Allergies in Senior Pets

Flea allergies in senior pets

Fleas are the most common external parasite affecting pets. When these parasites feed, they inject their saliva into your pet's skin. Many pets are allergic to a histamine-like compound in the flea's saliva, and a solitary flea's bite can cause a reaction.

• Signs — Affected pets are excessively itchy, and will lick, scratch, rub, and chew almost continuously. This constant activity can lead to hair loss, typically starting at the tail base and spreading all over the body, if left untreated. In addition, you may notice small, red skin lesions on their abdomen and inside their groin from the flea bites. Surprisingly, you may not find fleas on your senior pet, because their excessive grooming can eradicate the fleas. However, you may observe flea dirt on your pet, or in their bedding.
• Diagnosis — The presence of fleas or flea dirt usually indicates flea allergies in senior pets.
• Treatment — To treat these allergies, you must completely exterminate all fleas from your pet and their environment. You can bathe your senior pet to kill the fleas, and then use a flea comb to remove them from your pet's coat. To remove the pests from your home, you should thoroughly wash or dispose of your pet's bedding. You should also thoroughly vacuum all your pet's resting areas, steam clean carpets, and upholstery, and use chemical treatments to kill the eggs, larvae, and pupae. You must treat your yard to prevent reinfection.
• Prevention — The best way to prevent flea allergies in your senior pet is to keep them on year-round flea and tick prevention medication. Many products are available and your veterinarian can help you choose the right one for your pet.

Food allergies in senior pets

Pets with food allergies are most commonly affected by protein sources, such as chicken, beef, dairy, and eggs. They can develop an allergy at any age and can become allergic to a food they've been eating for years.

• Signs — Food allergies can affect pets in many ways, including itchy skin, ear, and skin infections, and gastrointestinal upset. Some pets may experience a combination of these signs.
• Diagnosis — The only way to definitively determine if your senior pet has a food allergy is by performing an elimination diet, which involves feeding your pet a diet that contains a protein your pet has never eaten before, or one that has been hydrolyzed. The protein source in a hydrolyzed diet has been broken down into small pieces that the body's immune system does not recognize. Your pet must eat only this food for at least eight weeks before you see results—meaning you can't give your pet table scraps, treats with off-limits ingredients, or flavored medications.
• Treatment — A food allergy is treated by never allowing your pet to ingest the ingredients that caused their allergic reaction.

Environmental allergies in senior pets

Senior pets can suffer from atopic dermatitis, which is an allergic reaction to environmental allergens such as molds, pollen, and dust. Atopy signs may be seasonal, but depending on the allergen, can also occur year-round.

• Signs — Pets affected by environmental allergies show signs that include itchy skin, particularly on their face and feet. Their skin may be irritated and damaged from the constant scratching and chewing. Skin and ear infections are common, and often recurrent in nature.
• Diagnosis — Atopy diagnosis is a diagnosis of exclusion. Flea and food allergies must be ruled out to determine if your senior pet is suffering from an environmental allergy. Allergen testing in pets is used to develop treatments.
• Treatment — Senior pets affected by atopy are typically treated with a multi-pronged plan.
• Anti-inflammatory medications — These products are helpful to reduce your senior pet's itching and inflammation.
• Bathing — Bathing your senior pet removes the allergens and this is a very important part of managing allergies. Medicated shampoos can help to quieten their inflamed skin and to restore the skin's natural function.
• Immunotherapy — Allergy testing through intradermal skin testing or a blood test can determine what allergens are causing your senior pet's reaction. This information can be used to produce immunotherapy, to induce tolerance to these substances. Injections are given in increasing dosages, to gradually increase your pet's tolerance to specific allergens.