Allergies

When your dog pumps its leg frantically to scratch its ear, or your cat bites its tail furiously until the fur falls out, it is clear that your pet is itching for relief. Occasional scratching is normal, but if a pet scratches or bites itself relentlessly, a health problem may be the cause. Itching can be triggered by a variety of conditions, ranging from liver disease to lice, from fungus to fleas, from mange to anxiety. But the leading cause of itching and scratching in pets is allergies.

Allergies are the most common underlying cause of ear problems in dogs. Like people with allergies, animals don't usually get stuffy or runny noses or watery eyes. Their main symptom is itchy skin, which can turn raw and red from scratching, licking, and chewing. This condition is called allergic skin disease, or allergic dermatitis. With enough scratching and biting, open sores can form, creating a haven for bacteria or yeast that can lead to infection. Dogs and cats are the pets most frequently seen with allergies. To relieve the itch, dogs may scratch and bite at themselves and rub their face with their paws or against the floor and furniture. Cats tend to pull out their hair and get patchy hair loss on their ears, legs, and around their eyes. They will make themselves bald.

There is no cure for allergies. They are a lifelong problem and oftentimes they get worse as a pet gets older. But there are treatments to relieve itchiness, clear up infections that arise from constant scratching, and even desensitize a pet to substances that cause allergies. There may not be cure, but you can control allergies. To cure food allergies, pet should be put to elimination diet for at least ten weeks. Veterinarians also use drugs, especially steroids in many cases.