Itching for your pet to stop scratching?

Where people often experience respiratory or nasal symptoms, animal allergies tend to manifest themselves in skin conditions. Springtime is here and summer is not far behind, bringing budding trees, blooming flowers, green grass — and allergies. Animals, like people, often suffer from seasonal allergies.

Where people often experience respiratory or nasal symptoms, animal allergies tend to manifest themselves in skin conditions. If your pet is constantly scratching, biting, chewing, or excessively licking to the point of hair loss, he may be suffering from allergies, one of the most common health concerns for pets.

Allergic reactions occur when the immune system overreacts or responds inappropriately to a normally harmless substance.

Skin allergies are typically difficult to diagnose, but a case history of your pet's problem can help determine what may be causing the irritation. If your pet is suffering from allergic dermatitis, there will usually be redness on the face, underbelly, and/or paws.

Prompt treatment of the irritation is important, as prolonged scratching and biting of the area can lead to raw, open wounds that are susceptible to infection, and once your pet is into the scratch/itch cycle, it is difficult to control.

Steroids suppress the immune system and can lessen the severity of the allergy but can affect the animal's organs and create behavioral changes, such as increased aggression. Antihistamines are often prescribed but can make pets drowsy and cause sedation.

A growing area of pet care involves alternative medicine remedies, including homeopathy. Many homeopathic products can provide relief from allergies and airborne pollutants that cause skin irritation without the unwanted side effects.

For more information visit www.homeopet.com.