Is Your Pet Allergic?

Did you know that allergies in pets are just as common as they are in humans? Itching from allergies can be just as uncomfortable for pets as poison ivy is for us. At Conrad Weiser Animal Hospital, we have a lot of experience treating pets with allergies and skin conditions.

Our approach to treating pets with allergies is to figure out the root of the problem and treat it with the right remedy, rather than simply addressing the symptoms. We want pets to be comfortable for the long term, so we make sure we understand what is causing the symptoms first.

How Do I Know if My Pet Is Allergic?

Many of the symptoms pets display are similar to those of humans with allergies. They include:

• Itchy skin
• Itchy feet
• Excessive licking
• Excessive biting
• Hair loss
• Head shaking due to ear disease

What Can Cause Pet Allergies?

Environmental allergies in pets are caused by the same things that cause human allergies, including:

• Pollen
• Mold
• Dust mites

Pets can also suffer from:

• Food allergies
• Fleas
• Contact allergies

Atopy, or environmental allergies, is the most common form of pet allergies. It is caused by airborne particles like ragweed, other pollens, dust, and molds.

Contact dermatitis, or contact allergies, is less common and refers to allergies to carpets, cleaners, plastic, and other materials your pet may come into contact with.

Food allergies account for approximately 10–15% of allergies in dogs and cats. Sometimes a pet that has a food allergy will also demonstrate symptoms such as vomiting or soft stool.

Allergy testing is sometimes indicated to find the cause of a pet’s skin disease. Weeds, grasses, trees, molds, dust mites, and other allergens can all make your pet itchy. Once we find what your pet is allergic to, we can customize an allergy vaccine to help decrease your pet’s itchy skin or ears. Your pet’s custom allergy vaccine can be given by injection or, more recently, by an oral spray.

If you are not sure whether your pet is suffering from an allergy, or your pet has a dermatological condition that is bothering him or her, please contact us right away so that we can examine your pet and determine the cause of the discomfort.