|
Allergy Testing and Treatment
Surprised? Didn't think
pets suffered from normal allergies? They sure do!
And
the Dallas area is the “allergy capital” of Texas.
Allergies (also known as inhalant
allergies, allergic dermatitis, or atopy) vary a great
deal in both their severity and age of onset. Among dogs,
allergies
can start
as early
as 3 months and progress through to old age. Symptoms may
be so mild at first that they are not noticed but are usually
progressive and become clinically apparent before 3 years
of age. Among humans, the nose is the primary target of
allergies - and hay fever symptoms predominate. Among dogs
and cats, the skin is the major target organ, so itching
and scratching are the main symptoms.
Depending on what they are
allergic to, some dogs and cats have seasonal allergies
while others are itchy all year long. The biggest offenders
are tree pollens, grass and weed pollens, mold spores and
the house dust mites. Food allergies are also a common
offender.
Allergies in dogs and cats
tend to run in certain breeds and along family lines, somewhat
like they do in people. If an individual’s parents have
allergies, then there’s a good chance that that individual
will develop them eventually as well.
Certain dog breeds, such as
the Cocker Spaniel and Golden
Retriever seem to be especially allergy prone.
Fortunately, there are now several options for diagnosing
and treating allergies. Veterinary specialists and certain
general practice veterinarians, such as those of us at
the Chastain Veterinary Medical Group, can perform intradermal
allergy testing.
Intradermal Skin Allergy Testing is
the ideal method of testing for inhalant allergies
or atopy.
This procedure
is also the most accurate method of identifying offending
allergens for possible avoidance or inclusion in an allergy
desensitization treatment program. Serum allergy testing
is an easier option, but the costs are not much different
and we prefer the superior accuracy of Intradermal Skin
Allergy Testing.
Many veterinarians and veterinary
allergy specialists have achieved good Intradermal Skin
Allergy Test results by taking advantage
of allergen cross reactivity and testing for reactions to
as few as 25-35 allergens. At the Chastain Veterinary Medical
Group we test for reactions to 52 of the most common allergens
in this area. This procedure takes longer, but for us, we
feel it provides a clearer picture of the pet’s true allergy
status.
Is it important to
treat allergies?
Mild allergies in a pet can sometimes be safely ignored, especially in the
early stages. However, in time, most animals will need some form of treatment.
This treatment is generally life long.
Allergies are rarely
cured. The goal is control.
Allergy treatment generally takes the form of some combination of the following:
- Medicated baths,
- Soothing cream rinses,
- Anti-itch sprays,
- Allergy shots (hyposensitization
injection),
- Antihistamines and special
fatty acid formulations
and when necessary corticosteroids in judicious dosages, with careful monitoring.
In some cases, a change in
lifestyle or lifelong treatment is necessary. As always,
prevention of flea and tick infestations, good grooming
and a healthy diet should strengthen your pet’s resistance
to allergies.
Remember!
Pet allergies can be serious,
so
call us today if your pet is itching!
| 
