Have patience. Treating pet allergy takes diligence

Q I think my dog has allergies. How can I tell? And what can I do about it?

A: Only a few pets have respiratory symptoms when their allergies act up. These few sneeze some and might have red runny eyes, but most allergic pets have skin problems.

The typical allergic dog comes to see me because he has been scratching so much that he keeps his owner up at night. Then comes the hard part, trying to figure out what the pet is allergic to and determine the best therapy.

The most common allergy we see is flea allergy. Typically, a dog with flea allergies will be very itchy, will chew the hair down or even off over the rump area and often will have a secondary skin infection creating a "hot spot" or crusty circular lesions.

A flea-allergic cat will have scabs round its neck, rump and sometimes even on the belly. It takes one flea bite for an allergic pet to break out, so flea-control products must be dosed as recommended whether you are seeing fleas or not. We prescribe a bathing program with a soothing shampoo as well as administer something to stop the itching — antihistamines or, in severe cases, steroids like prednisone. Antibiotics are needed for up to six weeks for a secondary skin infection.

Your pet could be allergic to another insect like mosquitoes (more common in cats) or to something they come into contact with — wool carpet, cedar chips in a new bed, pollens or grasses in the yard. Your pet could also have a food allergy.

Pets with skin allergies benefit from skin testing by our local veterinary dermatologists at Southeast Veterinary Dermatology and Ear Clinic in Mount Pleasant. Chronic ear infections in dogs are almost always caused by an underlying allergy.

Seasonally itchy pets, often with ear problems, receive multiple tiny injections of different allergens in our area and the reactions are measured. It is best to have your pet tested and hypo- sensitized early in the course of his or her disease.

Most pets that once had seasonal allergies eventually develop year-around allergies. They can literally become allergic to the staphylococcus bacteria that causes crusty itchy lesions in the allergic pet.

Year-round scratchers need a food trial. We put these pets on a hypoallergenic diet. Your veterinarian will help you pick one that your pet will, hopefully, like.

At the end of the eight-week trial, if the pet is itching less, individual foods are slowly introduced until one causes a reaction.

Then we know what your pet needs to avoid.

Of course, there are many more things that pets can be allergic to. Some pets have gastrointestinal problems rather than itch and scratch.

Treating a pet with allergies is a lifelong commitment. There is no cure. Be patient.

Most allergic pets can have a normal quality of life if you provide the diligent care necessary to control the allergy.

Dr. Katherine A. Saenger owns Bees Ferry Veterinary Hospital and Boarding Kennel. Send questions to her at vetsaenger@bellsouth.net, or visit www.beesferry.com.