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More than 20 million pets across the US and Canada suffer from skin conditions and many of these are related to allergies.
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For pet owners, symptoms associated with allergies can be annoying and very frustrating. Constant chewing and licking can upset owners and lead to a break in the human-animal bond.
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Allergies are an over-reaction of the body’s immune system to a foreign material, most often a protein.
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For people, allergy symptoms such as sneezing and sniffling are caused by the body’s response to histamine. The nose and upper airways of people have many cells with histamine receptors.
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Pets, on the other hand, have fewer histamine receptors in the nose and a much larger number of histamine receptors in the skin. When histamine reacts with these receptors, the pet feels itchy.
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Continued scratching at the site will actually lead to more histamine release as the skin is damaged, causing the pet to chew, lick, and constantly scratch at the site.
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As damage to the skin continues, hair will be lost and the site actually begins to ooze. These are more commonly known as “hot spots”.
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Fleas are a common reason for pet allergies. Many pets are allergic to the flea’s saliva and become very irritated with even one single flea.
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Inhaled allergens, such as pollen and molds, constitute a condition known as “atopy”. These pets often inherit this susceptibility from the parents and are very common in certain breeds.
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Food allergies can also occur. Despite misconceptions, food allergies are not due to sudden diet changes. Many pets have eaten the offending food for years before any symptoms occur.
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Some relief of allergy symptoms can be found through anti-histamines or potentially steroids. However, many veterinarians are reluctant to use steroids for extended periods of time.
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Despite these medications bringing relief, allergies can not be cured. However, the good news is that they can be well-managed with a team effort from the veterinarian and the pet owner.
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For some pets, a referral to a veterinary dermatologist might be in order.
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Your family veterinarian will always be ready to help provide the proper skills and medicine to keep your pet healthy. But, the pet owner is truly an integral part of managing any pet with allergies.
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