How do Allergies affect my pet?
Allergies in dogs and cats affect primarily their skin. Instead of the runny nose and eyes like we get, the histamine containing cells, called mast cells in animals are concentrated throughout their skin. So, when a dog or cat suffers from hay fever (called atopy or atopic dermatitis in animals), they get itchy, red infected skin. Occasionally other systems can be affected such as vomiting and diarrhea.

What kinds of things can my pet be allergic to?
I concentrate allergies into 3 groups. This is an extreme oversimplification of the problem but it allows for a good starting point. I classify allergies into Flea Allergy Dermatits (FAD), Atopy or hay fever allergy, and Adverse Reactions to Food (ARF=food allergy). Differential diagnosis of these 3 allergies is then done in a systematic way involving history, clinical signs and response to treatment.

How are allergies treated?
Allergies can be treated by immunotherapy, avoidance or managed with medications. Immunotherapy involves finding out what your pet is allergic to and then giving them those offending allergens in a set regimen to desensitize their immune system. Avoidance is used mostly for food allergy and FAD. If your pet is allergic to flea bites, then we can get on a good flea protocol and eliminate fleas from the environment. Food allergy is similar. Usually the allergy is to the protein or carbohydrate source in the diet. We put your pet on a foreign diet that the body has yet to "see". These diets include, vegetarian, fish/potato, kangaroo/canola, green pea/duck, venison/potato as well as others. Medications involve using compounds to give your pet symptomatic relief.

For more information on allergy medications, see the allergy medications heading on the FAQ page