People suffer from allergies everyday and some are more severe than others. People who own pets may suffer more if they are allergic to the pet’s dander. What most people do not realize is that pets also suffer from allergies just as we do. Different allergies display different symptoms and when people get more knowledgeable about the allergies they then can help their pets that are suffering. Most pets suffer their entire lives with allergies and most pet parents do not even realize it. The older a pet gets the worse the symptoms from the allergy can get. There are many types of allergies but usually grouped with four categories:
- Atopy is allergies from airborne particles. This is from pollens, molds and dust mites. Atopy is usually seasonal due to when a particular allergen is in its blooming stage. Signs and symptoms of Atopy are chewing on the feet, constant licking of the side and groin area, rubbing the face, inflamed ears or constantly getting ear infections, reoccurring hot spots in dogs and facial scabbing on cats, and also asthma type symptoms like wheezing and respiratory problem. The asthma type symptoms seem to be more so in cats than dogs. This is the most common form of allergies with pets.
- Flea Allergy Dermatitis is an allergy to flea bites. This comes from the dog or cat having fleas or the yard or home in which they are in. This can come from one flea or an infestation. Therefore just because your pet is diagnosed with flea allergy dermatitis it does not mean your home is infested.
- Food Allergies comes from certain ingredients within their current food. This accounts for roughly 10-15% of the allergies in dogs and cats. With some pets that have atopy allergies, the food allergies may become more apparent during the seasonal times. Some pets are allergic to particular ingredients and are put on a special diet to aid in their allergies. The more natural wholesome foods at the pet stores have ingredients that most dogs and cats are not allergic to. Due to the ingredients, these pet foods do cost a bit more but they are worth it to create a better life, allergy free, for your pet. Some symptoms are itching of the entire body, ear problems that may often be yeast infections and skin infections that require antibiotics but will come right back after the antibiotic regimen is over.
- Contact Allergies are where the pet comes in contact with something which gives it an allergic reaction. This could be fibers in a carpet, certain plastics, or even cleaners. It has been known for some dogs to have allergic reactions to floor cleaners which make the dogs lick their feet constantly and get yeast infections between their toes. These allergies have symptoms of red itchy bumps or blisters where the hair is very thin and sparse as well as the face or paws where the allergen came into contact with, at times intense scratching and in chronic situations there may be hair loss.
With allergies, it is best to have them diagnosed by a veterinarian to determine what form of allergies they actually have. If the allergy is food then you can changed their diet. Now if it is atopy, then the pet parent may need to take extra precautions to help their furry friend from suffering. All dogs need to go outside therefore you can not restrict them as you could do with cats. In this case when pets have their favorite spot it would be a good practice to have a cover on their bed or on the couches that can be washed and dried weekly to remove the allergens. In severe cases two covers would be ideal. This way one cover could be on their item and the other cover could be washed. It is no different with people having covers on their beds and pillow cases for allergies to dust mites.
These covers can come in various sizes and colors. A good cover is the Sure Fit’s petcovers. They allow the pet to enjoy the season even with an allergy suffering pet parent. The Sure Fit’s petcovers are all machine washable. You just slip off the allergen filled slipcover and replace it with a clean and fresh allergen free cover, once it has been washed. Sure Fit’s products have 14+ years of experience and their fabrics and designs are aimed to please any decor. They offer pet throws for wing chairs, recliner chairs, sofa throws, loveseat throws, end of the bed throws so your pet can lay on the bed, pet beds for traveling to aid in protecting from allergens while on the go and also placemats that provide an eating area that is water proof and also has a no slip bottom. Another good idea while traveling when staying where there are no current pets to keep your pet from making any unnecessary messes. Also while traveling by vehicle they offer a cover for your car seats or SUV back area, to aid in controlling allergens.
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