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One of the most frustrating and relapsing chronic conditions seen in small animal medicine is the presence of skin allergies. Inhalant and contact allergies to molds, grasses, trees, pollen, etc, as well as food and flea allergies lead to frequent itching and secondary bacterial and yeast infections of the skin and ears. This leads to increasing pet discomfort, as well as owner expense because of frequent veterinary visits. While antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, including antihistamines and cortisone may offer quick symptomatic relief, long-term relapses are common, as well as side effects from medications. |
In addition, these palliative or suppressive measures fail to address the underlying causes of skin allergies which only perpetuates the problem long term. While veterinary dermatologists may offer blood and/or skin allergy testing, as well as exotic diet alternatives, such treatments are often quite expensive and require long-term commitment and offer at best a partial response. One of the more exciting holistic alternatives now available for animal guardians in addressing frustrating skin allergies is known as Nambudripad’s Allergy Elimination Techniques (NAET), an allergy desensitization process developed for humans by Dr. Devi Nambudripad in 1983.
This drug free natural solution can potentially eliminate many types of allergies using a combination of selective energy balancing, testing, and treatment procedures from various disciplines of medicine, ranging from acupressure/acupuncture, kinesiology, chiropractic and nutritional medicine.
For many frustrating recurrent skin and ear problems, the NAET technique can possibly eliminate allergies through several weeks of treatment. To learn more about this exciting allergy treatment alternative, as well as to find a veterinary practitioner skilled in this form of treatment see www.naet.com
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Over the years there have been increasing health care preventative recommendations for both dogs and cats. Not only have increasing numbers of vaccinations been developed, however, increasing numbers of topical and oral pesticides against internal and external parasites (worms, fleas, and heartworms) are now being recommended for all pets. Over the years, however, many veterinarians have observed that smaller breeds in particular have an increasing numbers of allergic reactions as more and more products are used. |
As a more holistic-oriented veterinarian, I’ve always wondered why the same dose of vaccination is to be used on two vastly different size breeds, such as a Chihuahua and a Great Dane. In fact we are just now starting to appreciate that smaller breeds may in fact be more chemically sensitive to the same doses of vaccinations. Many of us have also observed similar chemical sensitivities in many families of toy breeds regarding topical flea and tick medication ranging from local skin irritation to occasionally more serious systemic reactions involving the digestive or nervous system. On rare occasions reactions to oral heartworm preventative medication can also be seen.
I’ve observed that sometimes chemical sensitivities in the same dog may manifest later as a vaccination reaction. And while fortunately these types of reactions are rare, we must certainly be fully aware of these possibilities and continue to recognize that pets are individuals as are people. In addition, it’s also important to continue to practice good preventative medicine through proper vaccination and external and internal parasite control programs. However, should your pet suffer a chemical or vaccination reaction, more natural measures of flea and tick control, as well as infectious disease control should be implemented. Given the wide variety of products available it is probably best to consult with a holistic veterinarian www.AHVMA.org for the most appropriate products for your pet.
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Recently I was presented with a question of an itchy Wheaton Terrier who gets many hot spots from licking her tail along with flakey spots. She is already on a supposed low allergy diet and is on topical flea medication. The common reasons why such a pet is still often itchy, include other type of allergies known as inhalant/contact allergies to molds, grasses, trees, dander and pollens. |
Pets with these types of allergies often need either antihistamines orally such as Benadryl or Chlorpheniramine or sometimes stronger oral prescription medication such as Prednisone or Temaril-P. Some pets will need oral antibiotics as well to treat secondary bacterial skin infections. Many pets with these itchy hot spots respond to topical preparations like Corticare lotion or shampoo, as well as adding fatty acids such as to the daily diet.
| If you own a floppy eared dog such as a Golden Retriever, Basset Hound, or Beagle, you know they can often develop waxy and smelly ears. Many pet owners frequently visit the veterinarian to treat secondary yeast or bacterial infections that often accompany allergic conditions as well. In such dogs prone to recurrent ear infections, it is often helpful to use topical preparations that can allow the development of an acidic ph in the ear to discourage growth of yeast and bacteria as well as to dissolve wax. |
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Some of my favorite products include Epi-Otic, as well as Zinc Otic by Maxiguard. I have seen both products perform very well in cutting down on the frequency of ear infections. For many of my clients I will often recommend daily use for 1-2 weeks, and then twice to three times weekly as a maintenance.
This week we highlight questions asked by our PetMeds Facebook fans and answered by Dr. Dym.
| PetMeds customer question: Why does my dog chew and lick so much in between his paws and underneath? There are no signs of anything in there, no lesions, and nothing looks wrong.
