May - Canine Allergy Month

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It is important to get to the underlying reason as to why your pet may be itching.  3 most common types of allergies include:

1) Flea Allergy: Flea bite hypersensitivity and flea allergic dermatitis is the most common skin disease in pets. It is the saliva from the flea is actually believed to be the cause of the allergy or sensitivity.  Just one flea bite can keep a pet itchy for weeks!  Dogs will typically bite/scratch their tail area and may have hair loss.  Monthly, year-round flea control and preventative is necessary to keep your pet symptom free.

2) Atopy: A simple way to think of atopy for pets would be simply saying that the pet inhales an airborne allergen but instead of sneezing and sniffling, the pet gets itchy skin.  The allergen is not only inhaled but is in contact with the skin. While we cannot control the allergens that are in the environment, we can try to help our pet be more comfortable.

3) Food Allergy: A food allergy is a reaction to food that involves the body’s immune system.  Your dog may itch, lick, and chew paws, flank, neck, and ears.  The itching can be during all seasons. A small percentage of food allergy dogs may only have ear infections.  The dog may also have some gastrointestinal signs such as vomiting or diarrhea.   A food allergy trial may be recommended to determine if this is the cause of your pet’s itching.

If you think your pet may be suffering from allergies, please contact us!  We can help!