Pet Allergy Week 2018 at The Vet Whetstone
April 21, 2018
What is an allergy?
An allergy is an overreaction of the immune system to a common substance known as an allergen. Allergens can enter the body in several ways:
- Inhalation
- Ingestion
- Absorption through the skin
So, as you can imagine, they are extremely difficult to avoid. After being repeatedly exposed to an allergen, some animal’s immune systems have a negative response and overreact to it, harming the body and resulting in the clinical signs associated with allergies such as patchy fur or upset stomachs.
Pet Allergy Week
Over half of pet owners aren’t aware that their dog or cat can also be affected by seasonal allergies in the spring and summer months. Here at The Vet Whetstone, we are taking part in Pet Allergy Week (PAW) 2018 from 18th – 24th June to help raise awareness for the allergies our pets are prone to that often go unnoticed.
It is suggested that 10-15% of dogs in the UK are affected by allergic disease, and it is being recognised with increasing frequency in cats – this is nothing to sniff at! This year’s PAW is focusing on “The Allergy Threshold”. This is a unique threshold for each animal, and is the level at which allergens must build up to for a clinical effect to be seen. This can be a combination of food or environmental factors that trigger the response in our pets, such as grass, fleas or certain proteins.
In connection with Pet Allergy Week, The Vet Whetstone will be working with Avacta Animal Health, a globally recognised laboratory specialising in allergies, and we will be offering substantial discounts on certain Allergy Testing Packs in June and July! If you have spotted any of the signs in your pet from our previous articles this month – a puffy-eyed pup or a patchy pussycat – then feel free to bring them in or call us for a chat and one of our team will be happy to talk to you.
