Treat Allergies Early

It’s that time of year–blooming shrubs and trees, emerging grasses, afternoon winds and bugs, bugs, bugs. For people with itchy pets, this is a popular time to visit the vet. If your pet spends time licking his paws, chewing his legs and tail, rubbing his eyes or shaking his ears, I recommend scheduling your appointment just as the itching starts.

If left untreated for long, itching can lead to open sores and infections which require multiple medications to clear. Plus, it is miserable to be itchy. There are several common causes for itchy skin: ectoparasites (fleas, mites), bacterial or yeast skin infections, food allergies and environmental allergies (molds, pollen, grasses, etc). Some pets can have more than one at a time.

While it can take weeks (or months) to figure out what the exact underlying problem is, your vet can help make your pet comfortable while the tests are conducted.

Photo from ElleGoon’s photostream.

–Dr. Olson
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Dr. Olson practices small animal medicine in Denver, CO and is a regular contributor to Wag Reflex.