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Allergies
Allergies can make life uncomfortable for your pet. Protect them from irritation with proper testing and treatment to relieve any symptoms.
Overview
Allergies such as skin, bacterial, and food sensitivities make life uncomfortable for your pet. Protect your cat, dog, or other animal from irritating allergies with a proper diagnosis.
Why should my pet get tested for allergies?
With a proper diagnosis, we can implement a long-term treatment plan to help relieve symptoms and improve your pet’s quality of life. Every environment is unique and every animal species and breed have their own reactions to those environments.
When should my pet get tested?
Your pet deserves to be free of discomfort. The first step in allergy treatment is preliminary testing through a routine wellness exam. If your pet is currently showing signs of discomfort, please schedule an appointment with our veterinarians as soon as possible. Allergic reaction symptoms include:
scratching
shaking of the head
rubbing of the ears or muzzle
licking of the feet
raised circular lesions
generalized flakiness and hair loss
intense itching
How does allergy testing work?
We’re determined to help you discover the cause of your pet’s irritation. We will recommend the best long-term treatment plans to get them back on track to live their happy, healthy life. Veterinary allergy testing can be done in a variety of ways, including hypoallergenic diet testing to determine food allergies. We can diagnose and address these types of allergies in hospital or we can refer you to a dermatologist or other specialist.
Allergy Types
Bacterial Allergy
Staph bacteria that are normally present in the environment can produce an allergic response in some dogs. In animals with poor immune systems, the bacteria can invade the deeper layers of the skin and cause an infection called pyoderma.
Contact Allergy
Contact allergies are not commonly seen in pets. This form of allergy is a local reaction to some type of chemical.
Inhalant Allergy
Inhalant allergies, or atopy, is the most common kind of allergy seen in pets. Allergic reactions may be from tree pollen, grass pollen, weed pollen, mold spores, and house dust mites.
Food Allergy
Food allergies typically take a long time to develop and can display themselves as skin problems or digestive issues.
Managing Cat & Dog Allergies in DeRidder and Leesville, LA with Pet Dermatology
Our dermatology services deal with cat and dog skin conditions, many of which are caused by allergies. Cat and dog allergies primarily affect your pet’s skin, causing them to scratch, lick, and bite at themselves. As their skin breaks, your pet also becomes prone to secondary infections which cause more discomfort. Our veterinarians at our two locations serve pets of DeRidder, LA, and Leesville, LA with advanced veterinary dermatology services to manage their allergies and relieve the itch.
Identifying Pet Allergies
Not all skin conditions are allergies, so it’s important to rule out any other illnesses before we proceed with allergy management. At both of our locations, we have an in-house lab where we’re able to perform skin scrapings to identify any skin infections, parasite problems, and more. Additionally, we’ll perform diagnostic blood work to check for any underlying diseases that could be contributing to the problem. Once we rule out other issues, we can confidently conclude that allergies are the problem.
Symptoms you might notice at home include:
Your cat or dog scratching more than usual
Frequent ear infections
Red, irritated skin
Dry, flaky skin
Dog licking paws
Cat grooming excessively
Hair loss
Hot spots
Nasal discharge
Vomiting/diarrhea (indicative of a food allergy)
What are cats & dogs allergic to?
Pets can be allergic to many of the same things we are. Some of the most common allergens include:
Pollens (trees, flowers, grasses)
Mold spores
Dust and dust mites
Certain household cleaners
Materials like rubber or plastic
Fabrics
Perfumes
Cigarette smoke
Food ingredients (chicken, beef, eggs, etc.)
To confirm your pet’s allergy, we are able to send a blood sample to an outside lab. With the results, we may be able to develop an immunotherapy allergy shot to help desensitize your pet to the allergen. Please ask us for more details about this service.
Pet Allergy Management Options
Our allergy management options are varied, and not every pet will respond the same to each one. Your veterinarian will work with you to develop an effective management plan with either one or a combination of the following:
Cytopoint - an injection for dogs lasting 4-8 weeks
Apoquel - a daily oral tablet for dogs
Atopica - a daily oral tablet for dogs and oral solution for cats
Immunotherapy (allergy shot)
Antihistamines
Antibiotics to treat a secondary bacterial infection
Antifungals to treat a secondary fungal infection
Food elimination trial (for food allergies)
If you think your pet may have allergies, please contact us at our DeRidder location, (337) 463-7011, or Leesville location, (337) 537-2454, to set up an appointment.
