How to Deal with Pet Allergies

Allergies are not only for humans. Animals get and develop allergies also, and you should be aware that your pet may have allergies. Most of the time, allergies can rear up during the winter because both humans and animals are spending more time inside together. This can bring up allergies that are not usually as noticed especially if you tend to keep your pets outside when it is nice out.

Our dogs and cats are very susceptible to the dirt and dust indoors that doesn’t get a chance to be removed as easily in the winter, and can build up in the carpet where they spend a lot of their time. The mold inside of the walls are also a breeding ground for pet allergies. Allergies are actually one of the most common conditions that affect our pet dogs and cats. It has been researched that 15 percent of dogs are allergic to household allergens such as house dust and pollen. An allergic reaction to those things is really a response of the immune system when it is overacting.

Contact allergies are one of the least common types of allergies that affect cats and dogs. Those include flea collars. Sometimes materials such as grass and bedding are also causes of allergens. When it comes to inhalant allergies, this is this the most common type that affects cats and dogs and is caused by the hypersensitivity of the immune system to different environmental substances. Flea allergies are the most common dog allergy but also are prevalent in cats.

Food allergies are also common in pet allergies and cats can often become allergic to protein sources in their food such as tuna. Dogs can develop allergies to protein sources like chicken and beef in their food. So what do you do when you suspect or know that your pet has developed allergies? The most common treatments used are topical products such as shampoos and also antihistamines. There are supplements available that you can give your cat or dog to help relieve their pet allergies as well.

The best thing you can do to help avoid certain types of allergens is to give your pet’s regular baths and watch for any excess scratching. Help keep them clean to prevent further allergies from forming.