Frequently Asked Pet Allergy Questions at Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group
Is your pet showing the hallmark symptoms of an allergic reaction? If so, what should you do about it? Do you known the sings and causes of common pet allergies? Check out these answers to frequently asked pet allergy questions at Katy Area Veterinary Medical Group.
What Is an Allergy?
An allergy is an inappropriate immune system response to some normally harmless stimulus. When the body senses the presence of an attack, it creates histamine and antibodies in defense, even if the "disease" is nothing more than an everyday environmental element or food product.
What Are Some Common Environmental Allergy Triggers?
Pets may be allergic to common environmental triggers such as mold, seasonal pollens or grasses, smoke, industrial pollutants, perfumes, or plants like poison ivy. These allergens can cause skin irritation as well as coughing, sneezing, or runny eyes/nose. Flea and tick infestations could also be considered environmental allergens.
Why Do Pest Infestations Cause Allergy Symptoms?
Fleas and ticks bite their hosts to suck their blood, releasing saliva into the skin in the process. Many pets are allergic to this saliva, causing them to develop red, itchy welts as a result.
What Kinds of Symptoms Do Food Allergies Cause?
Food allergies may be mistaken for environmental allergies because they can cause respiratory and skin symptoms. However, they may also produce digestive symptoms such as diarrhea and vomiting.
What Are Some Common Allergens in Foods?
Proteins are usually the culprit in a food allergy. If your pet is eating products containing beef, lamb, poultry, or even plant proteins, any of these ingredients could be making your pet sick.
How Does Your Katy Vet Center Diagnose an Allergy Issue?
Our Katy vet center can administer skin tests to see which of several common allergens causes your pet's skin to react. We can also take blood samples for more detailed serum allergy testing. A food-based allergen can be identified by putting your pet on an elimination diet that excludes one probable culprit at a time.
What Kinds of Allergy Treatment Can You Provide?
We can provide different allergy treatment options based on your pet's specific form of allergy. Food allergies can often be controlled through hypoallergenic diets. Pest prevention medication can keep irritating fleas and ticks at bay. Antihistamines and anti-inflammatory drugs can control symptoms caused by unavoidable allergens.
Get the Answers Your Pet Needs at Our Katy Vet Clinic
Your pet's health and comfort are our business, so get the answers to your allergic animal's condition at our Katy vet clinic to get the answers. Call (281) 398-1551 today!