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Archive for the ‘Allergy’ Category

“All food is good.” But all food may not be good for all
people.

Obviously, we need food everyday to give our bodies the
nutrients it requires for us to function properly.

Unfortunately, sometimes food can make us ill; not because
of food poisoning but as mentioned above not all people can
eat all food.

There are cases where people are allergic to certain kinds
of food. In order to properly manage it, you must be aware
of the food that causes an allergic reaction. In other
words, avoid food that contains certain kinds of allergens
that causes your body to react.

Manage Your Diet

It is of utmost importance to watch what you eat if you are
allergic to certain kinds of food. An allergy attack is no
pleasant experience and could require hospitalization. For
example, some allergic reactions can cause swelling in the
air passages restricting oxygen that may result in
suffocation.

Common Allergy Foods

So what are some foods that commonly result in allergies
that the body could react to. Fish, peanuts, shellfish,
milk, wheat and soy are among the most common. However, you
may find that all of these give you no problem. So you must
find out which one(s) do bring on an allergic reaction.

Check with your doctor or allergist if you feel you have an
unknown food allergy. Physicians can give you a series of
tests that will identify the food that may be giving you
problems.

How to Avoid Allergic Reactions

Obviously, avoid the food that is causing allergic reactions
once it has been properly identified. This simply means
that you should never eat food that you are allergic to and
never cook food with an ingredient that contains the food
allergens.

When Dining Out

If you are out dining in a restaurant, you should inform the
waiter or waitress about your food allergy. Make sure that
they know which food allergen you have; Inform them not to
include it or cook it with your food order.

These are some of the common food allergens that you should
know about in order to properly manage and minimize the
risk of future allergy attacks.

If you apply all these tips, then avoiding a food allergy
will seem like a breeze.

When you mention the term cat allergies, most people think of the sneezing and congestion of humans who are allergic to cats. However, 15-20% of our furry friends suffer from feline allergies.

Inhalants causing an allergic response may be pollen that cause the membranes of the nasal passages and the lungs to become irritated. Contact allergies are just what the sound like – and appear when the pet comes into contact with a material or substance he is sensitive to.

Some felines will have an allergic reaction to certain medications such as antibiotics. This can also include a reaction to anesthesia which can present a critical problem in a surgical situation. Food allergies are not a big problem for cats and when there is a reaction to a food it most often is to a grain or a dairy product rather than to preservatives in commercial pet food.

Flea allergies are the most common complaint of felines and their owners. The sensitivity to flea bites often increases as the cat ages. The immune response may be so severe that the pet’s entire body seems to be covered with irritated skin. Eliminating the fleas is the first priority and prednisone is often used to control a bad reaction. The prednisone may be in pill form or a fast acting injection.

When a cat’s immune system becomes overly sensitive to certain substances, an allergic reaction is the result. The substance may be one the cat has been exposed to for some time with no problem. For some reason, the feline system throws a switch and a formerly innocuous food or cleaning agent or pollen triggers an immune reaction. This is similar to adult onset allergies.

Symptoms are varied and can also be clues to other feline diseases. The most common symptoms are:

* Frequent sneezing or coughing
* Irritated, itchy skin
* Fur loss
* Runny eyes
* Severe itch at base of tail (symptom of flea allergy)
* Vomiting
* Diarrhea
* Unusual noises such as snoring when sleeping
* Chewing at paws, swollen or tender paws
* Irritated ears or frequent ear infections
*
Food allergies often cause cats to scratch their necks and head and will cause digestive problems like vomiting and diarrhea. If the allergy is to a meat or grain and has been identified by your vet it is not enough to simply avoid that food product as any products containing that food will trigger a reaction.

The list of substances that can cause feline allergic reactions is almost identical to a list that might lead to the same results in the cat’s owner. That list would include:

* Pollen from grass, weeds, or trees
* Mold, dust and mildew pollens
* Food
* Fleas
* Flea control products
* Prescription medications
* Cleaning products (floor cleaners, in particular)
* Perfumes
* Cigarette smoke
* Fabric finishes
* Plastic materials

For a cat with a flea allergy, the bite of one single flea can trigger 2-3 weeks of itching and skin irritation. When flea allergy dermatitis is present in your cat, the only solution is total prevention of fleas. Topical flea medicines are best for cats with this problem. Frontline Plus, Advantage and Advantage Multi for cats and Revolution act to break the flea life cycle to keep your pet flea free.

Use unscented, dust free litter in your cat’s box as he may be sensitive to the chemicals in the scent and to the dust. Wash the pet’s bedding weekly and vacuum carpets, rugs, curtains and upholstered furniture to avoid dust that may be inhaled.

One recommendation is to bathe your cat once or twice a week. As any cat owner knows, most felines do not respond well to bathing. If baths are started when your pet is a young kitten, bathing will not be a problem. An alternative way to remove pollen and dust from the animal’s coat is a quick cleaning with unscented baby wipes.

Your cat does not have to suffer from feline allergies. Removing the source of the allergen, protecting your pet from nasty fleas and parasites and following your vet’s advice for treating the skin itch of allergies will add comfort to your cat’s life.