BRIDGE VETS
Pets and Allergies
Spring has finally arrived and the sun has appeared in the sky again! The plants are springing back into life, injecting colour back into our gardens; however if you suffer from allergies, you will be aware of the other consequences of the blossom, many people endure hayfever, asthma and eczema as a result. Well not only do us humans suffer from allergies, but so do our pet companions. Have you ever walked your dogs through the park and noticed that when you get home your dog is chewing its feet, or when they play in the garden they become itchy? Does your cat groom more and sometimes scratch furiously? These could all be signs of a skin allergy. What is an allergy? An allergy is a reaction of the immune system to a common substance known as an allergen. Allergens include; foods, pollens from trees, grasses and flowering plants and many more. Allergens can enter the body by inhalation, ingestion or even just skin contact. If your pet is repeatedly exposed to an allergen their immune system will react, often resulting in poor health. Allergies can be immediate (classical) or occur within a few hours or days (delayed). The symptoms of allergies - skin problems including itching, scratching, face rubbing, paw chewing, persistent licking and over-grooming, hair loss along with potential ear problems, which can result in swelling, itching and soreness. Gastrointestinal problems resulting in diarrhoea, vomiting, loss of appetite and weight problems. They can also cause low stamina and energy levels and even behavioural problems. Fleas commonly cause skin problems - not just in the warmer weather - but all year round, as can ticks, lice and mites. Other illnesses can also cause your pets skin to become irritated. Once irritated your pet will scratch, damaging the skin, which in turn leaves the skin very susceptible to infection. Skin infections often cause a marked increase in the irritation, so problems can rapidly progress from there. There are a number of potential causes for your pet’s behaviour, so the vets at Bridge will conduct a thorough work-up to identify the causes, often allergies are only part of the problem. At Bridge we usually find it is a combination of factors causing your pets distress. We will always conduct a thorough examination and advise on any further steps we could take to investigate further, or if appropriate simple steps to take to alleviate the problem. For some cases it is clear the main problem is an allergy, in which case we can do some tests to determine what the cause is, then using these results it is sometimes possible to create a ‘vaccination’ to reduce your pet’s irritation. We can also advise regarding food trials to eliminate food allergies. Alongside these advanced methods of treatment, we also use a range of medications designed to treat the allergies, historically steroids were always used, but these medications potentially bring unwanted side effects, we now have very effective treatments available with far fewer side effects including daily tablets and monthly injections which are almost side effect free. As you can see, it is rarely a simple itch! So if your pet is irritated (or just irritating you with constant scratching and licking), come and see us, as we can help. Give the team a call on 01603 783920 and they will be happy to book an appointment with one of our vets who will help you both get some relief ! David Martin BVM&S MRCVS
Inputs by 15th Please 51
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