Feb/Mar 2009

Healthy Pet

Dog Allergies: Itchy and Scratchy

Canines suffer from five types of allergies – inhalant, flea, food, contact and bacterial. The most common is inhalant allergy (also called atopy), a reaction to airborne allergens—pollens, molds, mildews and dust mites—the same irritants that affect people. A dog with inhalant allergies may initially suffer seasonally, developing symptoms in spring and summer to grass or weed pollens, for example. Inhalant allergy can affect a dog at any age. Then as the dog ages, symptoms worsen and the animal is likely to develop additional sensitivities. In time, he may become itchy all year round.

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