ALLERGIES

Many of us suffer from food and environmental allergies, and so can our pets.  While some of these allergens can cause fatal reactions, others are just persistant problems that cause our pets discomfort and can lead to severe problems if not treated.  Below we describe some of the common allergies and symptoms you may see if your pet is having a reaction.

CAUSES:  Insect stings (bees/wasps, etc), food (beef, wheat, corn, chicken, etc), grasses, molds, other outdoor plants and allergens, fleas.

SIGNS:  Red or swollen sting site, trouble breathing, lethargia, red/inflamed inner ears, head shaking, ear scratching, scratching other parts of body frequently, chewing feet, swollen/red feet, hot spots, hair loss, eye redness or discharge.     
*** Insect stings can be lethal if not treated promptly! If you suspect your pet has been stung and is having a reaction, call a veterinarian immediately. 
 
ADVICE:  See a veterinarian if you suspect your pet is having an allergy problem.  Many allergy symptoms are shared by other medical problems, therefore an exam is needed to determine whether a different problem is the cause.  Even if the problem is an allergy, the veterinarian will prescribe medication needed to relieve your pets symptoms and help get the issue under control.

Once it has been determined that your pet does have a food allergy, we need to figure out what the allergen is.  We often try to have the owner remove the most common allergens from the dogs diet.  The first 2 allergens we suggest removing from your dogs diet are corn and wheat.  You must remove ALL sources of corn and wheat, including dog treats, human foods, and cat food.  There are a number of dog and cat foods that are specifically made for pets with allergies.  It is CRITICAL that the dog not receive even a tiny piece of a suspected allergen for 6 weeks while determining if corn or wheat are the true allergens (this is called a food trial).  If the dog is still having a reaction after the food trial, we must try to remove different possible allergens such as beef or chicken, etc.  This can be a very stressful and tedious process, but an alternative may exist.  You can have your pet undergo Allergy Testing; however, this is an expensive option and is not always able to determine the allergen.

Here are some pictures of common allergy symptoms:
       
*Red and sensitive skin on the pads and between the toes

Other symtoms can include but are not limited to red and itchy ears, runny eyes, hot spots, and redness and itchiness on their particularly on the underbelly and on the inside of the upper legs.