Flea | |
What causes it? | Allergic
reaction to saliva of the flea when it bites |
What does it look like? |
Very
persistent itching or chewing on flanks, lower back, tail |
Diagnosis |
Presence
of fleas, flea dirt on pet or in the house |
How to treat
it |
Many products available. Unfortunately many natural products are not efficacious with heavy infestation |
How to prevent
it |
Flea
combs, monthly preventative especially during warm months of year |
Other points |
Do
not have to see fleas! Just takes
one bite! |
Environmental | |
What causes it? | Allergy to nearly anything in the environment |
What does it look like? |
May
be localized hot spot or can be generalized. Often seasonal. May end up with secondary bacterial or fungal infections |
Diagnosis | Intradermal skin testing with a dermatologist |
How to treat
it |
May
require antibiotics/anti-fungals to get secondary infections down, omega 3 fatty acids, special shampoos, probiotics, diet trial, antihistamines, judicious use of steroids or immunosuppressants in some cases |
How to prevent
it |
Avoid
contact with the allergen. Keep them
on hard floors or vacuum religiously. Use HEPA filters. Rise feet/legs after walks |
Other points |
Also
called atopy. May also have some food
allergy component to it as well |
Food | |
What causes
it? |
Immune
system response to proteins in the food |
What does it look like? |
Vomiting,
diarrhea, ear infections, hot spots, red belly, paws, or ears |
Diagnosis |
Strict
novel protein/carb elimination diet for 8-12 weeks. Note: the food allergy blood test is NOT reliable! Too many false negatives/positives |
How to treat it | Elimination
diet, slowly add in potential allergens back in |
How to prevent it | Avoid all forms of that particular food, including treats and heartworm meds. Raw vs cooked may help, but not necessarily |
Other points |
Food
allergies & intolerances are not the same thing, but present almost identically. Always save at least one relatively obtainable protein source for testing. |