While many animal guardians think that their pet’s nails are often too long, the truly accurate answer to most of these cases is that their pet is suffering from some sort of allergy. The most common type of allergy is known as atopy, which is contact and/or inhalant allergens that often manifest as the feet licking behavior. Amongst the common allergens include molds, grasses, trees, dander, house dust mites, ragweed, etc. |
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In simple cases, I will often recommend antihistamines like Benadryl or Chlorpheniramine, while in more complex cases prescriptions for cortisone type drugs like Temaril P or Prednisone may be needed. If secondary infections develop between the feet, then oral antibiotics or oral antifungals may be prescribed. Supplemental fatty acids such as Be Well or Super Pure Omega 3 can also help some allergic pets when used long term. Wiping feet down after coming in walks on outside grasses can also sometimes help.
The other common cause of this feet licking behavior is food allergies. Even pets on the same diet for years can develop allergies to any of the proteins or grains in the food, which can often manifest as simply feet licking. In these cases, restricted protein diets with proteins like rabbit or venison for a period of a few months can often alleviate symptoms if food allergies are suspected. While some vets will offer blood testing for various food proteins, most veterinary dermatologists feel that the only way to diagnose accurately food allergies is to place the pet on a dietary trial with a novel protein for a period o a few months.
| Environmental allergens (such as ragweed, pollens, grasses, trees, molds, etc) have long been suspected as being a major factor in flare-ups of canine seasonal allergic dermatitis (known as atopy). Multiple routes of exposure include ingestion and inhalation but most recently contact and skin exposure has been considered a major role in intensity of allergic symptoms. |
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This highlights the important need for frequent application of topical therapy to remove the allergens and decrease penetration of the skin and subsequent itching and inflammation from these allergens. Therefore, I recommend frequent bathing with low allergy products on a routine basis to help relieve clinical symptoms and also help cut down on drug doses needed to control allergies.
In some affected patients bathing up to 2-3 times weekly is often quite helpful. Some of my favorite shampoos for this include 1-800-PetMeds Oatmeal and Aloe Vera Shampoo and Conditioner or Epi Soothe Shampoo and Epi Soothe Oatmeal Cream Rinse to name a few.
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One of the more common questions presented in skin cases, is why their pet itches their ears so much even while on topical antibiotics, and the problem keeps recurring, as well as the over and over again veterinary office visits and costs. Recurrent ear inflammation with secondary ear itching, head shaking and increased wax, odor and discharge are often the signs of a secondary yeast or bacterial ear infection. And while most vets will prescribe topical antibiotics like Tresaderm, Otomax, and Mometomax, which will often quickly relieve the discomfort, the problem often recurs at a later date. |
That is because most dogs or cats with chronic ear issues like this often have underlying allergies as causing the secondary ear infections. Inhalant or contact allergens to grass, trees, dander, dust mites, pollens, and molds to name a few, as well as food allergens, all may be potentially involved with recurrent ear infections in dogs. And unless these underlying potential causes are addressed, the problem will continue to recur. Sometimes even dogs with hormonal problems like low thyroid levels can have recurrent ear infections. And while it is important to treat the secondary yeast or bacterial infections of the ears, many pets will often need preventative ear maintenance, while the above potential causes are worked through by your veterinarian. I’ve found excellent cleaners like Malacetic Otic often quite helpful in keeping yeast and bacterial overgrowth down in the ears, as well as nonprescription topical products like Zymox Otic quite helpful in managing chronic problem ears.
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Skin allergies are amongst the most frustrating health problems exhibited by both dogs and cats, and are likely the most common reason for veterinary visits outside of wellness exams. Pets present with various manifestations of self trauma from licking, biting or scratching at themselves. Commonly affected areas include the lower back, feet, ears, chest and abdomen. However, any area of the body can be affected. Many pets can develop secondary yeast or bacterial infections of the skin or ear canals, which often add to the discomfort.
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The most common causes of allergies include flea bite allergens, inhalant/contact allergies, and food allergies. That’s why it is necessary for veterinarians to address the potential underlying causes or the problem will recur. While such a workup and treatment often takes time and patience, animal guardians are often most insistent about relieving their pets of itching discomfort as quickly as possible. While shampoo therapy, antihistamines, antibiotics and dietary changes can offer sometimes gradual relief, depending upon which of the above underlying causes are involved, it is often only the prescription of cortisone by injection or oral medication that often is the only class of medicine that offers dramatic and quick relief which animal guardians are demanding. Various concerns expressed by both veterinarians and animal guardians center around the short and more importantly long term potential side effects of cortisone. These include its suppressive effect on the immune system and increased risk of infection, to thinning/weakening of the bones, ligaments and skin, as well as weight gain, excessive thirst, urination and appetite.
