Molds are microscopic fungi that are part of our natural environment and can be found indoors and outdoors. They are very common in buildings and homes and they can enter through open doors, windows, vents, heating, and air conditioning systems. They can also attach to clothes, shoes, and pets. Molds are present everywhere, all year round.
Mold spores are one of the most common inhalant allergens in dogs and cats who are sensitive to them. These pets often have allergies to more than one type of mold and other inhalant allergens. Allergy to mold in dogs and cats typically manifests in the skin. The most common signs of this kind of allergic reaction are severe chewing of the paws, excessive itching, chronic ear infection, hair loss, and secondary skin infection. Molds can also trigger liver damage. Most common mold allergies caused by Alternaria, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Cladosporium can be found on house plants, plant pots, vegetation, and pet food. It is almost impossible to completely remove mold from your environment as well as totally protect your pet from this environment.
Unfortunately, typical treatments of systemic mold allergy, including using hypoallergenic shampoo, corticosteroids, antihistamines, apoquel, and cutpoint, are not fully helpful in most cases. The best way to treat a mold allergy is immunotherapy, which includes taking sublingual drops or the subcutaneous injection of a gradually increasing dose of specific allergen extract that builds up resistance to these allergens. Thus, this treatment is strongly dependent on the identification of the offending allergens. To detect these allergens, your veterinarians can offer the serological or skin allergy test based on a discussion of a pet’s allergy signs and symptoms with you. Then, immunotherapy treatment will be formulated for your pet based on the test results. This allergen-specific immunotherapy is the most effective treatment for allergy to molds and other environmental allergies and the best relief for your pet.
