Allergy

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Common Questions For Dogs

EverPal client with a cat in a virtual vet visit

Common Questions For Cats

Learn more about

allergies

in dogs and cats

Flea Allergy

Types of Allergies in Dogs

Flea allergy is an allergic reaction to flea bites, specifically to the saliva of the flea. Even a single flea bite can trigger an intense allergic reaction in a sensitive pet, causing severe itching and discomfort.

Food Allergy

Food allergy in dogs is a bit like how some humans can't eat peanuts or shellfish without getting sick. Their body mistakenly thinks that something in their food (like a specific protein from beef, chicken, or dairy) is harmful. This causes their immune system to react.

Secondary Infections

Secondary infections in dogs refer to infections that occur as a result of an underlying condition weakening the dog's immune system. They typically arise when a primary issue (allergies, skin disorders, or wounds) compromises the immune defenses, creating an opportunity for bacteria, yeast, or fungi to invade.

Environmental Allergy

Environmental allergy, also known as Atopic Dermatitis occurs when allergens reach the skin and penetrate through a weakened skin barrier. These allergens don't need to be inhaled to cause a reaction.

Diagnosis

Diagnosing Flea Allergy
A definitive diagnosis is often confirmed by the dog’s response to strict flea control measures. The vet will recommend an aggressive flea control program, including the use of flea preventatives, and treating the home environment. If the dog's symptoms improve significantly within a few weeks of starting flea control, it indicates that fleas were the cause of the allergic reaction.

Diagnosing Food Allergy
Hypoallergenic diet is the gold standard for identifying food allergies, commonly known as “elimination diet”. It involves feeding your pet a simplified diet of foods they’ve never had before.

Diagnosing Environmental Allergy
Diagnosis is typically based on clinical signs, a thorough history, and ruling out other causes of itching such as fleas or food allergies. The term "blood test" can be a little misleading. It's used to identify specific allergen sources in order to start an immunotherapy for treating environmental allergies.

Treatment Options

It's often not uncommon for a dog to have multiple types of allergies. Therefore, working with a dedicated vet to develop a tailored care plan is crucial.

The key to treating flea allergy is to eliminate fleas on your pet and in their environment. There are several treatment options for flea allergy, including topical flea treatments, oral flea medications, environmental control, and flea collars.

For food allergies, the treatment involves figuring out what food causes the problem and then avoiding it. Hypoallergenic diet is the gold standard for identifying food allergies, also known as the “elimination diet”. It involves feeding your pet a simplified diet of foods they’ve never had before. They are designed with novel protein sources (like duck or venison) or hydrolyzed proteins, which are broken down so they’re less likely to cause an allergic reaction.

With environmental allergies, it's often difficult to pinpoint exactly what a pet is allergic to. Even if you do identify the allergens, since substances like pollen can travel for miles through the air, completely avoiding them is nearly impossible. However, we can help control the symptoms and soothe your four-legged baby’s skin with home remedies, supplements, and medications. In addition, hyposensitization, also known as allergy shots, is the gold standard for treating atopic dermatitis. This treatment directly modifies the immune system's response to allergens. It involves introducing small amounts of the allergen to the dog's system in gradually increasing doses. The goal is to train the dog’s immune system to be less reactive to these allergens over time.

How EverPal works

One-to-One Dedicated Care

Book an online vet appointment

Pick a time and get expert care from top veterinarians from home. Our veterinarian will review your pet's medical history in advance.

In-home diagnostic testing

If testing is needed, our veterinary nurse team will stop by your home to collect a sample. Currently serving San Francisco, South San Francisco, Daly City, Oakland, and Berkeley.

Follow-up care

Follow-up virtual visit with your dedicated veterinarian to discuss testing results, multiple treatment options and recommended treatment plan

Get medications shipped to you

We'll ship medications to you. Alternatively, pick them up from your local pharmacy.

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Allergy Care Program

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Diagnostic tests and medications are not included in the membership but can be added. We believe in providing expert guidance without unnecessary costs. You only pay for what your furry family member truly needs. Rest assured, we’ll always give you an estimate before rendering services.