Dog, Cat & Horse Allergy Treatment in Flagstaff

At CAWC, we prioritize your pet’s comfort and health by effectively treating their allergies using established diagnosis methods and remedies. Contact our team today with questions or to schedule an appointment to conduct testing.

Pet Allergies & Symptoms

Are you concerned that your beloved pet is suffering from allergies? If so, take a moment to review the most common symptoms to watch out for in regard to dogs, cats, horses, and ruminants.

Dog Allergies

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis: Intense itching, redness, inflammation, hair loss, particularly around the base of the tail.
• Food Allergies: Itching, redness, hives, gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea.
• Atopy: Itching, redness, sneezing, watery eyes, and potentially recurring skin infections.
• Contact Dermatitis: Localized redness, itching, and skin lesions, usually in areas with less hair like the belly and feet.
• Drug Allergies: Skin reactions (hives, rash), gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, swelling of face or extremities.

Cat Allergies

• Flea Allergy Dermatitis: Intense itching, redness, inflammation, hair loss often around the base of the tail, ‘hot spots’.
• Food Allergies: Itching, redness, hives, gastrointestinal problems like vomiting and diarrhea, excessive grooming.
• Atopy (Environmental Allergies): Itching, redness, excessive grooming, skin infections.
• Contact Dermatitis: Localized redness, itching, and skin lesions, typically on areas with less hair like the belly and feet.
• Drug Allergies: Skin reactions (hives, rash), gastrointestinal upset, difficulty breathing, swelling of face or extremities.
• Inhalant Allergies (Pollens, Dust Mites, Molds): Sneezing, coughing, wheezing, itching, redness, watery eyes, and potential skin infections.
• Perfume and Fragrance Allergies: Sneezing, watery eyes, itching, redness, and skin reactions.

Horse Allergies

• Insect Bite Hypersensitivity: Itching, hives, hair loss, skin thickening, and crusting, most commonly around the tail, mane, and ears.
• Food Allergies: Hives, itching, and gastrointestinal upset such as diarrhea.
• Contact Dermatitis: Redness, swelling, itching, and hives, typically in the area that came into contact with the allergen.
• Respiratory Allergies (Inhalant Allergies): Coughing, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing, decreased performance.
• Atopy (Environmental Allergies): Itching, redness, hives, and skin lesions.
• Drug Allergies: Hives, skin rash, fever, swelling, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Ruminant Allergies

• Insect Bite Hypersensitivity: Itching, hair loss, skin thickening, and crusting, typically around the face, ears, and back.
• Food Allergies: Digestive upset, bloating, diarrhea, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.
• Contact Dermatitis: Redness, swelling, itching, and hives in the area that came into contact with the allergen.
• Respiratory Allergies (Inhalant Allergies): Coughing, nasal discharge, difficulty breathing.
• Atopy (Environmental Allergies): Itching, redness, hives, and skin lesions.
• Drug Allergies: Hives, skin rash, fever, swelling, and in severe cases, anaphylaxis.

Allergy Treatment for Your Pet

Treatments typically involve a topical or oral pet allergy medication prescribed by a veterinarian after diagnosis; however, there may be a home remedy that you can try.

Veterinary Treatment

These therapies are safe and effective, but a veterinarian should be the one to prescribe treatment. It’s also important to monitor your pet closely when administering treatment for adverse effects and to notify your vet to modify doses.

1. Steroids

Pets with severe allergic responses may require steroids like prednisone. Steroids can quickly relieve itching and redness by lowering inflammation and inhibiting the immune system. Steroids are beneficial, but long-term usage may cause thirst, hunger, infections, and liver and kidney damage. Use them under veterinary supervision.

2. Apoquel (Oclacitinib)

Apoquel is one of the best allergy medicines for pet allergies. This medication, mainly used for dogs, relieves itching. It inhibits itching and inflammatory enzymes specifically and can prevent itching shortly after being administered. Apoquel, unlike steroids, targets itch-related pathways.

3. Cytopoint

Another allergy remedy for dogs is a non-drug biological therapy that mimics immunological reactions to alleviate itching and inflammation. It neutralizes interleukin-31 (IL-31), which delivers brain itch impulses. For long-term treatment, each injection relieves itching for approximately four to eight weeks.

4. Immunotherapy

In horses (and other pets), immunotherapy includes giving a series of injections (or oral drops) with tiny doses of the allergens triggering the response. Over time, the horse’s immune system grows less susceptible to the allergen, minimizing allergy responses. When allergens cannot be eliminated from the horse’s surroundings or other treatments fail, this therapy can be employed. It can take months or more than a year to observe major gains.

Home Remedies

We highly recommend that you consult with your pet’s vet before administering any home remedies for treating allergies.

1. Supplements

Supplements can greatly benefit dogs and horses with allergies. Omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil reduce inflammation and enhance skin health. Probiotics support a healthy gut microbiota and immunological function. There are a number of dog and horse allergy supplements on the market.

2. Soothing Baths

Bathing can relieve itching, eliminate irritants, and heal the skin. Use a veterinarian-recommended medicated or pet-friendly hypoallergenic shampoo. Oatmeal baths also soothe pain.

3. Ear Cleaning

Allergy-prone dogs may benefit from regular ear cleaning. Use a vet-approved ear cleaning solution instead of vinegar or alcohol, which may harm your pet.

4. Flea Prevention

Flea saliva causes flea allergy dermatitis in dogs; therefore, preventatives are essential for treating this illness. Topicals, oral medicines, and collars are available over-the-counter and by prescription.

5. Hypoallergenic Diet

Feeding your pet a hypoallergenic diet may help identify the allergen. Limiting your pet’s food intake requires a vet’s supervision.

6. Air Purifiers

Air purifiers may reduce environmental allergies in pets by removing dust and pollen from the air.

7. Daily Wipedowns

Use a damp washcloth to wipe down the feet and hair coat to remove contact allergens.

Helpful Pet Allergy Articles & Resources

Flagstaff Pet Allergy Treatment

At Continental Animal Wellness Center in Flagstaff, Arizona, we truly understand the diverse and significant roles that animals play in your life. Our mission is to focus on the health and well-being of all creatures we treat, from horses and farm animals to house pets and exotic species.

We are proud of our state-of-the-art facilities and our dedicated, compassionate staff who always provide superior care and service. Our veterinary clinic in Flagstaff is equipped with the most up-to-date technology and equipment, ensuring your pets receive the best possible treatment.

We provide large and small animal allergy care under one roof for your convenience. Visit our Flagstaff clinic for farm animal, horse, cat, or dog allergy testing.