It is Whats Up Wednesday! Today Dr. Stan answers the question Can my pet have allergies? Our pets can have allergies to the same things that we do. In our pets we call it Atopy. As humans we develop upper respiratory problems with allergies. Our pets develop skin problems with their allergies, they will itch and be more susceptible to skin infections. Some allergies are year round, and some are seasonal. There are several ways to deal with allergies in our pets. The gold standard is considered to be testing for what your pet is allergic to. Just like with people, this can be done by giving injections of allergens and recording what they react to. Blood tests can also be completed with a report of what is causing your pet to react. Both of these tests can be used to have custom allergy injections made, which will be injected over several weeks with follow up injections as needed. Keep in mind that treating your pet for allergies will need to be done for the entire life of your pet. There are other options for dealing with allergies by treating the symptoms. There are several options for this. Some pets will respond to over the counter allergy medications, such as Benadryl; by adding fish oil capsules to their diet; and frequent bathing with a soothing shampoo during the height of allergy season will be of benefit. Your veterinarian may also prescribe medications that affect your pets immune system, such as Cyclosproine or Prednisone. These medications have side effects and must be used appropriately and cautiously. Treating your pet for allergies is a life long process, and following your veterinarians directions can help keep your pet comfortable during the allergy season.
Posted on: Wed, 07 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015