Pet

Allergy Management

Pets can develop allergies, just like their owners! While you may get the sneezes every fall, your pet may have skin inflammation at certain times of the year. But not all allergens are seasonal like grasses and weeds. Many pets suffer year-round with allergies to house dust mites, food ingredients and molds.

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Managing Cat & Dog Allergies in New Glarus, WI

Pet allergy symptoms look very different than the runny nose and sneezing that we see with people. Dogs may lick their feet or have frequent ear infections; cats may get very itchy skin and scabs especially on the face. An allergy treatment plan should be specific to each patient, as symptoms are unique to each case and often change over time. At Country View Veterinary Service, our veterinarian will work with you to develop a plan to relieve your cat’s and dog’s allergies with effective management.

Recognizing Allergies in Dogs & Cats

Dog and cat allergies typically manifest as skin conditions, but there can be a few respiratory issues, too. If your pet exhibits any of these signs, it could be allergies:

  • Red, irritated skin
  • Dry, flaky skin
  • Hot spots
  • Frequent ear infections
  • Lick granulomas
  • Licking/chewing paws
  • Hair loss
  • Over-grooming
  • Sneezing
  • Nasal discharge
  • Watery eyes
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How We Diagnose Cat & Dog Allergies

Many allergy symptoms can also be caused by underlying diseases, so it’s important to run a full diagnostic workup on your pet in order to rule out these conditions. We’ll perform blood work as well as skin tests to determine the cause of your pet’s skin condition. If we don’t find any evidence of an underlying condition, we can safely diagnose allergies.

If you choose, we can also collect a blood sample and send it out to Heska labs for allergy testing to determine the exact cause of your pet’s allergy. From the results of that test, we may be able to develop an allergy therapy shot or drops designed to work with your pet’s immune system to prevent the allergic reaction.

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Allergy Management Options

At Country View Veterinary Service, we understand that allergies can frustrate you and your pet. We’ll work closely with both of you to determine the cause of allergy symptoms and develop an effective management plan. Our allergy management options include:

  • Cytopoint (an injectable for dogs that prevents the itch for 4-8 weeks)
  • Apoquel (a daily tablet for dogs)
  • Atopica (a daily tablet for dogs and an oral solution for cats)
  • Allergy therapy shots or oral drops
  • Medicated shampoos to remove allergens from the coat and skin
  • Topical creams to relieve the itch
  • Antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections
  • Antifungals to treat secondary fungal infections
  • Elimination diet for food allergies to determine the exact ingredient to which your pet is allergic

Veterinary Services

Below are all of the veterinary services we offer at Country View Veterinary Service of New Glarus. If you have any questions regarding our services, please feel free to call us.