Decoding PET ALLERGIES

Furry friend suddenly irritable? Take a read…

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It’s very concerning when your pet suddenly feels unwell, since they can’t tell you what’s wrong. Dr Chantelle McGowan, a Royal Canin veterinarian, explains how to tell if your pal is having an allergic reaction.

ALLERGY VS TOXICITY

It’s important to know the difference between allergies and toxicities in animals. Contrary to what we often hear, technically, dogs are not allergic to chocolate and cats are not allergic to lilies.

“Allergies are part of hypersensitivity reactions: essentially an overreaction of the protective immune system to an internal or external trigger,” Dr McGowan explains. “External factors, such as bees or foods, can be easier to identify than internal triggers like auto-immune because they’re associated with an exposure event.”