Why Pet Owners Should Be Concerned About Pet Allergies

As warm weather starts to roll in and flowers are in full bloom, you may notice your allergies starting to flare. People are not the only ones that suffer from allergies, our pets do too. An itchy dog is a common problem for many pet owners today. While the cause of this problem requires testing to truly diagnose and treat, many owners get frustrated with the situation. Dogs manifest allergies in different ways from humans. We tend to have itchy, watery eyes and nasal congestion or a runny nose. Dogs typically are very itchy and only brought in once infection has set in afterwards. By working with your Vet and explaining where your dog is itchy and when, a better treatment and testing plan can be put into action.

The first and most common is a simple flea allergy. These dogs can be extremely itchy and tend to have certain areas of the body affected, typically just above the tail and on their belly. Flea allergy is a hypersensitivity to the flea bite itself and although you may not see the fleas on your pet, they still probably bit them and died. This still leaves the simple fact that the flea bit your pet and can still cause this allergic reaction. It is important to note that most flea products do require a bite from the flea to work, so flea allergy often requires a comprehensive plan to treat and control long term.

by Dr. Timothy Leonards, DVM