Health Forums

Pet allergies

Reviewed by Dr Paul Klenerman, specialist and Professor Brian Lipworth, professor of allergies and respiratory medicine
What is a pet allergy?

The proteins from the hair, saliva or urine of household pets cause an allergic reaction that attacks the eyes and the airways, like hay fever, and can result in asthmatic symptoms. It may also cause atopic dermatitis or a nettle rash.

It is often difficult to avoid the allergens that can come from other people's pets or be transported by people who have been in contact with animals. School classes can be overloaded with pet allergens.

Most often the allergies are to cats or dogs, but rats, mice, guinea pigs, hamsters, pet birds, horses, cows or poultry can be involved.

Hi
Almost always these problems are diet-related. Allergies are really a sign of immunity problems. Most of the immune system is located in the GI tract, where nutrients are absorbed (seen the DanActive commercial?). When you screw up its workings with non-nutritive dog "food" you see all kinds of problems. What I mean, are the filler ingredients you see in most commercial dog foods. These include corn products, wheat products, soy products, peanut hulls, sugar, colors, flavors, salt, beet pulp... I could go on, but I won't. You see many of these non-food ingredients in well-known, vet-recommended prescription foods. Why are those ingredients in dog food: they're cheap. CHEAP=CRAP.

My diet of preference, that rises far above any other is raw. Although domesticated for thousands of years, a dog's gut still works the same as the wolf. They have the acids, enzymes and flora that are designed to digest raw meat and bones. What they don't have are the enzymes to digest grains (wheat, corn, etc). A balanced raw diet will cure most, if not all of your dog's problems. I live in FL where we have a flea problem year round. In my house there are 7 cats and 3 dogs, non of which need treatment for fleas. They don't need any chemicals because they are so healthy, they repel fleas on their own. When I think how expensive raw diet is, I just think of how much I save on flea prevention and treatment. For info:
auntjeni.com
drpitcairn.com