As a pet parent, the first sign of excessive sneezing or an unusual itch in your four-legged friend might make you fear for the worst. Although new symptoms in pets are a cause for alarm, there’s a good chance a common culprit could be the cause — allergies! Just like humans, pets can have allergic reactions that make them feel sick, irritable, or uncomfortable. From seasonal allergies to year-round triggers, there’s a number of sensitivities that could affect your pet’s well-being. 

What Are Allergies and Allergen Triggers 

Allergies are consistent across the animal kingdom — they occur when a typically harmless substance, called an allergen, causes one’s immune system to overreact when they come in contact. Environmental factors, food, or even bug bites can be allergens for pets. There are several different types of allergies our four-legged friends can be affected by, such as:

• Food Allergies: These are caused by a reaction to an ingredient in your pet’s food. Dairy, beef, chicken, and grains are typically what veterinarians find as the culprits.
• Environmental Allergies: When someone thinks of allergies in pets or humans, this is a common one that comes to mind. Substances found in our outdoor or home environments, such as mold, cleaning products, pollen, grass, and/or dust can trigger a pet’s immune system.
• Contact Allergies: These allergies occur when a pet comes in contact with materials such as certain fabrics, carpet fibers, or plastic food bowls.
• Flea Allergy Dermatitis: Pet immune systems can easily overreact to saliva left behind from a flea bite. Other, less common dog allergies can be caused by insects such as mosquitoes, ticks, bees, wasps, and spiders.

Allergies are quite common in pets. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, Flea allergies have been on the rise over the past 10 years — with a 12.5 percent increase in dogs and a 67.3 percent increase in cats. Environmental allergies are also on an upward trend, with a 30.7 percent increase in dogs and an 11.5 percent increase in cats over the past decade. 

While some allergens are present year-round, others may only affect your pet seasonally. Spring and summer, for example, might be times of the year where your four-legged friend may come in contact with a higher amount of allergens.

Signs of Allergic Reactions and Diagnosing 

Depending on the type of allergy, your pet’s symptoms may vary. For example, Flea Allergy Dermatitis is known to cause hair loss at the base of the tail and scabbing, whereas contact allergies lead to skin irritation and redness. Environmental allergies are behind common symptoms such as frequent ear infections, watery eyes, and sneezing similarly to food allergies. However, pets who are digesting food allergens will also display signs such as excessive licking/chewing of paws, diarrhea, and vomiting. 

Although your pet will display varying reactions depending on the allergy, they all have one major symptom in common: excessive itching. If you notice your four-legged friend itching and scratching more than usual, it’s best to observe for additional symptoms to help narrow down the specific cause.

Pet Paradise and NewDay Veterinary Care’s Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Clay Hellner, assures parents that, “allergies can safely be diagnosed in several, non-invasive ways by veterinarians.” For example, if a food allergy is suspected, they may recommend elimination diet trials to identify the specific ingredient allergen. Skin and/or blood tests are usually the most effective in discovering contact and environmental allergens, whereas your veterinarian might try several types of flea control trials when identifying fleas as the underlying cause.

Management and Treatment of Allergies and Symptoms

Alongside visiting your veterinarian, there are several ways to manage your pet’s symptoms — so their allergies don’t give them too ‘ruff’ of a time! 

Frequent grooming is critical to help ease skin irritation, which applies to all allergen types. Regular baths with hypoallergenic shampoos are a great option, and can be given at-home or by a dog groomer. 

For further symptom management, your veterinarian may recommend several options based on your pet’s specific allergy type. For food allergies, prescription diets offer allergen-free options you can switch to — and eventually, safe foods can be added back into your pet’s diet. High-quality, limited-ingredient lines are also effective long-term.

Environmental allergies can be a little more difficult to control — however, small changes in your daily routine, such as frequent vacuuming, using air filters, and wiping your pet’s paws after walks outside, can help lessen their exposure to allergens. 

In severe cases, veterinarians may prescribe medications to treat allergies. Antihistamines, steroids, JAK inhibitors, or allergy shots can help control reactions. 

Don’t Let Allergies Stop Their Stride

Allergies can be uncomfortable for our pets, but with appropriate treatment and management, they don’t have to put a damper on your pet’s playtime! With the upcoming allergy season, be sure to book a grooming appointment at any Pet Paradise resort to keep up with their skin health! If you have any suspicions about potential allergies in your pet, our veterinarians at NewDay Veterinary Care are here to assist you in diagnosing and treating cat and dog allergies!