Itching and Scratching
the Winter Away
It's that time when pets and humans are more vulnerable to
each other than ever. Since this is the chilliest month of
the year, animals are more likely to be cooped up in the
house -- and us with them! All of the windows and doors are
closed to the world and the heat is blasting around the
clock.
These kinds of conditions can make our winter homes
playgrounds for various allergens. Our pets are vulnerable
to the dust in the carpet, the mold inside the walls of your
old house and other pets. On the other hand, warm moist
times of the year or times when the seasons are shifting are
also high allergy times. Our pets are hardly ever safe from
them. Allergies are the most common conditions affecting
cats and according to Kansas State University, fifteen
percent of dogs suffer from common allergies like
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pollen, mold and house dust.
However, common allergies aren't the only ones that affect
our pets. Just like humans, pets can be allergic to anything
from eggs to oak trees. Allergies are conditions that pets
and humans share with equal intensity, so we must use our
powers of empathy to make them as comfortable in their skin
as possible. This month, the HealthyPetNet News will focus
on pet allergies: what they are, what to look for and the
different methods of giving relief.
So What Are Allergies Anyway?
Essentially, an allergic reaction is the work of an
overactive immune system. It's when an animal responds
abnormally to a seemingly everyday substance like grass or
common food ingredients. Substances can cause an allergic
reaction upon exposure by ingestion, inhalation or skin
contact.
Allergic animals possess antibodies that react badly to
specific allergens to produce what we know as allergic
reactions. Watery eyes and constant scratching are common
manifestations of the immune system in overdrive,
overcompensating to expel the allergen from the body. |
