Holistic Method to Managing Allergies     

               So, your pet has allergies.  That’s unfortunate, but surprisingly common nowadays. It’s common for humans to have allergies and the same can be true with our pets. At Holistic Pet Care, we have seen many clients coming in for skin issues who tell us stories about going to other animal hospitals for various medications, steroid injections, and costly procedures without any success. The first thing we ask is; “Have you checked what they are allergic to?” and a surprising number of people answer no. A holistic approach looks beyond symptoms to ask “what is causing this?” We want to find the root of the problem so that we can truly help your pet.   

               We have various allergy testing methods in the clinic, but the primary one we are going to discuss is the Nelco Allergy blood panel by Nelco Vet. This guide will give you a breakdown on what allergies are, some common allergic reactions, the Nelco Allergy Panel allergens, and what you can do for your pet. Keep in mind that all pets experience allergies differently and have different sensitivities to various things; so always be sure to communicate with the Doctor about any concerns you may have.      

WHAT ARE ALLERGIES?     

First, let’s go over the basics of allergies and some red flags/reactions your pets may have with them. An allergy is an immune system response to a foreign substance. An allergen is a substance that causes an allergic reaction. Nelco Allergy Panels divide potential allergens by HP (high positive) and LP (low positive). These determine how strong an allergic reaction is based upon the allergen. If things are HP, then the reaction to the allergens will be at a higher sensitivity while LP will have a lower sensitivity. Our Doctors recommend getting your pet checked for allergies even if they show low sensitivity signs.   

Common allergic reactions include:   

                              -Itching                  -Redness of the skin              -Sneezing                              -Vomiting   

                              -Licking paws               -Hives                            -Watery eyes                                             

WHAT CAUSES ALLERGIES?   

               The short answer is immune system issues and genetics. Some pets and humans are born with allergies while others develop them over time.      

TYPES OF ALLERGIES   

               For the Nelco Allergy Panel, we can look for both food and environmental allergens. The food is fairly straightforward: Are they eating anything they can be allergic to? If they are, then simply stop feeding them that food. Environmental allergens are more complicated: checking for inhalants (i.e.: mold, hair) and various pollen/grasses based on the region they are living in. Since we at HPC live in the Northeast, below is a diagram of potential environmental allergies in this area:               

  Environmental Pollens     

  GRASSES                                                         WEEDS                                      TREES   

Blue Grass:   

Dock/Sorrell   

Cottonwood   

Brome:   

Lambs quarter   

Willow   

Bermuda:   

Pigweed   

Cedar mix   

Johnson:   

English Plantain   

Hickory/Pecan   

Meadow Fescue:   

Cocklebur   

Mulberry   

Orchard Grass   

Dandelion   

Sycamore   

Red Top:   

Goldenrod   

Maple   

Timothy Grass:   

Ragweed   

Hazelnut   

Perennial Rye Grass:   

Russian Thistle   

Pines   

Quack Grass   

Sage   

Alder   

Wheat:   

Poverty Weed   

Ash   

Grain Mix (Corn, Wheat, Oat):   

Kochia   

Birch   
   

Elm   
   

Oak   
   

Walnut   
     
       

Environmental Inhalants   

                              MOLDS/FUNGUS                                                                            INHALANTS   

Alternaria   

House Dust   

Aspergillus   

Mite mix   

Helminthosporium   

Cat hair/Dander   

Cladosporium   

Dog hair/Dander   

Penicillium mix   

Horse hair/Dander   

Rhizopus   

Feather mix   

Smut mix   

Fleas   

Stemphylium   

Cockroach   

Candida   

Human Dander   

Saccharomyces   

  
                                                  

 Food   

Beef   

Fish   

Soybean   

Peanut   

Chicken   

Milk   

Wheat   

Yeast   

Lamb   

Eggs   

Duck   

Sweet Potato   

Pork   

Corn   

Rabbit   

Carrots   

Turkey   

Rice   

Venison   

Potato   
   

               Those are a lot of allergens and unless you’re a botanist some of us don’t really know what any of those grasses are or look like. Luckily, we live in a glorious age where the Internet exists so we can research things we don’t understand and there are plenty of resources to help us learn; such as http://www.pollenlibrary.com/   This link will bring you to a wonderful website that helps break down the pollens and grasses. Enter your zip code and conduct some research on what grows in your area during the different seasons of the year. It also shares a nice little picture of the plant and potential uses in medicinal remedies.     

WHAT YOU CAN DO   

               Now that we have some understanding on what causes the allergies and what affects them; let’s discuss what you can do back home to minimize interactions with these allergens.    

               DIET: Change your pet’s food. If they are eating something that is making them sick, stop feeding it to them. Speak with your veterinarian about recommended dietary changes.    

               ENVIRONMENTAL: Sadly, we cannot change the weather (yet) or surroundings, but we can help our pets remove the pollen attached to them.  You can wash their paws after walks, use pet boots, brush their coat with a slicker brush and support their immune system with immune supporting supplements. We can also improve the quality of the air through essential oil diffusers and air purifiers.       

WHAT WE ADVISE VS. WHAT TO AVOID   

               Pets can experience allergies to medications similar to humans, so always speak with your Veterinarian before purchasing any supplements or medications as a “quick fix.” Holistically, the best thing we can do for our pets is supporting their immune system.    

               Best ways to support immune system:   

                              -Proper diet                                                                        -Chiropractic Adjustments   

-Immune supplements (Allerplex, Whole Body Support)   

                              -Kyosenex                                                                         -AnimalEO Essential Oil (Boost in a Bottle)   

               Although it is tempting to get a quick fix for our pets, it will only cause harm in the long run. Most of these fixes – such as steroids and medications (Atopica, Apoquel) - suppress the immune system which doesn’t resolve the root of the problem and may lead to future complications.      

Holistically, we are here to give our clients the best quality of life, which means no shortcuts and dealing with symptoms WHILE addressing the root cause of your pet’s allergies.        

SOURCES   

http://www.pollenlibrary.com/      https://www.nelcovet.com/       https://drfungus.org/