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Allergic Dermatitis - Pets Suffer Too

Wednesday, January 9th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

It’s known that allergies are one of the most common causes of skin conditions. You can see signs of allergic reactions in your pet dogs as well as in humans. Known allergies are referred to by different names including; allergic skin disease, the atopy and allergic inhalant dermatitis.

Typically allergies are chronic in nature and because of this it makes it very difficult to control the cause and subsequent reactions. Allergies amongst pets can cause quite a deal of frustration for the pet owners mainly because it is hard to diagnose particularly as the pet cannot communicate their problem to you. If you believe that your pet has allergies it is important that you take your animal to your vet so that a diagnosis is given and the proper therapy is recommended.

What is Allergic Dermatitis?

Allergic dermatitis shows up as an inflammation on your animals skin due to repeated exposure to a substance to which the pet is allergic. The most common cause of allergic dermatitis amongst pets is their general environment where they are exposed to simple allergens like any or a combination of grass, tree pollens and weeds. House dust, wool, feathers and cigarette smoke are also common substances that cause allergic reactions like dermatitis. Sometimes food allergies are the cause of allergic dermatitis and some pets have problems with both foods and external allergies.

Allergic dermatitis is a condition typically characterized by dry, itchy skin and is very likely that it is a genetic problem. Some types of clothing, soap, bacteria, dust-mites and climate conditions contribute to the breakout of allergies. It is also known that emotional stress can also worsen the problem of allergic dermatitis.

Symptoms of Allergic Dermatitis

Extensive itching is the primary symptom of allergic dermatitis. Common areas to be affected by itching are the eyes, ears, muzzles, armpits, feet, legs, and abdomen. Often allergies are seasonal and occur in the warm or wet summer months but may develop into becoming a year round problem.

Medications for Allergic Dermatitis

Corticosteroids such as prednisolone are the most common and effective medication for the treatment of allergic dermatitis. You can also try other alternative and more natural medications for pets whose allergies cannot be controlled with corticosteroids or if the side effects of the medications are annoying to them. These alternative remedies include essential fatty acids and antihistamines.

It you are unsure as to the cause of your pet’s Allergic Dermatitis you can put it on a hypoallergenic diet to see if food allergies are contributing or are the cause of the problem.

Preventive Care for Allergic Dermatitis

Research shows that most allergies cannot be prevented and treating the pet alone is not sufficient enough to rectify the problem. The only way to reduce the severity and frequency of Allergic Dermatitis conditions in your pet is to avoid exposure to allergens and this is long and painstaking work.