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Dr. Kevin Weis flavorings. Because allergies only require the presence of the offending antigen any cheating will result in frustrations for you and your pet. If the symptoms resolve, then the assumption is that the new food does not contain the allergen that your pet is sensitive to. Because these elimination trial diets are balanced your pet usually remains on them for life. Contact and inhalant allergies are also commonly seen. Contact allergies usually occur after prolonged exposure to the offending allergen. The most common contact allergens are soaps/ shampoos, carpet/fabric, poison ivy, and seasonal grasses and pollens. Skin that frequently contacts the ground is usually the most affected. Inhalant allergies (a.k.a Atopy) occur when
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microscopic particles such as pollens, grasses, dust mites, and molds are absorbed through the respiratory tract. Once the allergic reaction occurs, these pets become very itchy and develop secondary skin and/or ear infections. Contact and inhalant allergic patients typically have symptoms during the pollen and grass seasons and accordingly their symptoms usually wax and wane with the season. However, in severe cases their symptoms will be year-round with little or no period of relief. The best way to determine if your pet has a contact or inhalant allergy is to discuss having allergy testing done. Once the causative agent(s) has been identified the most effective treatment is to eliminate the allergen from the pets environment. Sometimes
this is not possible and you and your veterinarian can discuss long term allergy medications available to your pet. Although there is no cure for allergic dermatitis, equipped with the knowledge of why it happens, what the key symptoms are, and what treatment options are available you can work with your veterinarian to provide the best care for your pet! ____________________ Kevin Weis, DVM Hollow Creek Animal Hospital 126 Dominion Drive, Suite 1060 Aiken, SC 29803 803-226-0551 803-226-0553 (fax) www.hollowcreekvet.com
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