Pet allergies in Viera have become increasingly prevalent. Spring has sprung on Brevard County’s Space Coast, and with it comes a lot of itching and ailments. From Rockledge to Suntree and Melbourne, allergens seem to be inescapable.
Allergies exist throughout the seasons. Cats, dogs, horses, and people can all have allergies! Symptoms of allergies can range from itchy ears to vomiting.
Three main factors can cause allergies in dogs and cats: fleas, food, and environmental allergens.
What is Causing the Rise of Pet Allergies in Viera?
Flea dermatitis is a medically correct way to say that your dog is allergic to fleas. Some dogs react to fleas utterly differently than other dogs. A dog with a flea allergy can be bitten by one flea and have a significant allergic response. This is why keeping your pet on a monthly flea preventative is imperative.
Food allergens for dogs and cats can be very confusing to people. Advertising and marketing try to make people believe that humans and dogs are similar. In this aspect, dogs do not mimic their human companions. Humans are very often allergic to grains and gluten, but dogs are more often allergic to proteins in their food. Proteins such as chicken or beef are common food allergens for dogs.
Environmental allergens are the most difficult to treat and not as easy to eliminate from a dog’s life. This often means the pet must be treated for other allergens and managed for environmental allergens.
Giving your dog or cat a bath with a shampoo formulated especially for animals without mineral oils, synthetic perfumes, or artificial dyes can help soothe the skin. The products you put on your pet can make a big difference – read the labels!
Symptoms of Pet Allergies in Viera
There are many symptoms of allergies, but itching is the most common. Your pet might be itchy around the ears, eyes, muzzle, and paws. He might also display hives and swelling of the paws, muzzle, and/or ears.
An inflamed and irritated abdomen can also be seen with allergies. Gastrointestinal symptoms are most commonly seen with food sensitivity but can also be seen with environmental allergies. Your pet might also have recurrent ear infections that are caused by an underlying allergy.
Diagnosing Allergies in Your Dog or Cat
Diagnosing allergies is challenging and requires a lot of time and money. An allergy test can help determine which allergens your pet specifically reacts to.
Once the test is completed, the company can make an allergy injection to desensitize your cat or dog. This injection must be given on a strict schedule. These tests can be expensive and take time to see results. For these reasons, veterinarians usually discuss options with owners to determine if another form of diagnostics will be more beneficial.
Understanding the Itch Threshold
A key point of allergies is understanding why your pet is itching. Imagine your pet has a level of 10 before it begins to itch. Each type of allergen has five points.
Your pet has a food allergy to chicken, but you have fed it chicken-based food for several years, so that is five points. Your pet also has a pollen allergy, so add five more points, which equals 10 points. Now, your pet’s allergy level is right at a 10.
One month, you accidentally forget to give your pet its flea preventative. Your pet gets one flea on its body. Flea dermatitis is five points, so your pet’s itch level is at 15, surpassing level 10.
He will not stop itching, chewing on his feet, and scratching his ears. This pet just went over its itch threshold. The only way to help your pet to stop itching is to get back under level 10. This means one of the allergens needs to be eliminated.
Effectively Treating Pet Allergies in Viera, Rockledge, & Suntree
If your pet is a prime example of the one described above, your veterinarian will prescribe a flea preventative first and foremost. This may be enough for your pet to return to normal.
If your dog does not stop itching, the next step will be a food trial to determine if the food is causing the itch response. This could also be coupled with allergy medication. If this does not produce a difference in your pet, it may be necessary to have your pet tested for specific allergens so they can begin the allergy immunotherapy injections.
As you can tell from this article, pet allergies can be very complicated. If you think your pet suffers from allergies, schedule an appointment with your veterinarian.
If you cannot drive your pet to the vet’s appointment yourself, contact Space Coast Pet Services! We can save you time and take your dog or cat to the vet for you! Is your pet already on allergy medications? Does that make it challenging to find a pet sitter in Viera?
We can safely administer medications to your pet when you need to leave town. Has your pet suffered from allergies in Brevard? Tell us what has helped in the comments!
Wishing your pup an itch-free Spring!
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