If cortisone is overused or misused, some animals have an increased risk of diabetes as well. And while most veterinarians will always offer other options, including other drugs like Cyclosporine or Atopica, as well as even referral to veterinary dermatologists for allergy testing on long term skin/ear cases, many animal guardians simply do not have the money in today’s economy for these more expensive treatment options.
Repeated injections of long acting cortisone derivatives like Depo-Medrol have much more of a risk for the side effects mentioned above. However, if cortisone is used appropriately, most safely by the oral route and tapered to the lowest effective dose, many pets can be maintained during their allergy seasons or even longer on every other to every third day oral therapy. When Prednisone or Prednisolone is prescribed in this manner, and the pet is monitored periodically by the veterinarian, most pets do indeed tolerate long term oral cortisone safely, and animal guardians are able to offer their animals relief of frustrating skin problems that bother both them and their animal companions. And when other adjunctive treatments such as shampoo therapy, omega 3 fatty acid therapy, as well as other supplements like Proanthozone and Vetri-DMG, many pets can eventually have their cortisone doses lowered and discontinued.
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It happens all the time: One day your pet has a shiny coat full of luster and the next day there is a large patch of hair loss that is sensitive, moist and oozing. Sometimes the skin is sticky and this can cause your pet to be very uncomfortable. In worse cases, these sticky lesions can also be scratched until they bleed. This common sudden skin change in dogs is often referred to as a “hot spot” which refers to a sudden area of intense skin inflammation as described above.
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These areas can emerge anywhere on a pet’s body, but most commonly are seen under the ears or skin folds of the neck, and often down the lower back or flank areas. The causes of these frustrating and often painful eruptions are usually allergy based; either flea bite allergy, inhalant/contact allergy, and/or food allergy. Obviously a thorough flea combing should be done to make sure there is no evidence of flea infestation or recent exposure to fleas. Such pets should be on a good flea preventative program using such products as Frontline Plus or Advantage, or a natural form of flea prevention for clients more holistically oriented. The most first line of treatment in such pets with hot spots is to soothe the skin both topically and through oral medication. Oral antihistamines such as diphenhydramine, chlorpheniramine or clemestine can help break the itch cycle, as well as cleaning the area with a dilute antibacterial soap, and then adequately drying. Topical anti-inflammatories such as Be Soothed, Excel Hydrocortisone Spray and Miracle Mist Skin Spray can all potentially help in offering the pet relief.
In some cases it is necessary to see a veterinarian who will usually clip the hair from around the area to allow it to heal, and clean and dry the area thoroughly. On occasion it is necessary to sedate the pet, in order to properly treat very sensitive hot spots. If the eruption is severe, oral antibiotics are often prescribed such as Cephalexin and/or short courses of oral Prednisone or Temaril-P, until the lesions dry and heal. With time and patience, most pets are back to normal in a short period of time. In those pets that have repetitive hot spots, it is important to explore the various underlying allergic causes mentioned in this article to cure this tendency long term.
While grooming of our dogs and cats is often thought of by many as reserved as a cosmetic beauty parlor appointment for long haired breed dogs and cats, regular grooming of even short coated pets can actually play a role in both emotional and physical health. One of the more common disorders seen in every day veterinary practice are pets with various skin allergies and itching, which is often secondary to contact allergens including dust mites, molds, pollens, grasses, trees and dander.
| Through regular brushing and combing, especially after coming in from outside, these allergens can be reduced, thus minimizing allergic reactions in sensitive pets. Periodically including a bath utilizing wonderful shampoos like 1800PetMeds Aloe Vera and Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner can also help cut down on these unwanted contact allergens. Regular combing with flea combs can also help detect the efficacy or need for a better flea control program. |
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If flea dirt or live fleas are detected, an animal guardian can review with their veterinarian which flea products might be indicated, including options such as Frontline or Advantage. Regular grooming is also an excellent time for an increased bonding or emotional connection to one’s animal companion. In the wild, both dogs and cats regularly groom one another and many pets enjoy being combed and brushed regularly by their animal guardians in a similar way.
With the development of recent technological advancements such as the Pedipaws Pet nail trimmer, clipping pet’s nails can cut down on those unwanted scratches and even disease transfer from pets to people, especially seen with our felines. Keeping nails short and blunt, especially the thumbnails known as the dewclaws, often prevent injuries and splitting, bleeding nails, including subsequent expensive emergency room visits.
