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May 16 2019
Home » News » Allergy Awareness Month
Achoo! With the spring season, the grass begins to grow, and the flowers and trees begin to bloom. Many people begin to show signs of seasonal allergies, including sneezing, runny nose, coughing, watery and itchy eyes, hives, and asthma.
Allergies are basically a “case of mistaken identity” by the body’s immune system. Every day the body encounters many kinds of “foreign invaders,” some that may be dangerous, such as bacteria, viruses, toxins, and parasites, and some that are basically harmless, such as dust mites, plant pollen, and cat or dog dander. Occasionally the immune system overreacts. It mistakes a harmless substance as harmful and responds with a full-blown attack. The immune response is a complicated process involving the release of histamine and other chemicals that results in a cascade of inflammatory changes, and with these, the signs of allergies.
Did you know that your pet can also experience seasonal allergies? Seasonal (or environmental) allergies in pets is called atopy and may also be referred to as inhalant allergies. The signs of allergies in pets are not necessarily the same as those in people, but atopy can cause just as much discomfort to your pet.
While you may notice sneezing, runny nose, coughing, and watery eyes, signs of atopy more often include skin irritation, itchiness, and inflammation resulting in the following:
Because some of these signs overlap with those seen with food, dust mite, and flea allergies, your veterinarian will need to determine the cause of your pet’s itchiness. To help figure out if your pet’s symptoms are due to seasonal allergens, such as tree or grass pollen, consider the following:
Do the signs come and go? Or are the signs the same all year long? If your pet’s signs change with the seasons, rather than remain the same all year long, chances are he has seasonal allergies.
Reducing the allergen “load” in your pet’s environment may seem challenging, but there are steps you can take. To reduce your pet’s exposure, do the following:
If you notice signs of atopy in your pet, make an appointment to see your veterinarian who will come up with a plan to reduce the irritation, itchiness, and inflammation caused by seasonal allergies.
LifeLearn News
Note: This article, written by LifeLearn Animal Health (LifeLearn Inc.) is licensed to this practice for the personal use of our clients. Any copying, printing or further distribution is prohibited without the express written permission of Lifelearn. Please note that the news information presented here is NOT a substitute for a proper consultation and/or clinical examination of your pet by a veterinarian.
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