Allergies in pets are not predictable, nor are they completely preventable.  One out of every 5 in a liter may have an allergy problem, or an allergy problem may not occur in a liter at all, but may skip generations.  Even you having your pet examined when they are young, by a vet, will not tell you if the animal will end up with allergies.

As in humans the best way to control allergies in pets is to avoid what is causing the allergy (called an allergen).  As well the symptoms of pet allergies can be treated to give the animal some relief.  Desensitizing your pet to the allergens is also another option.  Of course if your pet is allergic to food ingredients, fleas or some other substance your best option is to avoid those substances.  The real problem is with skin type allergies which are hardly avoidable.  These skin allergies can cause itching and dry skin on your pet.  Dogs and cats are especially known for having allergies that affect their skin.  Many pets are allergic to cotton, wool or grass.

There are prescription drugs available for relieving inflamed, dry or itching skin on your pet.  All of these drugs are approved by the FDA and undergo testing just like people’s drugs.  Some of the drugs approved for dogs and cats are short term steroids, used to relieve itching and inflammation, however these drugs are not meant for long term use due to the fact that they suppress the immune system, which can lead to other illnesses such as diabetes, or severe infections.

Two drugs were approved by the FDA in 2003, for relieving itching in pets.  Your veterinarian can prescribe these.

Atopica

(cyclosporine)

This medicine is for the control of dermatitis in dogs weighing a minimum of 4 pounds. It is made by Novartis and is in oral capsule form.  It works by inhibiting certain immune cells from reacting with allergens and can be given over the entire life of your dog.

Genesis Topical Spray

(triamcinolone)

This medicine controls itching in dogs with allergic dermatitis.  It is made by RMS Laboratories Inc. It is a steroid spray which can be used on a dog’s skin up to 28 days only.

Too many people’s surprise, antihistamines which have been approved by the FDA for use in humans can also be prescribed by your vet for use in your pet dog or cat.  The Animal Medicinal Drug Use Clarification Act of 1994 made this possible.  Vets are allowed to prescribe drugs for dogs and cats that have been only previously approved for people.  Over the counter antihistamines are also useful as long as your veterinarian has approved them for your pet.

Some dog and cat owners prefer to get into immunotherapy if their animal is a long term sufferer of allergies.  Antihistamines and steroids work great for treating short term symptoms or minor symptoms, but if life-long continuous relief is going to be needed, than immunotherapy is better.  The purpose of immunotherapy is to stimulate the immune system, which should decrease reactions to allergens in your pet.

Many of us know people who receive regular allergy shots meant to desensitize them to allergens.  The allergy shots contain small amounts of the substances that the person is allergic to.  A routine skin test tells the doctor what that person is allergic to.  This works the same way in cats and dogs.  The pet’s owner gives the pet a shot at home in the scruff of the neck, on a routine schedule.  The chemicals used in these shots for pets have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  The injections are applied every 7 to 21 days, depending on the pet’s reaction. They are usually a life long necessity but the time between shots usually decreases.  Most of the time immunotherapy for cats and dogs is used in conjunction with other therapies such as steroids.  75 to 80 percent of cats respond positively to immunotherapy, and 50 to 70 percent of dogs do.

A typical regimen for an allergic dog or cat might be applications of Atopica when they are itching a lot, plus weakly injections for immunotherapy, and occasionally antihistamines during the bad times of the year.  Like people, pets with allergies go through bad and good periods throughout the year.  If your pet is allergic to certain bedding material, that will have to be removed also and substituted with something synthetic such as vinyl bedding or synthetic blankets.

Pets such as cats and dogs don’t have to suffer with allergies any more than humans do. There is treatment available to temporarily relieve your pet as well as treat them long term.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 18th, 2008 at 11:11 pm and is filed under Pet Allergy Treatment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.