Diagnosing and Treating Pet Allergies

Our pets can experience allergies much like we do, but they cannot communicate with us about their symptoms. It is important to identify allergies by observing, examining, and testing our pets so they can get allergy relief. At Dessau Veterinary Clinic in Austin, TX, we have years of experience providing allergy treatment for pets. We will work with you to identify the cause of your pet's allergic reactions and provide treatment accordingly.

Observing Your Pet

Pets experiencing allergy symptoms behave differently than usual. Pets usually display their allergic reactions as skin irritations, which lead them to excessively scratch and lick themselves. Other symptoms of allergies in pets include red eyes, sneezing, hair loss, upset stomach, or diarrhea. These symptoms are due to your pet's immune system overreacting to environmental allergens, such as fleas and ticks, dander, mites, pollen, or certain foods.

Allergy Diagnosis

Our veterinarians will listen to your observations, independently assess your pet’s symptoms, conduct a physical exam, and review its medical history to diagnose its allergies. They will then do an intradermal skin test if your pet has allergies. An intradermal skin test introduces tiny quantities of common allergens to your pet's skin. We can then identify the cause of the allergic reaction by monitoring your pet’s reaction or performing blood tests.

Diagnosing food allergies can be more complicated since those diagnoses often require placing pets on extended and restricted diets.

Allergy Treatment

Our veterinarians will discuss treatment options based on the test results. Some treatments focus on symptom relief, while others focus on preventing exposure to the allergen. Flea preventives and home treatment can work well to keep fleas off your pet, but antihistamines or corticosteroids may also be required. We can ease pollens, mold, and mildew allergies in other cases by revising home cleaning practices. We often need to focus on using daily oral medications or long-lasting injections for allergy symptom relief.

Pets commonly display allergies through skin irritations, so hypoallergenic shampoos with anti-inflammatory properties can help remove allergens when you bathe and soothe inflamed skin.

Have Your Pet Treated for Allergies in Austin, TX, Today

Making sure your pet is as happy and healthy as possible is crucial as a pet parent, so contact Dessau Veterinary Clinic in Austin, TX, to get your pet the allergy treatment it needs. We will give your pet the appropriate treatment plan based on its examination results, testing, and our conversations with you. Call our animal hospital today at (512) 339-3177 to help your pet live a long, healthy life.