Allergies - Atopy
Pets can experience a variety of allergy symptoms including: red irritated eyes, sneezing, itchy skin on rump or flanks, itchy feet & licking paws, recurrent skin or ear infections, and hairloss (there may be other reasons why pets have these symptoms so talk to your veterinarian first before diagnosing allergies for yourself).
The most common type of allergy is the inhalant type, or "atopy". Dogs may be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens that affect humans. These include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens (especially Bermuda), weed pollens (ragweed, etc.), molds, mildew, and the house dust mite. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others are with us all the time, such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites. When humans inhale these allergens, we express the allergy as a respiratory problem; it is sometimes called "hay fever." The dog's reaction, however, usually produces severe, generalized itching.
Most dogs that have inhalant allergy react to several allergens. If the number is small and they are the seasonal type, itching may last for just a few weeks at a time during one or two periods of the year. If the number of allergens is large or they are present year-round, the dog may itch constantly.
Allergy testing can be performed to determine what pets are allergic to, but this may not always be necessary. Some of the possibilites include: Tree, grass and weed pollens, mold spores, dust, dust mites, feathers, pillow/furniture stuffing material, food ingredients, flea saliva, and normal skin bacteria and yeast. When testing is performed, it is common for a single pet to be allergic to 20+ individual allergens- this does not necessarily mean that your pet has bad symptoms all the time. Allergies are cummulative- meaning that when exposed to 15 allergens, for example, your pet may only be mildly uncomfortable, but when exposed to the 16th or 17th allergen, the threshold has been crossed and the pet is VERY symptomatic. Our goal is to decrease the number of allergens your pet is exposed to at one time, if possible.
Allergies CANNOT be cured- they are managed using a variety of therapies- your veterinarian will make specific recommendations. Options may include: topical therapies like prescription shampoos, flea prevention products, antihistamines, prescription diets, antibiotic therapy, hyposensitization injections, air purifiers, omega fatty acid supplements, or immunosuppressants (like steroids or cyclosporins).
The most common type of allergy is the inhalant type, or "atopy". Dogs may be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens that affect humans. These include tree pollens (cedar, ash, oak, etc.), grass pollens (especially Bermuda), weed pollens (ragweed, etc.), molds, mildew, and the house dust mite. Many of these allergies occur seasonally, such as ragweed, cedar, and grass pollens. However, others are with us all the time, such as molds, mildew, and house dust mites. When humans inhale these allergens, we express the allergy as a respiratory problem; it is sometimes called "hay fever." The dog's reaction, however, usually produces severe, generalized itching.
Most dogs that have inhalant allergy react to several allergens. If the number is small and they are the seasonal type, itching may last for just a few weeks at a time during one or two periods of the year. If the number of allergens is large or they are present year-round, the dog may itch constantly.
Allergy testing can be performed to determine what pets are allergic to, but this may not always be necessary. Some of the possibilites include: Tree, grass and weed pollens, mold spores, dust, dust mites, feathers, pillow/furniture stuffing material, food ingredients, flea saliva, and normal skin bacteria and yeast. When testing is performed, it is common for a single pet to be allergic to 20+ individual allergens- this does not necessarily mean that your pet has bad symptoms all the time. Allergies are cummulative- meaning that when exposed to 15 allergens, for example, your pet may only be mildly uncomfortable, but when exposed to the 16th or 17th allergen, the threshold has been crossed and the pet is VERY symptomatic. Our goal is to decrease the number of allergens your pet is exposed to at one time, if possible.
Allergies CANNOT be cured- they are managed using a variety of therapies- your veterinarian will make specific recommendations. Options may include: topical therapies like prescription shampoos, flea prevention products, antihistamines, prescription diets, antibiotic therapy, hyposensitization injections, air purifiers, omega fatty acid supplements, or immunosuppressants (like steroids or cyclosporins).
Flea Allergies
Did you know that your pet can be allergic to fleas?!? Flea Allergy Dermatitis (also called FAD) occurs when fleas inject some of their saliva into the skin surface during a blood meal. This saliva kicks off an allergic reaction which involves severe prolonged itching, skin redness, hairloss (especially around the rump and tail), and obsessive grooming in both dogs and cats. Diagnosis is made via symptoms and the presence of fleas. However, not finding fleas does NOT necessarily rule this condition out.
In some cases, the allergic reaction is so severe that intense symptoms appear with only such a few number of fleas that they can escape detection. Treatment of FAD revolves around solid flea prevention- topical therapies are ok (but may not kill the flea fast enough to prevent numerous biting and bathing can decrease effectiveness). Oral flea control is superior (examples include Nexgard or Bravecto). Talk to your veterinarian for individual recommendations based on your pets size, age, and health. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may also be necessary.
In some cases, the allergic reaction is so severe that intense symptoms appear with only such a few number of fleas that they can escape detection. Treatment of FAD revolves around solid flea prevention- topical therapies are ok (but may not kill the flea fast enough to prevent numerous biting and bathing can decrease effectiveness). Oral flea control is superior (examples include Nexgard or Bravecto). Talk to your veterinarian for individual recommendations based on your pets size, age, and health. Antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medications may also be necessary.
Food Allergies
Believe it or not, some pets can be allergic to food ingredients! Food allergy basics:
- Food allergies appear most often as year round itching - especially feet, ears, and the rear end. Recurrent ear infections are also common.
- Food allergies are usually to protein sources (a lot of people will try to tell you it is all grain related, but more often it is beef, chicken, or whatever your pet has had in their food in the past).
- Food allergies develop over time, so pets are usually allergic to the ingredients they have been eating for the longest amount of time.
- Food allergies are NOT a BRAND problem- they are an INGREDIENT problem. Merely switching brands will not help or diagnose your pet. Ingredients have to change!
- Food allergies can be driven by genetic predispositions, so certain breeds or family lines seem to have more allergy problems (but any pet can be effected).
- Blood allergy testing can help give a rough idea of what ingredients a pet may be sensitive to, but a food trial is necessary for a definitive diagnosis.
- The only way to diagnose a food allergy is through a FOOD TRIAL- this involves changing a pet's diet to something he/she has never been exposed to or a hydrolyzed diet. This may take some homework on your part and some very close ingredient list investigation. Over-the-counter diets may not necessarily work and a prescription diet may be needed. A recent US study showed that 40% of tested over-the-counter pet foods did not contain the meat source that was on the label! Prescription diets are much more quality controlled to prevent cross contamination of ingredients. A food trial is performed for 8 to 12 weeks MINIMUM- this means NO OTHER SOURCE of food other than the special diet (no treats, people food, snacks, or certain flavored pet medications)! Talk to your vet about specific recommendations.
- Follow this link for further helpful information on food trials: www.petful.com/pet-health/food-trial-allergies/
