Allergy sufferers, UNITE! Ever since I was small I have been dealing with allergies and the irritations and unpleasantness that go along with them. I always heard adults say, “she will out grow them”, I am still waiting for that sentiment to become a reality. Some of the things that gave me grief don’t seem to be as offensive, but it seems the older I get, more and more triggers are being added to the list. I have often wondered what it is that makes me so susceptible, is it my geographic location, a genetic predisposition or is there something inherently wrong with the world and the impact we humans are having on our environment. I think the first time that allergies for an animal appeared on my radar was when we had our dog Amber, that poor pooch had a hypersensitivity to fleas and had severe reactions if she was bitten or exposed. When I look at my client list I can say that over half of my canine friends are on specialized diets due to food sensitivities or external factors in the environment. One of my buddies has been having a truly rough time that started in August and seemed to get worse with the onset of Autumn. His family has been trying to sort out what causes him to scratch for some time, switching his foods and trying to simplify his diet. With a lack of a success in solving the issue, he had skin testing done, which validated his people’s concerns and the results confirmed that he in fact is allergic to eleven triggers that covered the spectrum from grasses, trees, weeds, molds, insects and indoor allergens. Turns out my cute little friend is allergic to many of the same things as I am, the one I found most fascinating though was cats!!! Who knew that canines and felines can have sensitivities to one another! I knew I was allergic to my cat and have chosen to suffer through, but I now have a better understanding what ignited my friends discomfort awhile back when his family was away for a wedding. Sam and my cat Romeo spent two nights sleeping on our bed, that poor pup, he was itching incessantly by the second night. Thankfully, there is a serum that he can be given to help him combat his issue that should take affect over time. In the interim, avoidance of triggers, a few changes in his internal environment and lot’s of TLC will hopefully help him manage. I wish there was some way I could convey to him that I “get it”, I feel for him how annoying and frustrating it is to have skin that burns and an insatiable urge to scratch an itch that just won’t go away. I am grateful though for people that are willing to investigate and help their animals when they know their quality of life in being impacted. Kudos to the pet parents that don’t throw up their hands and ignore the impact that allergies have to their furry friends!
No Time To Paws 