Signs Your Pet Has Allergies

Has your pet been biting its paws or scratching more than usual? Your pet may be dealing with allergies. Allergies can disrupt your pet’s daily life and cause several uncomfortable symptoms. Fortunately, your veterinarian near you at Greystone Animal Hospital in Burnaby, BC, can help. Our veterinarian will test your pet and provide treatment to help it feel its best again. Learn more about pet allergies and how you can manage them below.

What Types of Allergies Do Pets Have?

Pets can have reactions to several things in their environment. The most common allergy types include environmental allergies, food ingredients, and flea bites. Frequent environmental allergens include pollen and dust, while common food allergens are wheat and beef. Your pet may also be allergic to household cleaners and perfumes.

Symptoms of Pet Allergies

Allergens tend to cause symptoms that affect pets’ skin. These signs might include the following:

•             Severe itchiness

•             Biting or chewing paws

•             Hair loss

•             Rashes or redness

•             Dry skin

These symptoms can affect your pet all over or just one area of its body. For example, your pet might have a flea allergy if it bites at the base of its tail a lot.

Allergies can also trigger symptoms in your pet’s gastrointestinal system. Allergic reactions to food ingredients often cause vomiting or diarrhea in pets. Environmental allergens like dust and pollen may lead to respiratory symptoms like sneezing or coughing. Some pets may also have runny eyes or wheeze.

How You Can Help Your Pet

Our veterinary team can test for allergic reactions to specific things, like pollen or flea bites, through skin or blood tests. We can also use an elimination diet to identify the food ingredients causing your pet’s allergy symptoms. Once our veterinary team determines what your pet is allergic to, we can recommend any of the following to ease symptoms:

•             Medication, like antihistamines

•             Medicated shampoo for flea infestations

•             Allergy injections

•             Dietary changes

•             Vacuuming and washing bedding often

Visit Greystone Animal Hospital to Treat Your Pet’s Allergies Today

If your pet’s allergies impact its quality of life and require treatment from a trusted “veterinarian near you,” look no further than Greystone Animal Hospital in Burnaby, BC. Our veterinary team can test your pet for allergies and provide treatment to help it feel its best again, so call us and schedule an appointment today at (604) 559-4488 to keep your pet healthy and happy!