In the summer of one of the most turbulent economic periods in a lifetime, Americans are rediscovering simplicity and frugality. These days, it’s not uncommon to see a small group playing an impromptu game of Frisbee, or a couple enjoying a nature hike through a local park, or an extended family spending an afternoon in the backyard barbecuing.
The summer months provide ample opportunities for outdoor fun, whether your idea of open-air enjoyment is a power-walk with your dog or watching an afternoon storm roll in from the safety of a back porch with your cat. These activities help us brush away the winter cobwebs, shedding new light on our daily life. But sometimes, we make discoveries that are not altogether pleasant. Too often, the thinner, summer coats of our pets can reveal what winter coats have hidden from plain view – reddened skin irritations, possibly the sign of a seasonal or chronic allergy.
That’s right … just like humans, pets suffer from allergies. Allergens can come from any number of sources, including grasses, trees, molds, dust mites and flea bites. Even their food may contain allergens. With all of these possible culprits, how can a pet parent learn what’s causing their pet’s allergy?
The first step for many of us is to hop online. We know that information is plentiful on the internet, even if not all of it is trustworthy. That inclination, to try and uncover the reasons ourselves, especially when that impulse is coupled with hard economic times, can lead to a scenario where many pet parents will try to diagnose Fido’s or Fluffy’s allergies on their own, without veterinary assistance. But the cause of allergies is notoriously difficult to pin down because it so hard to isolate one possible cause from another.
If you want to determine whether or not your four-footer is truly suffering from an environmental or food-related allergy, you should have your vet do an evaluation. They will use either a blood test or a skin test, or perhaps both, to assess what allergens are producing the symptoms.
When animals experience allergic reactions, their bodies alter normal hormone production. Some of the resultant chemical reactions can lead to cellular inflammation, the process bodies use to remove the allergens. To understand this process, consider the following example: the common flea bite. Commonly, after a flea bite, there may be swelling and possible irritation (usually itchiness). But if your dog or cat has a flea allergy, the reaction is a much larger rash with severe itching. This is the body attempting to eliminate the allergen; in this case, flea saliva.
If you are not already feeding your companion a diet rich in omega-3’s like Life’s Abundance, you might consider incorporating into your pet’s diet a supplemental source of omega-3’s, either in chewable tablet form (like Skin & Coat Formula) or in capsule form (many of our customers provide Sealogix for their pets). Dr. Jane advises against feeding omega-3 supplements in the half-hour immediately before and after a meal, as the precise balance of fats can be thrown off, resulting in diminished absorption of those beneficial nutrients. Under no circumstances should you add liquid fish oil to dry food.
If you believe that your favored feline or precious pup suffers from allergies, please schedule time with your trusted veterinarian to determine the appropriate treatment, and consider incorporating essential fatty acids in your pet’s diet. By taking a proactive stance now, your pet might be able to avoid allergic reactions in the future.
Why Choose Life's Abundance dog and cat products?
Life's Abundance has had NO RECALLS EVER!
Life's Abundance has been in business since 1999.
Life's Abundance currently has 6 warehouses to make shipping to you as quick as possible and carries products for you and your pets.
Life's Abundance dry dog and cat foods are generally shipped within 6 weeks of being made. They don't sit in non climate controlled warehouses or semi trailers for months before hitting the store shelves.