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At Markham animal hospitals, many pets are brought in during allergy season showing the common symptoms of being allergic. However, the symptoms exhibited by animals are different than those humans show in reaction to many of the same airborne allergens. Our clients often are surprised that their pet has an allergy. While humans sneeze and develop runny eyes in response to airborne allergens, such as grass and other plant pollens, pets experience itchiness.
As a practising veterinarian in Markham, we explain allergies to our clients a little simplified: Allergies are when the immune system of the body starts defending against harmless environmental things.
An allergic pet shows the following signs of allergy:
Oftentimes, the most common allergens are harmless things found within the environment. There are millions of possibilities. As a veterinarian in Markham, I’d like to help narrowing the many possibilities down into three groups:
1. Contact Allergies
2. Inhalant Allergies
3. Food Allergies
In this veterinary blog, we focus only on the first two forms of allergies. They are sometimes called atopy or allergic inhalant dermatitis and are a reactions towards something usually harmless. They are very common both in the Markham area and at our veterinary hospital. In most cases, this allergy becomes a lifelong problem that cause significant frustration for you and for your pet.
The most common causes are pollens of grasses, trees, and shrubs in the outdoors, and house dust mites and mold. When plant are in season, then the pet who is reacting to the pollens is itching worse. For instance, veterinarians in Markham know that in the fall Ragweed pollens are strongest and they are a common allergen. In spring veterinarians see more grass and tree pollen allergies.
Indoor allergies like house dust mite allergies have no distinct seasonality. The pet itches year round and sometimes worse in the winter when the forced air system blows through the house.
In addition to atopy, fleas are a significant cause of skin allergy, and foods can even be a source of the allergy problem.
As you may already guess, veterinarians often get the first clues by asking thorough questions about the seasonality of allergic symptoms. Veterinarians also recommend to have some allergy tests done to identify which allergen your pet is reacting to. In our veterinary clinic, we find often several allergies in one pet, which explains the year round waxing and waning nature of the symptoms. For instance a pet with mold allergy will itch all year, but during grass allergy season she may develop more severe symptoms like an ear infection.
Speak to a veterinarian if you suspect your animal is exhibiting symptoms of allergies in order to diagnose and devise a plan of treatment.
If you found this blog informative, please share it with your friends on Facebook.
Sincerely,
Dr. Ernst Marsig, veterinarian in Markham
Practicing Veterinary Medicine in Markham for the Long and Happy Life of ALL Your Pets.
Animal Hospital of Unionville, a veterinary clinic on the north side of Hwy 7, serving all pets in Markham, Richmond Hill, Scarborough, Stouffville, and North York since 1966. We are your family vets for dogs, cats, pocket pets (rabbits, chinchillas, gerbils, mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, skinny pigs, etc.), ferrets, and birds (budgies, cockatiel, parrots, amazon, cockatoo, love birds, conures, African greys, finches, canaries, etc.).
Disclaimer: No part of this website constitutes medical advice. Readers are advised to consult with their veterinarian.
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