Seasonal Pet Allergies

The season is changing… Are you ready to protect your furry friend from the itch?

Most of us are excited about the change of the season. We look forward to beautiful fall colors, cooler days and evenings, fun local hiking and outdoor activities, and pumpkin spice everything. But did you know that late summer / early fall is one of the most common times of misery for many pets? Atopy, loves to flare its ugly head at this time of year and we at Countryside Animal Clinic are here to help.

Atopy is the genetic tendency to develop allergic reactions to allergens in the environment. It is the most common condition we as veterinarians treat in the realm of dermatology. There are other causes of allergy and itching, like food allergy and flea bite allergy but if your pet gets itchy repeatably at certain times of the year only, atopy is likely to blame.

Common Allergens Include:

• Grasses
• Pollens
• Molds
• Dust and Dust Mites

We can’t avoid these everyday allergens, but we can prevent the misery you and your pet will experience if they are allergic to them. The allergic response makes chemicals in the body that cause intense itch. Your dog or cat will naturally respond with licking or scratching to this sensation.

All of this scratching, licking and chewing damages the skin’s functioning defenses against the yeast and bacteria that normally live in small numbers there. Once the defenses are damaged, secondary infection quickly sets in. This causes gross odor, thickened skin, red or pink inflamed skin, lesions like pustules, infection debris filling the ears, discomfort, pain, and results in worsening itch. This then becomes a self-sustaining cycle of discomfort and infection. It is not uncommon for owners to complain that it is interrupting their sleep, their pets sleep, and everyone’s quality of life in the household.

Common Areas of the Body Affected:

• Paws
• Face and Ears
• Legs
• Belly and Groin and Armpits

We can help! We see allergic pets nearly every day. We know how frustrating this is for you as an owner and how miserable it is for your pet. We have the ability to diagnose the type of infections involved and resolve them with oral and topical medications. There are also several newer and safe options for blocking the itch response in dogs. Cytopoint is an injection that we give in the office that blocks the itch response and lasts for 4 – 8 weeks. Apoquel is an oral pill that blocks the itch response in a different manner. Safety is a great feature of these newer medications. Gone are the days of relying on dangerous steroids and suppressing the immune system to treat allergies.

Allergies can be frustrating and expensive. However, there are things you can do to help keep the costs lower over time.

Important Allergy Pearls of Wisdom

• Block the itch cycle at the first sign of itch – BEFORE infections set in for less medications needed and best results. Less infection = less expense and less misery for you and your pet.
• When your pet comes in from outdoors and carries pollen on its coat and paws, wipe it down with a damp cloth. Bathe your pet more frequently during this time to remove allergens as well.
• Use a good flea preventative year-round. Even one or two flea bites can greatly intensify the allergic response. (For best results use an oral product but we can help you with effective and safe choices).
• Keep us in the loop. If medications are not working as expected or new signs are developing, let us know. There are many avenues we can pursue for optimal control.
• Be proactive. If you know a certain time of year is always a problem for your pet, start medication PRIOR to onset of itching and problems. Avoid the frustrating cycle completely.
• Consider getting pet insurance. The ideal time for this is when you have a young and healthy puppy. Once allergies are diagnosed, treatment will not be covered under the policy. Enroll in pet insurance BEFORE your pet develops any health issues for maximum benefit.

We at Countryside Animal Clinic look forward to helping you and your furry family members through the change in season and with all of your wellness and health concerns. We have expanded to include two full-time doctors and are seeing new patients and clients. Please reach out if you need to update important wellness care or have medical concerns. Follow us on Facebook to follow our current clinic happenings and meet some of our adorable patients. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Sincerely,

Dr. Trisha Metzger and the entire fabulous team at Countryside Animal Clinic