Fall Allergies |
| Q: Our 3 year old chow-mix has been itching and scratching lately. I don't see any fleas on her, could this be allergies? A: I'm afraid seasonal allergies are very bad right now. We are seeing several pets daily suffering from inhalant type allergies. Unlike people, when animals inhale substances like pollen that they are allergic to, they begin to itch. Most people simply suffer upper-respiratory symptoms. Substances such as tree and weed pollen, cat dander, house dust, flea saliva, molds and many others can all wreak havoc on your pet's allergies. There are many forms of treatment for inhalant type allergies. I typically start with a three part treatment protocol. This consists of weekly oatmeal shampoo baths, daily fatty-acid supplements, and a course of antihistamines. On mild cases this combination can have significant results and they are all very safe for your pet. In more severe cases we will add a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as prednisone instead of an antihistamine. Reducing doses of prednisone work very well against inhalant allergies, although they do have side affects. For those pets who can't experience relief without long term use of steroids, I recommend intradermal allergy testing. Remember, there are many other possibilities other than inhalant allergies that may be causing your pet to itch and scratch. See you veterinarian to rule out other causes before therapy is initiated. |
