Have you noticed that your pet always seems itchy or irritated? It is normal for dogs and cats to scratch themselves, to some extent. However, what many people don’t realize is that pets can experience allergies just like humans do. If your pet seems excessively itchy, it may be time to test your pet for allergies.
Luckily, Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital in Los Angeles offers specialty veterinary dermatology services to meet your pet’s specific needs.
While you should ultimately consult a veterinarian for tests and diagnosis, it can be useful for pet owners to be aware of the signs and symptoms of potential pet allergies. Pets can experience a range of allergies from fleas, certain foods, environmental allergies, and allergic contact dermatitis. Depending on their specific allergy, signs of allergic reactions can include excessive scratching, redness and irritation, hair loss from licking and biting, inflamed or infected ears, and sometimes rashes or hives. For environmental allergies, your pet may even experience hayfever symptoms such as puffy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, and sneezing or coughing.
Many of the signs and symptoms of a pet allergy manifest on the skin. Since your pet cannot tell you when they are experiencing these symptoms, it is important that you keep an eye on the condition of their skin and any potential discomfort. If you do notice skin issues with your pet, the best step you can take is to visit a veterinarian for testing and consultation.
You may not have heard of veterinary dermatology before. However, just as pets can experience similar allergies to humans, they sometimes also need specialist medical care. At Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital, our veterinary dermatologist specializes in the treatment of skin and ear diseases in pets. Allergies are a very common source of these skin conditions. A veterinary dermatologist can help with your pet’s allergies through both diagnosis and treatment.
The first step in treating your pet’s allergies is to diagnose them. The veterinary dermatologist will perform allergy testing to identify what is causing your pet’s allergic reaction. By identifying the cause, you can take steps to reduce your pet’s exposure to that substance whether it is a certain food, environmental causes, or something else they are regularly coming into contact with.
The veterinary dermatologist can also provide treatment for your pet’s allergies. This can include Allergen Specific Immunotherapy with injectable allergy shots or oral drops. It may also include infection management for the skin or ears if your pet’s excessive scratching, licking, or biting has caused an infection.
If you believe your pet could be experiencing allergies, it may be time to consult a veterinary dermatologist. At MASH in Los Angeles, our trained specialists use state-of-the-art technology to both diagnose and treat your pet’s specific allergies or skin conditions. If you think your pet needs these dermatology services, contact Metropolitan Animal Specialty Hospital to schedule an appointment today.