Pet Allergy FAQs

People aren’t the only ones who suffer from allergies. Pets are also prone to this condition. Allergies can cause dermatology, gastrointestinal, and respiratory issues in your pet. These FAQs from Trumbull Animal Hospital explain more about pet allergies and what you can do to treat them.

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What types of allergies can pets have?

Pets can be allergic to things in their environment such as pollen, dust, dander, plants, chemicals, household or grooming products, or certain ingredients in their food. Flea bites can also trigger allergic reactions in pets if they are allergic to flea saliva.

How can allergies affect pets?

Environmental and flea allergies often show up on your pet’s skin in the form of rashes, redness, inflammation, or dry, scaly skin. Your pet may scratch, bite, or lick his skin incessantly due to itching. This can lead to open sores, balding and infections. Ear infections are also a common sign of allergies. Environmental allergies can also affect your pet’s respiratory system, causing frequent sneezing wheezing or nasal discharge. Food allergies can cause gastrointestinal problems like vomiting or diarrhea.

The good news is that pet allergies can be treated. If you notice these symptoms in your pet, contact our Trumbull vet to schedule a checkup. Once we’ve diagnosed his condition, we can recommend treatment.  

How are pet allergies diagnosed?

Our veterinarian has various means of diagnosing pet allergies to include blood tests, skin tests, and elimination diets. Our first step is to perform a comprehensive physical exam of your pet. We’ll take note of his symptoms and review his medical history to get a better picture of his overall health and past medical issues.

For skin problems, we’ll order blood and skin tests to determine the allergen that’s causing your pet’s symptoms. For gastrointestinal problems, we may put your pet on an elimination diet to help pinpoint the trigger. Once we’ve identified the allergens that are triggering your pet’s reactions, you can take steps to remove them from his environment or diet to curtail your pet’s symptoms.

How are pet allergies treated?

Although allergies cannot be totally cured, you can manage symptoms so your pet can live a high quality of life. Avoiding allergy triggers is a big step towards managing your pet’s symptoms. This may require changes to your pet’s lifestyle and diet. You may also need to change household or grooming products. Our vet may also recommend medications to control the allergy or treat infections.

See Our Trumbull Veterinarian for Pet Allergy Treatment

Through proper care and treatment, your pet can live a happy, healthy life, even with allergies. To schedule an appointment for allergy diagnosis, contact Trumbull Animal Hospital at (203) 268-6231 without delay. 

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