With seasonal changes, it's not uncommon for an individual to suffer from allergies. Be it mold, hay, pollen, or even animal fur, the nose and head are sure to wreak havoc upon them. There's also the allergies that stem from certain foods that could do far more than just give them a few sniffles. One wrong bite and they could end up in the hospital with anaphylactic shock. However, humans aren't the only one that suffers from allergies.
Many pets, like cats and dogs, suffer from allergies just the same. They're prone to sneezes during the shifts in the seasons. However, they can also be allergic to their food. In some cases, the upset can be so terrible that they need their stomach pumped. To make sure that the home is safe for everyone in the family–including the pets–consider these known allergies for certain pets.
Common Allergies For Cats
While it is easy to tout that the allergy for your precious kitten stems from food, this isn't always the case. Food allergies occur when the cat's immune system mistakes a certain protein in the food as a foreign invader. As a result, the body fights off the protein. Much like a human, the body has a few physical side effects of an allergy. The most common on those are rashes on your cat's skin. They'll want to itch at it. This can make them claw right through the skin and start to make themselves bleed, so it is important that the owner recognizes the allergy right away and removes it.
While many have suggested that grains are the primary cause of allergies in pets, this isn't necessarily the case. While cats may not respond well to grains, it's more of an independent case than a generalization. Far more commonly, cats are allergic to foods that contain chicken, fish, beef, egg, and dairy. This is because these are food types that have been given to cats the most over time. Over time, the body develops an allergy against foodstuffs that it has received in plenty over decades.
However, food isn't always the culprit in making the owner's cat develop a rash or other symptoms of an allergy. Dust mites are often to blame for a cat's rash and scratching. Fleas, grasses, and pollen are also common reasons for a cat's allergy. In fact, environmental allergies are far more common than food allergies. One way an owner can alleviate environmental allergens is to regularly clean their cat and shut the windows.
Common Allergies For Dogs
While many specific breeds of dogs have specific allergies, there are a few common allergies that can affect any dog. Similar to cats, dogs also can develop food allergies. However, they are prone to environmental allergens just the same as cats and humans. Some of the symptoms of allergies in dogs are constant licking, vomiting, sneezing, itchy ears, chronic ear infections, diarrhea, hives, itchiness, swelling of the face or ears, and runny eyes.
Similar to cats, dogs can also have an allergic reaction to flea saliva. When the flea bites them, the saliva irritates their skin. This causes them to scratch deep and might result in an injury. For those who have food sensitivities and develop an allergy to certain foods, they usually end up with itchy ears and paws. Most commonly, dogs are allergic to or have a food sensitivity to beef, wheat, chicken, milk, soy, and corn. This might cause them to itch, develop a rash, or have diarrhea.
It is possible for a dog to undergo anaphylactic shock if they eat or become subject to certain allergens. Bee stings can cause a dog to go into anaphylactic shock if they are allergic to the venom in bee stings. It's possible for dogs to die, much like a human, if they are not treated for the allergy right away. Another acute allergy is vaccines. While not all vaccines will cause a dog to have a severe allergic reaction, there is a possibility. This is one of the reasons why it is critical that dogs are watched closely after receiving a vaccine. Acute allergies can be helped with antihistamines.
Other Pet Allergies
For those pet owners with a hamster, they also might suffer from an allergy. While it is common for people to have an allergy to hamsters, the hamster itself might be suffering, too. If owners notice the hamster's hair is starting to fall out, they're itchy, or their face is swollen, then they might have an allergy. For hamsters, the most common allergens could be their bedding, their food, and even airborne allergens like cigarette smoke, perfume, and furniture polish. This is because their lungs are tiny and can be easily impacted.
