Allergies in Wisconsin are common. Unfortunately many of you
have to deal with allergies in your pets.
Even more challenging is that the former allergy seasons (spring and
fall) no longer exist as they once did.
This is due to the inconsistent weather which increases the likelihood that
allergies are seen throughout the season changes.
Because allergies present differently in pets than they do
humans, you may not understand why your pet is exhibiting peculiar behaviors.
Pets will lick their paws or scratch their skin excessively. Their skin will
become dry and often times you will notice hair loss. In acute cases, an
antihistamine like Benadryl will help relieve these symptoms. Prior to
administering Benadryl, please consult your veterinarian for recommended
dosages as they do differ from the recommended human dosages.
For those chronic cases, a bigger arsenal is necessary to
combat the symptoms and keep your pet maintained at a comfortable level as long
as he/she is exposed to the specific allergen in question.
Possible allergens include:
Inhalant and/or
Contact Allergens: These are environmental allergens including mold spores,
pollens, dusts, perfumes, dust mites, grasses, fabrics, mites, and laundry
detergents.
Food Allergens: These
are either from protein or carbohydrate sources. Protein sources most commonly include chicken
and beef. Carbohydrate sources include
corns, grains and potatoes.
Flea Allergy
Dermatitis: Some pets can have an allergic reaction to just ONE flea bite,
while exposure to fleas in general can cause a sensitive pet to flare up.
Should your dog have certain symptoms that flare up during
certain seasons, we would refer to these as “seasonal allergies”. If he/she
gets itchy skin when the weeds are out, trees are pollinating, or lawns are in
their active growing season your dog would be considered a “textbook” seasonal
allergy case.
