Emergency: Itchy Skin, Allergies, Skin inflammation in Durham
Caring for a pet requires an understanding of the potential emergencies that may arise over time. A key concern that occurs in many animals is an allergic reaction to environmental factors. Pet skin inflammation or pet allergies impact an animal's health and well-being. Recognizing when a pet show signs of an allergic reaction and when to seek treatment from a Durham veterinarian allows pet owners to keep an animal healthy and active.
Common Signs of Allergies
The signs of dog allergies or cat allergies depend on the type of allergic reaction and the specific allergen. Many allergic reactions occur as a direct result of environmental situations. For example, a pet may develop allergies to pollen or dust, which results in specific symptoms.
Common symptoms that may occur in your pet include:
- Pet itching, particularly persistent itching
- Cat and dog skin inflammation, such as red skin or hair loss
- Runny eyes and nose
- Chewing on specific areas of the body
- Scabbing from chewing or scratching
Although the symptoms may seem mild, you want to visit a Durham vet to prevent long-term health concerns and address the allergic reaction. An emergency vet may also provide treatments for more severe allergic reactions.
When to Seek Emergency Treatment in Durham
Visiting an emergency animal hospital serving Chapel Hill and Durham is not always a necessary step. Mild allergies may only require appropriate medication from a vet to reduce the symptoms; however, more severe reactions may require active emergency treatments to prevent health complications or death.
Always seek treatment from an emergency veterinarian in Durham when a pet shows signs of breathing problems, vomiting or diarrhea. Food allergies harm physical health and may result in a variety of symptoms. While a pet may still show signs of discomfort and itching skin, severe reactions often result in dangerous health conditions.
When pet skin inflammation causes swelling or bleeding due to excessive scratching, an animal hospital in Durham helps reduce the swelling and provides an opportunity to manage the situation.
How to Handle Pet Allergies
Before visiting an emergency vet serving Chapel Hill, stay calm and keep a pet calm. Speak softly to a pet and evaluate the severity of the symptoms. Never panic, since it may make a pet uncomfortable or may cause a pet to panic. Seek treatment for pet allergies as quickly as possible to prevent more severe reactions or health concerns.
If scratching or chewing results in bleeding, then use a clean gauze or bandage to gently wrap the bleeding area. Do not use any anti-septic treatments to avoid complications with treatment. A Durham veterinarian at New Hope Animal Hospital provides appropriate treatment based on the symptoms, so we also treat bleeding from excessive chewing or scratching during a visit.
Allergic reactions are potentially dangerous and you want to seek treatment as quickly as possible when a pet develops skin inflammation or other symptoms. To set up an appointment at New Hope Animal Hospital, call or contact us today at (919) 490-2000.