Allergy Treatment for Dogs and Cats in Stone Mountain
Even though your pet’s skin is probably covered by a coat of fur, it is still vulnerable to many environmental elements. Dirt, grass seeds, dust, and more can all lead to itchy, irritated skin. What doesn’t help matters is that many pets have allergies that make their symptoms even worse. At The Village Vets Stone Mountain, we use pet dermatology to manage dog and cat allergy treatment so they can experience relief.
Recognizing Allergies in Cats and Dogs
Skin conditions are often the result of allergies, but first, we’ll run some diagnostic tests to ensure it’s not caused by some other medical condition. Our in-house lab allows us to run quick tests to get fast results. Once everything else is ruled out, we’ll take a blood sample to send for allergy testing at one of our trusted partner labs. Diagnosing pet allergies isn’t just up to us, though—you need to know when to bring your pet in! Here are some common signs your pet may have an allergy:
- Dry, flaky skin
- Red, irritated skin
- Hair loss
- Excessive licking
- Chewing paws
- Foul odor coming from skin
Common Allergens for Cats & Dogs in Stone Mountain
Some of the common allergens for pets are the same as those that affect us. They include:
- Pollens
- Mold spores
- Dust and dust mites
- Grasses
- Certain materials (such as rubber or plastic)
- Food ingredients (such as pork, beef, egg, etc.)
Keep in mind that while a blood test can show what environmental allergens your pet is allergic to, it cannot do the same for food allergies. If we suspect your pet has a food allergy, they’ll need to be put on a hypoallergenic diet for a number of weeks before adding in one ingredient at a time to see what causes their reactions to reoccur. Our vets will, of course, walk you through this process!
Pet Dermatology Treatments
Our treatments aim to both soothe your pet’s symptoms and prevent future reactions. Some of our allergy treatments include:
- Apoquel (anti-itch oral tablet)
- Cytopoint (immune therapy injection)
- Antihistamines
- Antibiotics
- Medicated topical creams and shampoos
- And more
Finding the right one or combination of treatments for your individual pet is our mission, and we’ll work with you until we get it right! Please schedule an appointment today to give your pet needed allergy relief.