Client: Kara Brook
Copyright 2008 Kara Brook
Protecting Your Companions from Pet Allergies
If your pet shows any of the following signs as the warmer weather approaches, they may be suffering from pet allergies. Some of these signs include:
* Skin rashes
* Digging at their ears
* Chewing their feet
* Excessive grooming and licking
* Rubbing their faces against furniture or the floor
As the temperature and humidity increases, so do the incidents of dog allergies and cat allergies. Your pet's allergies can be the result of various contributing factors such as flea bites and mites, atopy (inhaled allergies), skin infections, skin fold diseases and food allergies.
Preventing Flea and Other Insect Bites
Flea bites are the most common and frequent cause of itchy skin in pets. However, when a pet is regularly exposed to the outside, many insects can contribute to bites and itching. Some of these typical insects are:
* Fleas
* Flies
* Mosquitoes
* Spiders
* Ticks
* Other biting insects
Cats that have fleas itch the most around their heads. Dogs tend to itch more near their tails. The best way to prevent fleas from regularly biting your pets is to apply a topical flea prevention medicine on a monthly basis. This is very important to protect your pet and your home from flea infestation.
Mites are another insect that can cause a lot of irritation for your pets. They can cause skin diseases such as ear infestations, mange, scabies and walking dandruff. Mites are contagious and abundant in shelters and grooming facilities. Treatment involves using a medication called Ivermectin. This drug kills mites and also is used as a dewormer.
Preventing Skin Diseases and Infections
Dog breeds like Pugs and Sharpeis have a lot of excess skin that folds and creates large wrinkles. This creates a warm and moist place for skin fold diseases to develop and spread. Using baby wipes and acne control wipes can aid in preventing infections in these areas. If the problem is serious enough, surgical procedures can be an option to consider and talk over with your veterinarian.
Skin and ear infections can be caused by excessive amounts of bacteria and yeast present on the skin. In these cases, the primary skin disease must be treated, then the secondary resulting infections must also be treated.
Pet Atopy and Food Allergies
Atopy is caused by inhaled allergies. Pets that suffer from this type of allergy often itch everywhere and have patches of hair missing on their bodies. Cats with this allergy usually develop skin rashes and scabs on their necks and heads. This is often a seasonal allergy and symptoms are much worse in the warmest months. Your veterinarian can perform skin tests on your pet to diagnose and determine treatment for these allergies.
Often pets with atopy have food allergies too. In some cases, the symptoms are the same, so it is important to have your pet tested to determine exactly what is going on. One major difference is that pets with food allergies often have gastrointestinal problems. Also, their skin itch is not seasonal. Treatment for pet food allergies involves placing your pet on a strictly enforced hypoallergenic diet.
Treatments for pet allergies usually require antibiotics and antifungal medications that are either given orally or placed directly on the affected area. Sometimes they require testing and changes in diet as well. There are natural products available to repel insects and sooth skin itch. There are also natural foods and dietary supplements that you can feed your pet in order to prevent health and skin problems from becoming an issue as your pet grows and ages. Talk to your veterinarian about preventive measures you can take to protect your pets from many types of allergies and health issues that they may be susceptible to.