You love your pet, which is why you get worried when he or she displays allergy symptoms. Thankfully you can do a lot to assuage the discomfort and get your pet feeling back to normal. Read on to find out how.
Connect With the Vet
While a number of solutions exist for pet owners to try at home, the first thing you should do when your pet has an issue is take him or her to the vet. If you notice sneezing, irritated eyes or ears, itchy skin, sores, or inflamed paws, bring your furry friend to the vet immediately, or use Kuddly.co to seek advice from a veterinarian online.
Check Your Cleaning Products
You may not know what isopropyl alcohol and perchloroethylene are, but reading the backs of your cleaning products might give you a clue. Cleaning products contain a number of substances that are toxic to your pets, including your favorite bacteria-eliminating chemical: bleach. Look for pet-safe cleaning products at the pet store or online. All-natural and green cleaning products help you protect your pets.
Think About Food
Food allergies cause many of the same symptoms that environmental allergies inflict. You might think that your cat or dog couldn’t possibly be allergic to the food you’ve been feeding her for years, but in reality, prolonged exposure to the same food can create an allergy. You can try a number of solutions for this, including eliminating one-by-one the things your pet has been eating, then reintroducing them. You also may find more success preparing species-appropriate meals yourself. Some people have luck with supplements like coconut oil and omega-3 fatty acids, but as always, ask the vet before you do this.
Eliminate Indoor Allergens
It should come as no surprise that many of the things that cause you allergy issues can also affect your pets. Humidity, mold, and dust mites can cause your pets sinus and skin irritation, just like what happens to you during an allergy attack. Take care of these allergens by vacuuming often with a HEPA-filtered vacuum, changing the filters in your HVAC system, washing your bedding and your pet’s bedding with hot water and all-natural detergent, and sticking with cotton fabrics instead of wool.
Try All-Natural Topicals
Discovering and eliminating allergens provides your pet with relief. You can help your best friend feel better more quickly, however, by treating his or her symptoms. Since itchy skin and constant scratching or biting are very common in an allergic pet, a topical cream might help relieve some of that discomfort. While you want to always check with the vet before administering anything to your pet, get an all-natural topical ointment meant for itchy allergic skin. Your vet will have some recommendations.
Don’t forget to give your pet lots of love while she’s suffering from allergies. Cuddles, clean bedding, and filtered water will help your pet feel better. If his or her symptoms don’t improve after altering your home environment, the vet is your best resource for getting your pet feeling better.