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Seasonal Allergies and Your Pet

We want to make sure that you are informed about pet allergies and know what signs to look for so that you can get your pet the care it may need. There are actually multiple types of allergies that your pet can suffer from. There are flea allergy dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to flea bites and food allergies, which occur when your pet eats something it is allergic to. Contact allergies are caused by direct contact with something that causes an allergic reaction like plastics, grass or carpet fibers.

Atopy is the most common form of allergy in dogs and cats. It is usually seasonal and is caused by environmental allergens that your pet inhales or comes into contact with the skin. The most common allergens that cause atopy are mold, pollens, and dust mites. To help you decide whether your pet might need a trip to see us for allergy help, here is a list of common signs of atopy:

• Inflamation, redness, or odor from feet and brown discoloration from licking
• Constant licking of their sides, belly, elbows and groin area
• Rubbing of the face
• Reddened around eyes with hair loss
• Inflamed ears or recurrent ear infections
• Waxy discharge, redness or odor from the ears
• Recurrent hotspots in dogs and pinpoint facial scabbing in cats
• Asthma-like wheezing and respiratory problems (more likely in cats)

Please give us a call if you believe your pet is suffering from atopy or any form of allergies so that we can provide them with the care they need!