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Allergies in Pets: What You Can Do

Cat Lying Down

Does your pet itch, scratch or lick themselves excessively? It can mean that your furbaby may have allergies. While humans often outgrow allergies, allergies in pets tend to worsen as they age. How do you know whether your pet suffers from allergies?

Common Allergies in Pets

To know if your pet suffers from allergies, you have to understand the common types of allergies in pets. There are skin allergies, food allergies, and environmental-caused allergies. To make things more complicated, the symptoms of all these allergies often overlap. 

#1 Flea Allergies

Flea allergies are the most frequent skin illness in your pets. A single or two flea bites each week are enough to make affected pets itchy. The allergen that causes the itching is the flea saliva.

Signs of Flea Allergies
  • Itchy skin and irritation (especially at the base of the tail)

You can consider purchasing fleas and ticks relief sprays such as the TropiClean OxyMed Medicated Treatment Rinse for Cats & Dogs and Absolute Plus + Neem Flea & Tick Control For Dogs & Cats for your furry buddy!

#2 Food Allergies

Your pets can develop food allergies, also known as adverse food responses, at any time in their lives. The allergy is most commonly triggered by the protein component of the food. For instance, beef, pig, chicken, or turkey. Food allergies can also be caused by vegetable proteins. For example, those found in maize or wheat, as well as food additives and preservatives. Itching, intestinal problems, and respiratory discomfort are some of the symptoms.

Signs of Food Allergies
  • Gastrointestinal signs, such as diarrhoea
  • Vomiting, or an increased number of bowel movements per day

You can consider putting your furry friend on Wellness Simple Diet or Taste of the Wild Prey range

#3 Environmental Allergies

Environmental allergies, also known as atopy,  compounds found in your house or wherever else your pet spends time can trigger.

These allergens are ingested or absorbed through the skin when your pet comes into contact with them. Some common allergens include:

  • Pollens
  • Plant or animal fibres
  • Dust mites
  • Mould spores
Signs of Environmental Allergies
  • Scratching/itchy skin, licking (especially the paws), and face rubbing.
  • Red skin
  • Loss of fur, and recurrent skin
  • Ear infections

Common Signs of Allergies in Pets

  • Itchy skin
  • Scratching
  • Licking
  • Face rubbing
  • Red skin
  • Loss of fur
  • Recurrent skin and ear infections
  • Gastrointestinal (GI) signs
  • Vomiting or diarrhoea
  • Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
  • Paw chewing or swollen, sensitive paws

Allergies in Pet Treatment By Type

#1 Flea Allergies

The goal of flea allergy dermatitis treatment is to alleviate itching skin and irritation until the fleas are gone. Flea management is necessary to reduce allergy symptoms in a flea-allergic dog.

There are several flea control solutions and drugs on the market. Some come in the form of a liquid that you press into your dog’s skin. Others, such as NexGard are chewable tablets are oral medications. Consult your veterinarian to identify the best course of action.

#2 Environmental Allergies

If allergy testing is not done, the therapy will be symptomatic. It will try to minimise or eliminate your dog’s symptoms. Some treatments include:

  • Oral medicines such as antihistamines
  • Injectable medicines
  • Omega-3 fatty acids
  • Steroids
  • Bathing often

Steroids should not be a long-term usage in the management of allergies. It can cause serious adverse effects.

#3 Food Allergies

Treatment for food allergies can include feeding a hypoallergenic diet for 8-12 weeks. By doing so can you tell if your dog has a food allergy.

Hypoallergenic diets feature fewer components and employ an unusual protein source. They are processed differently (hydrolyzed) to reduce allergic symptoms. The idea is that a pet cannot be allergic to something it has never eaten before.

To determine the right diet, consult your veterinarian. Additionally, over-the-counter foods are not recommended for a proper food trial. During the trial time avoid, treats, flavoured medication, and human meals. Other allergy treatments which seek to ease symptoms may be carried out by veterinarians while they wait to see whether a diet change may help.

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How to Live with Pets When You Are Allergic to Them

Do you want a pet but are allergic to them? Many people with pet allergies are distraught over the prospect of losing their furry buddies. However, there are ways to control these allergies while keeping your furry friends. 

Is It A Pet Allergy?

The first step in combating any allergy is determining the source. Rule out any other possible causes of your allergies, such as dust, pollen, food, medicine, and so on. Cats and dogs with thick, dense coats may hold environmental allergens in their hair. These allergens could be the ones triggering your allergic reaction instead.

Symptoms of Pet Allergies

  • Itchy, red skin.
  • Breathing difficulties.
  • Coughing, sneezing, and wheezing.
  • Rash across the face, neck, and upper chest.
  • Eyes and nose swelling, itching, and/or running.
  • Asthma flare-ups (if you have pre-existing asthma).

Why Do Pet Allergies Make You Sneeze?

If you have pet allergies, it would be ideal to understand what causes your allergies to flare up. The cause of the allergy is the protein found in pets’ saliva, urine, and excrement. These proteins may get onto their fur and skin and accelerate the spreading to humans, while dog dander usually linger for a shorter period of time.

These proteins can linger in your homes. Certain proteins linger longer than others, which is why some pets may affect you more than others. For instance, cat protein can stay up to four months in your home environment. They can get attached to couches, and any sort of cloth surfaces.

Tips for Living with Pets When You are Allergic

#1 Wash Yourself regularly

Cleaning your hands after giving your pet a good belly rub would prevent allergy flare-ups. It can protect you from accidentally rubbing the irritating, burning unpleasant things into your eyes. When you’re outside, pollen and dust settle on your hair, skin, and clothing. Wash yourself and your clothes on a regular basis to remove allergies.

#2 Invest in an Air Purifier

Anyone in your home that suffers from allergies or respiratory problems will benefit from an air purifier. To add on, you should consider purchasing a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) purifier. HEPA filters are intended to remove airborne contaminants from your home’s air. Remember to clean the filter to keep your home’s air quality healthy for both you and your pets. Alternatively, you can change the purifier once in a while. 

#3 Ensure Cleanliness in Your Home

Keep your floors clean, especially in the bedroom. Ensuring cleanliness will significantly minimise dust, pollen, dander and other allergens. To add on, you should wash linens such as clothes and bedding regularly. 

Not sure which kind of house cleaning tools are suitable for you and your pet? aPetMart got you covered! Check out these house cleaning tools. 

#4 Set Boundaries

It is tempting to sleep on your bed with your pets. Despite that, allowing them to snuggle up on your pillow can cause spreading of pollen on your face. Dander will easily rub into your eyes, can be inhaled, and will wreak havoc on your system. Thus, you and your pet will have separate bedrooms. Be sure to wash their bedding on a regular basis as well.

Medical Treatment

Over-the-counter medications are another option for dealing with pet allergies. Nasal steroids are usually the first-line treatment for allergies. They assist with nasal congestion, leaking, and draining. 

Other than that, antihistamines are an option too. They are great for alleviating itching and sneezing. Similarly, allergy shots are another helpful option. However, these are not effective for everyone. 

Serious allergies could develop which can cause an increase in sinus infections. Moreover, it can aggravate asthma leading to additional upper respiratory infections. Therefore, if you have severe allergic reactions to pets, avoiding contact with any cats or dogs would be recommended.