Friday, March 29, 2013

It's Allergy Season Again!


 
Any veterinarian who sees allergic dogs has listened to the frustrations of the owners in dealing with the itch, the odor, the hair loss, and the never-ending nature of this disease. Many owners, especially those who have no experience themselves with allergies, have unrealistic expectations about what can be achieved. It is critical to help them understand that allergies are forever......and they will probably always itch more than "normal" dogs.  This is a hard reality to accept, but to be successful in management of allergies, we must be glad when small changes occur over a long period of time.  It is critical to have great follow-up and lots of communication with your veterinarian in order to tailor a plan that fits the patient.  Multimodal treatment usually follows smart diagnostics.  "Guessing" is not the smart way, because treatment for one itchy problem may make another worse.  Let's talk about allergies and see that patient.  Even though it is allergy season, skin infections, parasites, or auto-immune diseases may still be the primary cause of your pet's itchy problem.  Call for an appointment today.