BERKELEY, Calif., June 10, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- There is good news for pet owners who have dogs and cats with allergies. Treatments are available at University Veterinary Hospital for pets that suffer from chronic, recurring or occasional or seasonal allergic reactions. Although treatments vary according to the cause of a particular pet's allergy, they are very effective in relieving symptoms and addressing the underlying cause of allergic reactions.
Allergic reactions in pets are unlike those most commonly present in humans. Although pet allergic reactions may be caused by similar triggers as those in humans, a pet's allergy will typically present itself through uncomfortable skin conditions, such as itchy skin, redness, inflammation, drying and flaking. Hives and rashes are also common symptoms of allergic reactions in pets. "In some pets, surprisingly, the only sign people may see is itchy ears that may or may not become infected and smelly," Dr. Mattu noted.
The causes of allergic reactions in pets are as diverse as the symptoms. The most common cause of a pet allergy is flea bites, which result in flea dermatitis. This type of allergy is easy to spot, because it usually results in excessive itching and scratching. Flea dermatitis is treated by eliminating fleas and also preventing them from returning in the future.
Digestible allergens are less common, but can be the most difficult to diagnose and treat. A digestible pet allergen may be a food usually eaten by humans, or a component in a pet food, such as a preservative. Food-related pet allergens are identified through a process of elimination and often by replacing a pet's food with an all-natural, preservative-free diet.
Environmental factors are another common cause of allergic reactions, and pet owners are often surprised to find that dogs and cats can be allergic to some of the same environmental components that humans can. Environmental-related allergic reactions often occur seasonally, and are remedied by cleaning a pet's paws and fur of allergens after going outside.
Pet allergy treatments are most effectively and safely administered under the care of a licensed veterinarian who regularly practices pet dermatology. Treatments and symptom management may be topical or ingestible, depending on the type of allergy and its subsequent symptoms. Often, a veterinarian will prescribe a topical antihistamine to help with itchy skin and inflammation.
Although an estimated 15 percent of pets suffer from some type of allergy, not all veterinarians and pet hospitals offer pet dermatological and allergy care. But according to Dr. Mattu, veterinarian and owner of University Veterinary Hospital in Berkeley, "Pets suffer from allergies in the same way that humans do. They shouldn't have to suffer from itchy skin or other symptoms if there are ways to manage the allergens that cause them. At our practice, pets are people, too."
University Veterinary Hospital is an established pet hospital in Berkeley, California. It has been providing pets in its local communities with comprehensive pet health care, including vaccinations and pet allergy care, for more than three decades.