Maple Veterinary Hospital Pet Care Services

Is Your Pet Scratching?
If your answer is YES, it could be that your pet has allergies. Just like humans, dogs and cats can build up sensitivity to normal substances in the environment. You may notice that your pet has seasonal symptoms that get worse during spring and summer when there are increased amounts of pollen in the air. Or, your pet may have year-round allergies to allergens found indoors such as house mites or to substances found commonly in pet food. It is estimated that more than 30% of all skin irritations can be attributed to allergies.
What are Allergies?
An allergic reaction is one in which an individual reacts to a normal substance in the environment. These substances are called allergens and include, pollens, molds, animal hair, house dust, fleas, foods and many more. Allergens cause reactions through skin contact, inhalation, or ingestion.
What are the Common Symptoms of Allergies?
As with humans, cats tend to show more respiratory symptoms than dogs. Signs of allergy symptoms usually start with scratching, licking or chewing of the feet, and rubbing of the face. As the condition advances, scratching and chewing injuries to the skin may lead to bacterial skin infections. In the case of food allergies, vomiting and diarrhea may be present.
How are Allergies Diagnosed?
Our veterinarians will examine your pet and determine an appropriate medical treatment plan. However, should your pet continues to have chronic skin problems, vomiting, or diarrhea, allergy testing may be recommended.
How is the Allergy Test Performed?
A sample of blood is drawn and submitted to an outside laboratory that specializes in animal allergy testing. Your pet's blood serum is tested for sensitivity to inhalant's such as trees, grasses, weeds and shrubs, fungi, house dust and mites, as well as for a host of food types used as ingredients in commercial dog and cat food preparations.
How are the Test Results Reported?
An allergy report is generated that indicates the result for each allergen tested. The report will indicate if your pet tested negative, borderline, positive, or high positive to each of the allergens tested.
What is the Treatment for My Pets Allergies?
It is always best to avoid contact with the offending allergen(s). However, when avoidance is impossible, steroids are often used for short-term relief of symptoms. Since steroids can have serious side effects, long-term usage is not recommended. For pets with chronic, prolonged allergy symptoms, hyposensitization is another alternative. Hyposensitization is achieved through allergy injections that are formulated specifically for your pet based on its allergy test results. The injections are given in increasing concentrations to build up your pet's tolerance to the offending allergens. Allergy injections allow your pet to live more comfortably in its environment without chronic symptoms of scratching, hair loss, and skin irritation.
How Quickly Do the Allergy Injections Work?
Your pet will receive several allergy injections during the first several month of treatment. In most cases, improvement is seen after 3 to 5 months of treatment, at which stage allergy injections are given monthly.
What if My Pet is Diagnosed with Food Allergies?
Dogs and cats cannot be hyposensitized to foods. The treatment for food allergies is elimination of the offending food type. Along with the allergy report, you will be supplied with a list of commercially available foods that are free of the ingredients to which your pet tested positive.
Are There Risks Involved With Allergy Injections?
Adverse reactions are extremely rare. If an adverse reaction does occur, it should only be temporary and non-life threatening.