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We are heading into that lovely time of the year again! Our lovely Georgia spring. Here in Roswell, our cars will all be a shade of yellow and we will be viewing life through a set of itchy, red eyes. The allergy season will soon be upon us. This also holds true for our canine and feline companions as well. Visits to the veterinary hospital for itching, ear infections, and sneezing is only a few short weeks away...for some of you. So, the obvious question is...Hey doc how do I prevent this from happening this year? Well, in short you cannot. We all have to step back and think about ourselves for a quick minute. Are we able to prevent our allergies from happening? NO. In fact, we typically take medications to alleviate the signs to buy time through the pollen season. Well, unfortunately, we have to do the same thing for our pets. However, our pets are at a disadvantage. Only 18-30% of dogs respond to anti-histamines, which places the veterinarian at a distinct disadvantage.

Also, just like people, our pets develop these allergies over time. Once we develop an allergy, we have it for life and so do our furry companions. So, how and when do we manage the allergies. Well, the key is to manage the symptoms early. The body can become overwhelmed during allergy season, like a runaway train. It then takes time, medication, and close communication with your veterinarian team to get that train under control. In essence, its better to stop the train when just rolling vs. full throttle. The key is going to be finding a management strategy to keep the allergy signs under control and that train in the yard.

This can be difficult and sometimes we loose control, but great communication between you and your veterinarian can keep the episodes to a flare-up vs. a full blown forest fire. 

We now have a few more medications in the veterinary arsenal to help combat allergies! Apoquel by the company Zoetis has just been released in January and may prove to be a game changer in the veterinary management of dog allergies. This medication works directly on the "itch-factor" and is aimed at creating a comfortable dog and stopping the problems at the source. 

We recommend discussing your allergy management strategy with your veterinarian before the allergy season is in full swing. Remember, early intervention give us the best chance and preventing the severe signs that may develop from allergies. If you live in the Atlanta area or near the clinic, such as Roswell or Alpharetta, then call us for an appointment to discuss your pets allergy strategy before its to late. 

Dr. Marcus Smith

Chattahoochee Animal Clinic