Pet Allergy FAQ

Pet allergies can make life difficult for your feline or canine companion. As most allergies affect your pet’s skin, he may suffer from intense itching, scratching or skin infections. If you suspect your pet may have an allergy, see your Quartz Hill veterinarian. A visit to Quartz Hill Veterinary Clinic could save your pet unnecessary pain and discomfort from allergies.

How Do Pets Get Allergies?

Like people allergies, pet allergies occur when the immune system reacts negatively to substances introduced to the body. In the case of animals, these substances could be grass, plants, trees, food, fleas, mites, pollen or chemicals in household or pet products. If your pet ingests, inhales or comes in contact with the substance he’s allergic to, it could cause severe allergic reactions. These reactions can range from intense itching to skin infections and conditions.

Pet allergies can be inherited from a pet’s parents. Sometimes symptoms show up right away after being exposed to an allergen; other times they don’t show up for years. Most pets that have allergies start showing signs of this condition between the age of 2 to 4 years.

What are some allergy symptoms in pets?

Itchy skin is perhaps the most common sign of an allergy. You may notice your pet scratching, biting or chewing on his skin incessantly. Hair loss, chronic ear infections, open sores, dry skin, and skin infections are other signs of allergic reactions.

How can a Quartz Hill veterinarian diagnose pet allergies?

At Quartz Hill Veterinary Clinic, we’ll take time to examine your pet and evaluate his symptoms to see if they could be caused by allergies. We’ll perform blood and skin tests to determine what’s causing your pet’s symptoms. To test your pet for food allergies, we’ll place him on a restricted diet for a few months, slowly introducing foods into his system to see what’s causing the allergic reaction.

By keeping allergens away from your pet, you can reduce or eliminate symptoms. We may also recommend medications to help manage allergy symptoms.

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