Alleviate Your Pet's Allergies

Dr. Debbye Turner Gives Tips On How To Make Your Furry Friends Feel Better

(CBS)  It's allergy season, and not only humans are affected. Pets can also suffer — but, of course, they have no way of helping themselves.

Early Show veterinarian Dr. Debbye Turner has some suggestions to help your pet feel better.

Turner said that if cats are overly-grooming or dogs are licking their paws raw, they may well be experiencing allergies. Animals can also have allergic reactions to substances like pollen, dust or an insect bite. Symptoms can include pruritus — or itchy, swollen skin, difficulty breathing, vomiting or diarrhea.

Pet allergies generally fall under one of four main categories: flea allergies, airborne allergies, food allergies and contact allergies.

Flea Allergies

This is an extremely common problem for pets, Turner said. Animals aren't actually allergic to the fleas, but rather to proteins that fleas secrete in their saliva when they bite. One bite can bother an animal for more than five days!

If you think your pet is allergic to fleas, give him or her frequent baths and prescription flea medicine, says HealthyPet.com. Be careful, because the wrong kind of flea repellent could cause irritated skin, seizures, and even death in some cases.

"Your pet does not have to be infested with fleas to be allergic to them," Turner said. "Fleas spend most of the time on the carpet and couch as on your pet."

Turner said the first thing you need to do is get rid of the fleas. Use a flea collar and treat the environment as well as the pet.

Airborne Allergies

Just like humans, pets can be allergic to the pollen and mold. They can also be allergic to the dust mites, mildew, and mold that can lurk within every home. Airborne allergens usually produce itching around the ears, feet, groin, and armpits. But it can spread across the entire body. Dogs in particular may develop bald "hot spots" from incessant chewing and scratching the affected skin.

If your pet's allergies seem to be seasonal, HealthyPet.com says you should limit your pet's outdoor activity during allergy season. If your pet is allergic to something inside the home, try using an air filter to provide limited relief.

"I have a feather duster, but when you take your dog out to play, it's important to brush them down to get the pollen off of them," Turner said.

Food Allergies

Over time, a pet's immune system may develop an allergic reaction to some part of its diet. Symptoms include itching, digestive disorders and respiratory distress.