What is an inhalant allergy?
Inhalant allergens include house dust mi. tes, weed or grass pollen, animal danders and molds. In 5 to 45 percent of patients with eczema, applying these allergens to the skin elicits an eczema reaction. (In contrast, similar patch tests are usually negative in patients with respiratory allergy and healthy volunteers.)
Is atopy the same as allergic?
Atopy is an exaggerated IgE-mediated immune response; all atopic disorders are type I hypersensitivity disorders. Allergy is any exaggerated immune response to a foreign antigen regardless of mechanism.
Can a dog have an inhalant allergy?
Yes. With atopy, the dog’s immune system overreacts to an airborne or inhaled allergen. After flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), atopy is the second most common type of allergy in the dog. What exactly causes an inhalant allergy?
What happens to a cat with atopy allergies?
In many cases, affected cats are so itchy that they create significant trauma to their skin. Affected cats may have severe scratches or abrasions, large areas of fur that have been licked away or pulled out in clumps, and color changes to the skin due to chronic licking and inflammation.
Can a dog with atopy be tested for allergies?
Yes. Some dogs with atopy also have hypothyroidism or low thyroid gland production. Hypothyroidism affects the skin and may worsen allergic skin conditions. Dogs with chronic skin infections or allergies should be tested for hypothyroidism.
Is there a cure for atopy in cats?
There is no single best treatment for the management of atopy in cats. Allergies are managed, not cured, and therefore the optimal method of management varies depending on the individual patient and owner. “Allergies are managed, not cured.” For cats with chronic skin inflammation from atopy, a number of management options exist.