Allergies In Our Pets

You might be like millions of other people who are affected by allergies. But did you know that your furry friend can also be affected by allergies? While food allergies are incredibly common, so are environmental allergies, triggered by pollens and dust. Signs of allergies include an increase in scratching (particularly along the base of the tail or ears), sneezing, or constant licking or chewing on paws. Other symptoms include watery eyes, ear infections, diarrhea, or red, scabby skin.

With allergens everywhere, it might seem like you won't be able to do anything for your pet, but that's just not true. You are going to be most successful working with your veterinarian, but there are things you can try outside of the vet's office.

Food Allergies

Food allergies more commonly affect dogs than cats, but it is possible for both to be affected. The most common food allergen is chicken, which also happens to be one of the most common ingredients in pet foods. Grains, as with people, can also be a source of allergens, but grain-free diets may be linked to heart disease and should be used with caution and only under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Limited ingredient diets are the mainstay of treatment for pets with food allergies. Novel proteins, such as duck, rabbit, and soy, with carbohydrate sources like potato, are used to replace the common allergens such as chicken and corn. If you're feeding a limited ingredient diet, you also want to feed treats that don't have chicken or other allergens in them. Your veterinarian will be able to help you pick out the right diet for your pet's needs.

Environmental Allergies

While your pet can be affected by allergies during any time of year, they tend to be worse during the spring and summer. Allergy testing is sometimes needed to develop immunotherapy, but you can usually start by trying to control allergy symptoms. You can also try to practice avoidance, getting rid of contact with allergens by wiping off your pup's feet when he comes in from outside.

Herbsmith products are helpful when dealing with environmental allergies. These are a completely herbal solution, as opposed to giving your pet medication which may prompt side effects. We carry their supplement called “Clear AllerQi"which can calm the anxiety of your dog while helping to control phlegm and itchiness.

Other products that offer allergy relief work by simply calming the symptoms. For instance, Earth Animal offers “Allergy & Skin”, a liquid organic blend of herbs. This supplement aids in calming irritations caused by allergies.

Your veterinarian may find that your dog or cat needs a medical solution, especially if the herbs and a diet change aren't effectively controlling your dog or cat's symptoms. Antihistamines are commonly used to control allergy flare-ups. Newer medications include oral tablets such as Apoquel and injections like Cytopoint, administered by your veterinarian, to control allergy symptoms and flare-ups. You should make sure to work with your veterinarian to find the best option for your pet.

Allergies are an aggravating problem that is hard to avoid, and some places have allergy problems worse than others. Unfortunately, the moist environment in Florida that promotes plant growth can lead to worsening allergy issues for our furry friends. At Jake's Pet Supply, we have a variety of options to help control your pet's allergy symptoms and to alleviate the causes of these issues. Please contact us to talk about this issue further, or to get prices for any items mentioned here. We will be glad to deliver any products, even if they aren’t shown on our site.