Allergies are a common issue that we see here in the clinic.
“My dog is scratching herself raw.”
“My dog keeps chewing at her feet.”
“My cat won’t keep his food down.”
“Every month my dog has to go in for another ear infection!”
Possible Signs of Allergies
- Itching
- Chewing Feet
- Red, Elephant skin in Armpits and Groin Area
- Sneezing
- Coughing
- Vomiting
- Recurring Diarrhea
- Recurring Ear Infections
- Chewing at Bum or Constant Bum Licking
There are so many signs that our pets may be allergic to something, and a few categories of things they can be allergic to.
Environmental Allergies
Grass, pollen, trees, moulds, or dust can all play a part in an allergic reaction and or irritation in your pets. For a lot of pets, the outdoor environmental issues go away in our cold winter months but the indoor issues will likely continue no matter what the weather is.
Skin Allergies
Skin allergies include flea allergies, fabric allergies (such as wool, cotton, etc.) or contact allergies from collars, or topical parasite prevention. Skin or contact allergies are less common in dogs and cats and are sometimes harder to diagnose but are usually quickly resolved once the issue is identified.
Food Allergies
Our pets can be irritated by the proteins and other products or fats that are in their diets. Even some of our top-notch veterinary diets can carry allergens that we can be unaware of for our pets. There are special veterinary diets that are made without allergens in specific facilities to help eliminate contamination and provide the best product for our food sensitivity friends. It’s important when trying to resolve a food allergy that your pet is fed only the diet that is being tested at that time.
Written by: Rachel Russell, RVT
