Pet Allergies: Finding Relief for Chronic Itching
If your dog or cat is constantly scratching, licking their paws, or suffering from recurrent ear infections, they may be suffering from environmental allergies (atopy) or food sensitivities. Just like in humans, allergies in pets cause significant discomfort and can severely impact their quality of life.
At Hamilton Crossing Animal Hospital, we focus on providing relief and identifying the cause of your pet’s allergic reaction to create a personalized, long-term management plan.
Recognizing the Signs of Pet Allergies
Allergic reactions in pets most commonly manifest as skin problems, rather than the respiratory symptoms (like sneezing) often seen in people.
Common Signs of Allergies:
Excessive Itching and Scratching: Often concentrated on the belly, groin, or underarms.
Chronic Ear Infections: Persistent redness, inflammation, and recurring ear infections that may produce a discharge or foul odor.
Foot Chewing/Licking: Pets frequently chew or lick their paws until the skin is red, inflamed, or infected.
"Hot Spots" (Acute Moist Dermatitis): Red, oozing, painful skin lesions that appear suddenly.
Hair Loss: Often caused by constant scratching or chewing.
Immediate Relief and Management
Our initial approach focuses on providing rapid comfort and controlling secondary infections (like yeast or bacteria) caused by self-trauma. We utilize modern, effective tools to manage the itch and inflammation:
Medications: We offer a variety of oral medications designed to safely block the itch pathway or manage the immune response causing the symptoms.
Targeted Injections: Convenient, long-acting allergy injections can provide relief that lasts several weeks, helping to break the cycle of scratching and inflammation.
Symptom Control: This stage also involves treating active ear infections, skin infections, and recommending therapeutic shampoos or topical therapies.
Advanced Diagnostics for Severe Cases
If your pet suffers from severe allergies that are not well-controlled by standard medications, or if they require medication too frequently, we may recommend specialized testing to find the root cause of the problem.
Allergen Panels (Targeted Testing): We take a small sample of blood from your pet and send it to a specialized veterinary laboratory. This lab tests the blood against hundreds of common regional allergens (pollens, molds, dust mites, dander). This panel gives us a precise roadmap of what your pet is allergic to.
Custom Immuno-Therapy (The Allergy Vaccine): Once the allergens are identified, the lab can create a customized series of Immuno-Therapy injections tailored specifically to your pet's needs. This treatment works like a vaccine, gently retraining your pet's immune system to stop reacting violently to the specific allergens over time. This is the only treatment that targets the cause of the allergy, offering the potential for significant, long-lasting relief.
If your pet is struggling with chronic skin issues or itching, please schedule an allergy consultation with our team. We are here to help them find a comfortable life.