May is Allergy Awareness Month!
When pets are excessively itchy, there can me many causes, most of which are relatively simple and easily treated. When the cause is allergies, however, it can be very frustrating. Though cases of allergies are increasing, so are the treatment options.
Allergies are a condition where the body reacts negatively towards an outside component. In animals 90% of allergies are atopy or allergies to something in the environment (trees, grass, pollen, even human dander). 10% of allergies are food related. There is no getting rid of allergies, but our goal is managing them throughout the life of the pet. Typically allergies do get worse overtime as the body is bombarded by these allergens so the reaction is increased year by year. We typically start with a food trial to rule out food allergies, if atopy is the underlying issue there are many treatments to keep your pet comfortable from shampoos and topical treatments to antihistamines to allergy injections and other anti-itch medications. Depending on the severity of the allergies we are able to put together a plan to keep your pet happy and itch free!
-Dr. Karen Nann
For more information on environmental allergies, check out Dr. Chris’ article on Atopic Dermatitis: Atopic Dermatitis
Check out this article for more information about food allergies: Food allergy in dogs
Recent Posts
- Canine Respiratory Disease Outbreak
- Arthritis Awareness Month!
- Hills to Home-Food delivered to your door!
- Grain Free Diets and Heart Disease
- House Calls and Home Care
- WILDFIRE Pet Preparedness
- Spring Wellness Promotions Highlight Skin Care Products and Allergy Awareness
- Canine Cough? It’s Still Out There!
- Updated 3/3/20: Recent Coronavirus Outbreak and Pets, Should I Be Worried?
- Hidden dental conditions
- Make this Halloween Pet Safe!
- 2nd Annual Tails-n-Trails Run/Walk, 8:30 am on June 8, 2019
- Dr. Susan Becomes Fear Free Certified!!
- We do HOUSECALLS!
- February is Dental Awareness Month!
- Unraveling the Myths About Pet Food