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Allergies are a sign that your pet is overreacting to exposure to some type of foreign substance. Today we're going to talk about two types of allergies. Those that come on suddenly in response to things like insect stings, a recent medication or vaccinations. In contrast to long standing allergies that are often caused by different foods or environmental allergies like grasses and pollens. If your pet is experiencing a mild allergy, you may see signs such as pain, facial swelling or scratching, hives which are red, raised bumps on the skin or vomiting. If you see any of these signs, you should take your pet's vital signs. And if they are normal, contact your veterinarian. Your vet may recommend that you give over the counter diphenhydramine or Benadryl or they may recommend that you bring the pet in for evaluation. If your veterinarian does recommend to give Benadryl over the counter, you want to monitor her closely and if at any time she gets worse or if her signs aren't improving within 30 to 60 minutes, you want to take her in for evaluation. If however your pet's vital signs are abnormal, this could be a sign of a worse condition. In particular, if your pet's gums are bright pink or red, or if heart rate or respiratory rate are faster than usual, these are cause for concern. If you see any of these signs or if your pet is acting weak or she collapses, this could be a sign of a severe allergic reaction which is called anaphylaxis. And this can be life threatening. Don't give your pet any medications and transport her immediately to a veterinarian. Dogs and cats can also develop long standing allergies to things like food an other environmental allergens. If this occurs, you may see hair loss in your pet, reddened skin or raised bumps like papules which are like pimples. If you see these signs, you need to take your pet to the veterinarian to talk about long term treatment options. Even with treatment however, flair ups can occur. And these can look like moist, reddened skin that can be intensely itchy. It's important to try to limit your pet's ability to lick and scratch and chew at these areas, as this can cause or spread secondary bacterial infection. The best way to do this is to get an e collar or a cone for your pet and keep it on her to prevent her from chewing and licking at these areas until you can have her seen by a veterinarian to try to get the allergies under control.
In this lesson, you'll be learning about allergies, including both long-standing allergies and those that come on suddenly. We'll provide you with some signs and symptoms for each type and tell you when it's appropriate to see a veterinarian for every situation.
Allergies are a sign that your pet's body is overreacting to an exposure to some type of foreign substance. There are two types of allergies – sudden onset allergies and long-standing allergies.
If your pet is experiencing a mild yet sudden allergic reaction, the signs you will usually see include:
If you see any of these signs in your dog or cat, it's time to check those vital signs. What you discover will determine your next course of action.
If you've checked your pet's vitals and they all appear normal, you can contact your vet for some advice. He or she may recommend you give your pet some over-the-counter diphenhydramine, also known by the brand name Benadryl. However, your veterinarian may recommend you bring your pet in for an evaluation.
Pro Tip #1: If your vet does recommend giving your pet Benadryl over the counter, you should monitor your pet closely afterward. If at any time her symptoms get worse or if her signs are not improving after 30 to 60 minutes, you'll need to take her in for a veterinary evaluation right away.
Let's say you check your pet's vitals and notice some abnormalities. This can be a sign of a worse condition or greater problem. in situations like these, it's important to be aware of a condition called severe anaphylaxis shock, as it can be life-threatening.
In particular, if you notice the following signs of anaphylaxis shock, this may be a real cause for concern:
Warning: This could be very serious. If you notice any of these signs, transport your pet to a veterinarian facility as soon as possible. And DO NOT give your pet any medications unless first instructed by your vet.
Dogs and cats, like people, can develop long-standing allergies to things like food and other environmental allergens. If your pet is suffering from this type of allergy, signs you might see include the following:
If you notice any of these signs, you'll want to make an appointment to talk to your veterinarian about long-term treatment options. However, even with treatments, flare-ups can still occur. When a flare-up does occur, it can cause moist and reddened skin that can be intensely itchy.
Pro Tip #2: If your pet has long-standing allergies and suffers from a flare-up, it's important to limit your pet's ability to scratch, lick, or chew those affected areas on her body, as this can cause or spread secondary bacterial infections.
How do you keep your pet from doing any of the above? Well, the two best ways to do this are using a cone collar or other ways to prevent your pet from reaching the affected areas such a suitical recover suit. Surely you've seen the cones before. They're perfect for preventing your pet from the chewing and licking that will likely just cause more problems. And if you haven't had a pet need one of these cones before, beware that she will not like wearing it.
If you do put a cone on your pet, keep it on until you can get seen by your veterinarian and until you can get your pet's long-standing allergic reaction or flare-up under control. Better your pet has a bruised ego or feels uncomfortable for a few days than contracting a bacterial infection.