Allergies can drive people just plain crazy, so it's not far-fetched to think they might have the same effect on dogs, cats and birds.
Yes, our furry and feathered friends can have allergies. And in hot, humid Florida, which one local veterinarian half-jokingly called the world's allergy capital, it's a particularly common problem. Fortunately, there are many treatment options.
But how do we know if our pets have allergies? Unless you're kin to Dr. Dolittle, they can't exactly tell you about their discomfort. Instead, we have to observe and recognize the signs. A little empathy, of course, probably wouldn't hurt.
Whether environmental, flea or food related, allergies typically manifest as skin problems in pets, experts say. Rather than the sneezes, runny noses and watery eyes that people experience, they're itchy from ears to paws or beak to feet. That causes them to excessively scratch, lick, bite, rip out fur and pluck feathers. Sounds miserable.
If the problem goes on for more than two months, it's time to visit a veterinarian, said William Abbott, a dermatological specialist with Animal Friends Dermatology Services in Orange Park.
"The thing is quality of life," he said. "If it's something you notice and it's affecting their quality of life, then it should be looked at."
Another sign to watch for is a secondary skin infection, which always warrants a visit to the vet, he added.
Part of the problem in Florida is that allergies are more year-round than seasonal.
"We just don't have a break," Abbott said.
Richard Sutliff, a veterinarian and executive board member with the Florida Veterinary Association, said the problem here is 10 times worse than it is in Chicago, where he previously worked.
Antihistamines and topical treatments
If allergies are suspected, there are a few ways to go.
Pet owners sometimes sneak an antihistamine like Benadryl into a treat, hoping a pet will eat it and stop scratching. But just as human allergy sufferers know, it causes drowsiness and the problems return before long. As well, Benadryl may not help pets as much as it does people.
"It's really more developed for respiratory problems, so it's not as helpful in pets as it is in humans," Abbott said.
Veterinarians can prescribe antihistamines and topical treatments more likely to be effective, which can manage the irritations and significantly improve an allergic pet's life, says Sutliff. But they don't get to the root of the problem.
When fleas bite
Fleas are one of the most common culprits, experts say. But when is the problem a flea allergy, and not just itchy bites?
If the degree and duration of response are exaggerated, it could be an allergy to flea saliva. Preventative treatments aren't magic shields, and an allergic pet may have an extreme reaction to just one flea.
"Some dogs that chew themselves up - you will hardly ever see a flea on them. Very possibly you will never find a flea," Sutliff said.
Flea control, in such cases, is imperative. Abbott suggested that pet owners may need to have their homes and yards sprayed in addition to treating their pets.
Other common causes are food and inhalant allergies, which display similar signs. A diagnosis has to be made based on a pet's history, said Abbott.
When food is a strong possibility, there are no useful skin or blood tests to determine the problem ingredients, so a nine- to 12-week diet reintroduction trial is done, he said.
A pet's diet is first limited to one carbohydrate and one protein it has never eaten, then single ingredients are slowly added and reactions are monitored. Once an ingredient is identified as the allergen, it can simply be avoided.
Despite common theories that some ingredients are worse than others, Abbott said he didn't "want to indict any particular ingredient."
"It's more about what ingredients they've been exposed to," he said. "Lamb once was a unique ingredient because it wasn't in any dog food, so people said, 'Oh, it's hypoallergenic.' But it's not hypoallergenic."
The air they breathe
For inhalant allergies such as pollen, dust mites and mold, intradermal skin testing is standard practice for dogs and cats, but not birds. Similar to what is done in people, dozens of potential allergens in tiny doses are injected into pets so reactions can be measured.
If an inhalant allergy is detected, allergy specific immunotherapy similar to what people undergo may be initiated, and the pet receives regularly scheduled desensitization shots over a long time period. At 86 percent to 88 percent, the success rate is higher in pets than in humans, Abbott said.
He and Sutliff said another treatment, cortisone steroid shots, is commonly asked about but used as a last resort for chronic allergies.
They are sometimes used, however, to quell hypersensitive reactions to insect bites and stings, which can cause hives, welts and a swollen face - just like in people.
firstname.lastname@example.org, (904) 359-4539