I can never seem to stress the importance of allergy issues in my practice enough, so it can’t hurt to reiterate the problems associated with this very prevalent phenomenon. Pet allergies is the most common problem I deal with but the most often misunderstood among my clients. First, we must note the differences between people and pets suffering from allergies. Although some pets may show some upper respiratory signs, such as red eyes and sneezing, often associated with allergies in people, pets exhibit the majority of their allergy symptoms through the skin. Licking, chewing, biting and scratching drive both pets and their owners crazy. It starts with an occasional lick of the paws or rubbing of the face and ears, and, before you know it, you can’t sleep at night because Fido just won’t quit gnawing at himself. The most common early indicator of allergies reported by my pet owners is licking or chewing the paws. Many dog owners confuse this sign with grooming behavior, as seen in cats. These dogs are trying to tell you that they itch. Owners who become accustomed to recognizing early signs may avoid a trip to the vet if proper intervention can be taken. These owners have worked with their veterinarian to come up with a plan should this behavior be noticed. More commonly, these dogs and cats end up with secondary infections of the skin, which need medical intervention. This can affect any skinned body surface, including the skin which lines the ears, hence the report of frequent ear infections associated with allergies. Less commonly, pets may experience gastrointestinal signs such as diarrhea or vomiting associated with allergies. The three most common allergies seen in dogs and cats are flea, atopy, and food. Pets are not limited to having only one type of allergy and are more commonly affected by multiple allergies. Flea allergies are caused by an allergic response to the flea saliva injected into your pet during a blood meal. This is why you may have multiple pets but one seems to have a more severe response to having fleas than the others. There are monthly flea products that will keep fleas from biting your pet, which should be placed on all pets associated with that household. Your veterinarian may use a special flea comb to find these sometimes elusive critters. Fleas are very good at hiding deep in your pet’s coat and can easily go unnoticed. We often look for the flea itself or their excrement, often referred to as “flea dirt.” The finding of flea dirt suggests a feeding at least three days prior. Therefore, your pet did not get fleas on the ride over or in our office. Sorry, the science works against that suggestion. Furthermore, if the pet comes in your home, you have fleas there as well. Your home must be treated along with your pet. Don’t shoot the messenger! Atopy is allergies to pollens in the environment. These allergens may be inhaled or may be absorbed through the skin. These allergies are often seasonal, although allergies to things such as dust mites may be year round. This can make diagnosis tricky. If you can note a pattern with allergies, it can help to narrow down the list of differentials. For example, dogs which exhibit their worst symptoms in the spring may be prone to grass allergies. Like people, dogs and cats which have these types of allergies, often have more than one provoking allergen. Continue to part II...