An Itch and a Scratch - By Brian A. Serbin, DVM

Come spring many of us humans sniffle, snort, or rub our eyes. We who suffer from these afflictions realize that our beautiful weather, which Phoenix is famous for, also brings with it those dreaded allergies. Our pets also suffer this time of year as well. Does any of this sound familiar to those of us who own pets? It’s 4 am and your dog, who sleeps beside your bed, wakes you with it’s incessant licking. Or your cat develops a cough similar to that of a person with a two-pack a day smoking habit. Or your dog starts “snorting” and “honking” for no apparent reason. If any of this sounds familiar it is highly probable that your pets are suffering from allergies, not unlike those that cause you to sniffle, snort or rub your eyes.

One of the most common reasons why pet owners call or visit a veterinary hospital this time of year is due to allergy problems in their pets. Allergies can be toward common pollens and molds, dusts, household chemicals, foods, and insects. The purpose of this article is to educate the reader on the most common type of allergy seen in our pets, inhalant allergies better known as Atopy.

Inhalant allergies are the kind of allergies that we humans are most used to. Just like us, our pets get “hay fever,” meaning that they can be allergic to the pollen and mold that fills the outside air during the spring. They can also be allergic to the dust mites, mildew, and mold that can be inside every home. These kinds of allergens usually produce severe itching in pets, which is usually concentrated in the ears, feet, groin, and armpits. They can also lead to respiratory problems like coughing, sneezing, and “reverse sneezing” (honking or snorting). Dogs in particular may develop hairless, irritated spots, commonly called “hot spots,” from the constant chewing and scratching of the skin.

Those animals that are allergic to “things in the air” are usually allergic to more than one particular thing. Attempting to remove the particular cause of the allergy is difficult especially if the offending allergen is a pollen given off by a popular or common plant. These animals usually have a seasonal allergy, those occurring in the spring or fall. Animals allergic to household dust, mites, or molds may be affected all year long.

What makes allergies hard to deal with is that in many cases, you either won’t be able to determine what is cause the allergic reaction or you will not be able to remove it from your pet’s environment. Talking to your veterinarian will help. Your veterinarian will be able to formulate the appropriate treatment for your pet’s allergy. Sometimes this requires testing as well as specific treatment.
Most of the time a pet’s allergy can be treated with medications and nutrient supplements.

Veterinarians use antihistamines, steroids, shampoos, ointments, creams, and nutriceuticals (fatty acids) to help relieve our pets discomfort. These may be used individually or in combination. Also immunotherapy can also be used. Immunotherapy, commonly referred to as “allergy shots” requires an animal to be tested to determine what it is allergic too. This is done with intradermal (“scratch”) tests or by blood testing. Intradermal testing requires the veterinarian to inject small amounts of materials that could be causing your pets allergies. If a reaction occurs (the skin becomes inflamed) the animals is considered to have an allergy to that particular item. Blood testing requires an analysis of the pet’s immune system. It should be mentioned that skin testing is widely regarded as a more accurate and complete test as to what an animal is allergic too. Once it is determined what the pet is allergic to, these substances are injected into the pet. Through a series of shots it is hoped that the pet becomes desensitized to the offending allergen. However, this may take some time often requiring upwards of six to twelve months before any improvement is seen.

Pets with allergic problems can be pretty miserable creatures, and unfortunately they can’t be cured. Allergies are life-long, chronic problems. The good news is that there is much that can be done to make your pet comfortable and to feel better the times of the year that allergies bother them.

Ingleside Animal Hospital is located at 4855 E. Thomas Road.