Allergy in dogs and cats
Pets can be allergic too
Allergy in dogs and cats
Just like humans, dogs and cats can be allergic. Allergy is a disease in which the pet’s immune system over-reacts to everyday harmless substances. Your pet can be exposed to these substances, also called allergens, by inhalation or ingestion, but most often it happens through direct contact between the skin and an allergen.
This over-reaction (or sensitivity) is caused by a hereditary dysfunction in the pet’s immune system, but it can also develop over time with repeated exposure to a particular allergen. The substances that cause allergy – the allergens – include pollens, dust-mites, moulds, dander, insects and foods.
How to tell if my pet may be allergic?
Allergy is very common in animals – one out of every five pets is allergic to something.
Unfortunately, many of them are not diagnosed or treated, because the symptoms can be mistaken for behavioural issues.
The most common symptoms are itching and scratching. Licking and biting paws, over-grooming, and rubbing the face against the floor or furniture are also very common. It is important to know how to identify whether your pet is allergic.
Read moreHow can I confirm that my pet is allergic?
Not all itchy skin and scratching is due to an allergy. Other diseases can cause similar signs. This is why your vet will try to exclude all other possible causes first, such as fleas, scabies and infections.
If the allergy symptoms remain after excluding or treating other causes like these, the next step is to exclude food allergy. If food is not the problem, then environmental allergens can be tested for, by a quick and simple blood test, the PAX – Pet Allergy Xplorer – blood Test.
This is important, because without knowing which allergens are causing the problem, it is impossible to avoid them or to treat your pet.
Read moreWhat if my pet is allergic to food?
The most common allergens responsible for food allergy in dogs are for example the proteins in beef, chicken, wheat and milk. The food may have been part of their diet for a long time.
The only way to know whether your pet is allergic to a particular food is by doing a food elimination test. This involves giving your pet a new diet for 6–8 weeks to see if the symptoms improve, then giving the old diet again to see if the symptoms come back.
Most of the time it is difficult for the vet to know which elimination diet to give, but the PAX Food Test is designed to indicate which food ingredients may be right for your pet.
Read moreHow can my pet be treated for allergy?
The best way to treat an allergy is to avoid any contact between the pet and the allergens that are causing the problem. However, this is practically impossible, especially when it comes to environmental allergens.
The only treatment that can strengthen your pet’s immune system, so it no longer reacts to the allergens, is immunotherapy (also called allergen-specific immunotherapy).
Immunotherapy is a tailored treatment, made specifically for your pet, which will stop the symptoms from affecting its health, comfort and quality of life.
Read moreAllergy in dogs
The most common types of allergy in dogs are atopy (also known as atopic dermatitis, an environmental allergy), and food and flea allergies. Atopy is the most significant type, affecting around 15% of all dogs. The first symptoms generally occur before the age of 3 years, but it can occur in older dogs too.
Any dog can develop atopy, but certain breeds are at greater risk. These include the Lhasa Apso, Schnauzer, Boxer, Labrador, Golden Retriever, Poodle, West Highland White Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Jack Russell, Fox Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, Dalmatian, Bulldog, English Setter, Irish Setter and Chihuahua.
Allergy in cats
Our feline friends can suffer from allergies too. Cats are less likely to show signs of allergy, so detecting whether an allergy is present is quite challenging. The most common types of allergy in cats are atopy (also known as atopic dermatitis, and environmental allergy) and flea allergy. Atopy affects around 12.5% of all cats.
If your cat is already suffering from asthma, atopy often worsens the symptoms. Feline atopy is especially under-diagnosed, because a common symptom in many cats is over-grooming, which is mistaken for normal behaviour or anxiety.
Key facts about allergy in dogs & cats
- Be aware of any sign that suggests your pet has an allergy.
- Most signs can be considered to be normal behaviour, so it is important to do an allergy check-up with your vet.
- It is important to identify which allergens are causing the allergy so they can be avoided and the pet can be treated appropriately.
The first choice for treating allergy is immunotherapy, a customised, all-natural treatment which is safe and effective suitable for long term use.
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