Journals > Health & Wellness > View Entry

8:07am

I was mentioned in Sandra Toney's article

Featuring:

Baby

Pets have Allergies Too!
By Sandra L. Toney | Posted 6/16/2008 16:06:56


Puddles had not defecated in several days. Since it was a multi-household cat and they were indoor/outdoor, no one really knew that fact. She was found lethargic one morning and rushed to the veterinarian. Since this was the time BEFORE the wonderful technology of today’s liquid flea treatment (behind the neck), she had to wear the flea collar, get flea powdered, and bathed. Her stomach was bare from her constantly licking it, however, which is oftentimes an anxiety response.



The veterinarian was astonished at what he found – 14 inches of impacted feces stuck in her intestines – all due to the fact that she was allergic to flea bites! The connection from one to the other was unbelievable. Puddles had scratched and bit (ingested) so much fur causing the blockage to occur. If not found that day, she would have died.



But pet allergies are complicated and not always what they seem. For instance, airborne allergies, such as pollen, usually do not show up as nasal congestion, watery eyes, sneezing, etc.; symptoms which humans normally exhibit. Although allergies are a disorder of the immune system, the substance that causes an allergic reaction can be ingested, inhaled, touched, or obtained from fleas. In many instances, exposure to the particular substance results in a skin allergy, and the pet scratches itself frantically to relieve the irritation. Besides an anxiety problem, constant scratching is also a form of OCD – what we know today as Obsessive Compulsive Disorder – which takes on many forms.





Many pets are genetically disposed to a condition called atopy, in which the pet becomes increasingly sensitive to inhaled substances such as house dust, pollen, and molds. This results in thinning fur and excessive licking and chewing. It seems that most pet allergies, no matter what form they are from, come down to dermatology issues. Jill A. Richardson, DVM, Resident Veterinarian atZootoo.com says, “Dermatology problems take a while to figure out. They can all look very similar. Usually, your regular veterinarian will try some basic symptomatic care to rule things out, but sometimes it is just quicker to consult with a dermatologist directly.”



Dr. Richardson has her own story of how allergies can affect pets – even when they belong to a veterinarian! Some pets have a hypersensitivity to certain foods, such as fish, liver, or dairy products. “I adopted Baby, a three-year-old Neapolitan Mastiff from the NYC Animal Care and Control,” recalls Dr. Richardson. “When he first came to me, he had patchy circular areas of hair loss all over his body (also known as a moth eaten appearance). He also smelled like a mixture of wet musty laundry and corn chips.



“Since many skin problems can look very similar, I consulted with a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist who gave me some treatment recommendations,” continues Dr. Richardson. “It turned out that my 200-pound ‘Baby’ was allergic to beef. Dogs can be allergic to almost anything and beef is one of the more common food-type allergies. So, after being on a non beef diet and weekly cleansing baths, Baby now has a beautiful coat and smells great.”



Hypersensitivity rashes, caused by rubbing against certain plants, rubber and plastic dishes, and even other PETS, can occur in our pets. So, pet owners should remember that any strange symptoms, even if they seem disconnected from the source it’s coming from, could be an allergy – even if your own common sense tells you it’s impossible -- because it’s not!



Don’t let allergies (no matter what the kind or source) ruin you and your pet’s lives. Taking time to watch for particular symptoms and noticing even the “little” things your pet inhales, ingests, or comes in contact with, you will need to report them to your veterinarian during your dog or cat’s vet visit. This can make all the difference in the world and turn your sometimes-very-miserable furry friend into your happy, allergy-free best friend once again.


Sandra L. Toney has been writing about cats for 15 years. An award-winning author of eight books, such as The Simple Guide to Cats and The Little Book of Cat Tricks, Toney is a professional member of the Cat Writers’ Association and the Dog Writers Association. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three finicky felines.