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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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Junior Observer |
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News Business Features
Editorial
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Protect your pet from allergies
The types of allergies are contact (brought on by skin contact with an allergen), inhalant (caused by breathing in allergens), ingested (allergies to food and oral drugs), and sub-dermal (less common, caused by the injection of medication). Contact allergens are most commonly caused by your pet's contact with plants, especially oily ones which will cling to the animal's fur, carpets, carpet fresheners, newsprint, household cleaners, and dust. Symptoms of contact allergies include rashes, changes in skin colour and sores, especially in the chin, underarm, stomach, and ears. These are the areas that come into contact most, with allergy-causing substances. Treatment for contact allergies involves keeping the pet away from the allergen, by removing houseplants from the pet's vicinity, limiting the animal's exposure to grass, keeping it away from carpeted areas, even changing its food and water dishes to metal or glass containers. If this doesn't stop the reaction, your pet may require treatment with steroid-based drugs. Unfortunately, such treatments are not always effective, so the best treatment is to make sure your pet has no (or limited) contact with the cause of the allergy. Ingested allergens are most commonly found in the food that your pet eats. Surprisingly, it is not the colour additives or preservatives that cause the majority of reactions; instead, it is the meat, grain, or dairy products that are used in the food. This category also includes a reaction to medication given by mouth, and those brought on by your pet nibbling on plants. Food allergies take anything from seven days to ten years to manifest. For this reason, a food allergy is one of the last things you will suspect if your pet falls sick. If your pet has been eating the same brand and type of food for five years, it's not going to be the first thing you consider, if the animal suddenly becomes ill. The last category of allergens is the sub-dermal allergen. These are relatively uncommon, and are usually caused by the injection of a medication under the skin. Symptoms in both cats and dogs include itching and a rash, and in some cases, diarrhoea and vomiting. A cat may also have an excessively oily coat. Dogs, on the other hand, usually react with skin problems, characterized by scratching, chewing at their skin, and repeated licking of their paws.Fortunately, treatment for this type of allergy is the most simple. If your pet has a reaction to a plant, remove the plant from the pet's vicinity. Allergies in pets closely parallel those in humans. Symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment are much the same. Rashes and itching are the most common symptoms of any of the four types of allergies, and a skin test is the most accurate way to pinpoint the cause of the allergy. Short-term side effects include panting and excessive thirst, while long-term use can cause muscle loss, diabetes and Cushing's disease. By taking the same precautions that you would for an allergic human, you
can prevent or minimise allergic reactions in your pets. First and foremost,
isolate the cause of the reaction, remove it from the pet's vicinity, and
talk to your vet about appropriate treatment. Your pet will thank you and
love you even more. |
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Politics | Produced by Lake House |
Have you ever suffered from allergies? Not only humans, pets too can
suffer from allergies. So,the next time you notice your four-footed friend
coughing and scratching, pay attention to it, as it could be more than a
simple hairball or flea infestation.