Managing Pet Allergies
with Dermatology Services
in Schertz, TX
Pet allergies are fairly common in our dogs and cats. They cause itchy, irritated skin, which opens the door for secondary infections and other problems. At Schertz Animal Hospital, we offer allergy testing and management to help your pet get the relief they deserve. Our team assists with allergy and skin issues regularly, so we have plenty of experience in this area of care!
Itchy skin can escalate and become a bigger problem for your pet.
or call us today at (210) 659-0345!
Signs Your Dog or Cat May Have an Allergy
Pet allergies frequently develop as skin conditions. If your pet exhibits these signs, it could be an allergy:
- Excessive itching
- Red, irritated skin
- Hot spots
- Hair loss
- Chewing at fur or skin
- Licking paws
- Open sores
What Is My Pet Allergic to?
Pets can be allergic to many of the same things we are. Some of the most common allergens include:
- Pollens from flowers, trees, and grasses
- Mold and mold spores
- Dust and dust mites
- Dander
- Fleas (flea allergy dermatitis)
- Certain materials (plastics, rubber, fabrics)
- Medications
- Food ingredients
Diagnosing Your Pet's Skin Condition
Allergies aren’t the only things that cause skin conditions in dogs and cats. We’ll perform several diagnostic tests to ensure that your pet is not suffering from an internal condition or infection. If we officially diagnose an allergy, we’ll try to determine the cause by taking a blood sample for Heska testing, which reveals contact allergens, inhalant allergens, and food allergies.
Once we identify your pet’s allergen, we’ll develop a treatment plan for them which may include one or more of the following:
- Immunotherapy for allergy desensitization
- Cytopoint, an injectable that controls the itch at its source for 4-8 weeks
- Apoquel, a daily oral tablet that relieves the itch for dogs
- Atopica, a daily tablet for dogs and oral solution for cats that relieves the itch
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections
- Antifungals to treat secondary fungal infections
- Medicated shampoos to gently remove allergens from the coat and skin
- Topical creams to soothe itchy skin
- Food elimination trial for pets with food allergies
If you think pet allergies are the cause of your companion’s scratching, please call us today at (210) 659-0345 or make an appointment online. We’ll get them the relief they need!
