairy, and fish. In dogs, they are beef, dairy, wheat, and chicken. Allergies can develop at any age, but appear in most animals during the first 2 to 4 years of life.
Many owners expect their pets to exhibit the same symptoms that plague them when they have allergies: sneezing ,congestion, coughing, eye/nasal drainage, etc. While we’ll occasionally see these signs, they aren’t common. You’re much more likely to see hair loss, red/pink skin, recurrent ear infections, and signs of itchy skin. Pruritis (itching) can take the form of face rubbing, scratching, chewing, licking, and excessive grooming (kitties).
Your vet needs to rule out other causes of itching and irritation prior to diagnosing your pet with an allergy. Flea infestation, skin mites, lice, and dry skin can all cause itching. A pet with anal glands that are excessively full may lick their feet, chew at the base of their tail, and/or scoot on the ground. Anal glands are scent glands located on either side of the rectum that should empty when your pet has a bowel movement. Very rarely, skin issues may be secondary to an immune mediated skin disease, glandular dysfunction, or neoplasia (cancer). Your vet will recommend the appropriate tests if he/she suspects a more serious condition.
After your vet determines that your pet has an allergy, he/she may be able to get a general idea of the cause by your pet’s particular signs and environment. For example, a flea allergy may be the likely culprit if a flea or two is found on your pet, and the distribution of hair loss and irritation matches that commonly seen with flea allergy: lower lumbar (back), the base of the tail, the tail itself, and the rear legs. Your vet may be more suspicious of an allergy to something blooming or growing if distribution is more generalized and/or the time of year is appropriate. If your pet has year-round clinical signs, it may be a dust mite or food allergy.
Treating allergies is tricky. Allergies cannot be “cured”, we simply have to do our best managing the symptoms to help keep our pets as comfortable as possible. Certain antihistamines can be effective in some patients. Your vet may also recommend specific shampoos or conditioners and/or a fatty acid supplement. In more severe cases, a steroid may be prescribed. Steroids typically do a great job of controlling itching secondary to allergies, because they suppress the immune system. However, they can have serious side effects if used too frequently and long term. These include organ and glandular dysfunction. Bacterial and fungal skin infections commonly occur secondary to scratching and chewing. The trauma allows these organisms that normally live on the skin’s surface to enter the deeper layers. Your vet will prescribe anti-fungals and antibiotics as necessary to treat these.
If your pet’s allergy outbreaks are frequent and/or severe, your vet may recommend further diagnostics or alternative treatments. Allergy testing can tell us exactly what your pet is allergic to and how severe his/her response is to that allergen. When a response is significant enough, a serum of these allergens can be made for injection or oral administration. This will help desensitize your pet to them, but understand it may take a while to see a noticeable difference. There is also an immunosuppressive drug available that doesn’t have the same negative side effects as a steroid. If your vet suspects a food allergy, he/she may recommend a “food trial”. This involves feeding your pet a diet containing ingredients your pet has never been exposed to before for a certain period of time. If the itching ceases, we can assume the pet was allergic to an ingredient in their food.
In summary, diagnosing and managing allergies can be complicated! Your pet may be allergic to one or a combination of things, and may respond better to one treatment over another. Determining what your pet is allergic to and what works best for him/her may involve quite a bit of trial and error, and can be frustrating for both you and your veterinarian! At Effingham Animal Hospital, we are dedicated to educating our clients about all of the possibilities and options available for their beloved four-legged family members, so they can make an informed decision about their pets’ care. For further information please check out this article link allergies. If you have questions about your pet, please click this link to be taken to our contact page.
