You would be hard pressed to find a young child who didn't want a pony at some point in their life, but once a parent says yes, how do you care for the horse?
Your local vet can answer all your specific questions about how to raise a healthy horse, but you can also use these blog posts to give you an overview during your horse ownership journey. Check out this web site for information about horse feed, signs your horse needs vet attention, and even riding tips for beginners. Horse health is not a complicated subject, and the more you know, the happier your horse (and child) will be.
Allergies can make your dog miserable. They can cause itchy skin, scratchy eyes and sneezing. They can also lead to other health problems if left untreated.
The good news is that there are ways to manage allergies in dogs. Your vet can help ensure your dog lives a comfortable life even with allergies. Here are five ways your vet can help with allergies:
1) Do Allergy Testing
Allergies can be difficult to diagnose, but there are tests that can help identify the problem. Your vet might want your dog to get an allergy test done so they can find out what's causing their symptoms. The two most common types of allergy testing are skin testing and blood testing. Skin testing is when a small amount of allergen is placed on your dog's skin, and they're monitored for reactions. Blood testing involves drawing blood from your pet and looking for specific antibodies that show an immune response to the allergen.
2) Administer Immunotherapy (Allergy Shots)
Immunotherapy is a treatment that involves injecting small amounts of an allergen into your dog. This causes their immune system to build up a tolerance and reduce their allergic reactions over time. The injections are usually given at home by a veterinary technician, but sometimes require office visits every week or two for several months.
3) Prescribe Drugs And Supplements
Your vet can prescribe drugs and supplements that help relieve your dog's symptoms, but these medications usually only reduce the severity of the reaction rather than prevent it. Some examples include antihistamines like diphenhydramine or Benadryl to treat itching and nausea, steroids like prednisone or cortisone to reduce inflammation and an epinephrine pen in case of severe reactions.
4) Help With Diet Changes
Your vet can help with diet changes if your dog's allergies are food-related. They may recommend a hypoallergenic diet that's made without certain ingredients, or they can prescribe specific foods to try out and see if they help.
5) Refer You To An Allergist
If necessary, your veterinarian can refer you to an allergist. This specialist will perform tests on your dog that measure how its immune system reacts in response to substances like pollen or mould.
Allergies can be dangerous and potentially life-threatening if left untreated so chat with your vet today to see if your dog has an allergy and how to treat it.
For more information, contact a local vet.