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Is your cat hacking and coughing? Does your dog scratch until he’s raw? Do your pet’s eyes look watery? Most of us would attribute these symptoms to hairballs, fleas, and infection, but another, more common culprit could be the cause. Pets, just like people, can suffer from allergies. Symptoms, causes and treatments are remarkably similar for our four footed friends.
The types of allergies are contact (brought on by skin contact with an allergen), inhalant (caused by breathing in allergens), ingested (allergies to food and oral drugs), and sub dermal (less common, caused by the injection of medication).
Contact allergens are most commonly caused by your pet’s contact with plants, especially oily ones which will cling to the animal’s fur, carpet, carpet fresheners, newsprint, household cleaners, and plain old dust. Symptoms of contact allergies include rashes, changes in skin color and sores, especially in the chin, underarm, stomach, and ears. These are the areas that receive the most contact with the allergy causing substance. As with humans, a skin patch test is used to diagnose the cause of the allergy. Your vet may refer you to a veterinary dermatologist for testing. Treatment for contact allergies involves keeping the pet away from the allergen, such as removing houseplants from the pet’s vicinity, limiting the animal’s exposure to grass, keeping them away from carpeted areas, even changing their food and water dishes to metal or glass containers. If this doesn’t stop the reaction, your pet may require treatment with steroid-based drugs. Unfortunately, such treatments are not always effective, so the best treatment is to isolate the cause of the reaction and make sure your pet has no (or limited) contact with it.
The same substances that cause similar reactions in humans frequently bring on inhalant allergies. Pollen, mold, dust, tobacco smoke, fragrances, even something as common place as kitty litter. In felines, symptoms include coughing or “hacking”, watery eyes, sneezing, congestion, and sniffling. These symptoms are often misdiagnosed as a respiratory tract or eye infection. Diagnosis of inhalant allergies is also accomplished with a skin patch test. A blood test, though less reliable, can be used if a dermatologist is not available, or if the skin is too irritated to test. Treatment will include bronchi dilators, steroids, and an antibiotic if an infection is present. Dogs, on the other hand, usually react with skin problems, characterized by scratching, chewing at their skin, and repeated licking of their paws. Treatment of inhalant allergies includes removal of the irritants, antihistamines, corticosteroids, and immunotherapy.
Ingested allergens are most commonly found in the food your pet eats. Surprisingly, it is not the color or preservatives that cause the majority of reactions; instead it is the meat, grain, or dairy products that are used in the food. This category also includes a reaction to medication given by mouth, and those brought on by your pet nibbling on plants. Food allergies take anywhere from seven days to ten years to manifest; it is not an instantaneous reaction. For this reason, a food allergy is one of the last things an owner suspects. If your pet has been eating the same brand and type of food for five years, it’s not going to be the first thing you consider if the animal suddenly becomes ill. A reaction to medication or plant ingestion will manifest much more rapidly. Symptoms in both felines and canines include itching and a rash, and in some cases diarrhea and vomiting. A cat may also have an excessively oily coat. Fortunately, treatment for this type of allergy is the most simple. If your pet has a reaction to a plant, remove the plant from the pet’s vicinity. If it is an allergy to a medication, antihistamines are usually given until the medication is finished. A food allergy is treated by implementing a bland, hypoallergenic diet. It’s possible to buy hypoallergenic food at many pet supply stores. These foods usually consist of rice and boiled chicken or lamb. Giving your pet distilled water to drink is also a good idea, because the minerals and chemicals in tap water can cause a reaction. Symptoms should abate within a week.
The last category of allergens is the sub dermal allergen. These are relatively uncommon, and usually caused by the injection of a medication under the skin. The reaction will subside as the medication is absorbed into the system. A severe reaction can be treated with antihistamines.
As you can see, allergies in pets closely parallel those in humans. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are much the same. Rashes and itching are the most common symptom of any of the four types of allergies, and the skin test is the most accurate way to pinpoint the cause of the allergy. Corticosteroids and antihistamines are not a cure for allergies; they only relieve the symptoms. Antihistamines are generally considered safe to use, while corticosteroids can have severe side effects. Short-term side effects include panting and excessive thirst, while long term use can cause muscle loss, diabetes and Cushing’s disease. Corticosteroids should be used only as a last resort.
By taking the same precautions that you would use for an allergic human, you can prevent or minimize allergic reactions in your pets. First and foremost, isolate the cause of the reaction, remove it from the pet’s vicinity, and talk to your vet about appropriate treatment. Your pet will thank you.
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