PetMeds^® Blog

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

During today’s difficult economic times, many vet clinics are receiving numerous phone calls each day from animal guardians looking for at-home suggestions for simple acute problems, as opposed to paying for costly veterinary exams and workups.  In the last pet owner misconceptions article, I reviewed some statistics and a few medical examples of how certain conditions can often resolve on their own, or with just supportive care at home.  Two of the most common areas of phone inquiries revolve around acute digestive upset in their pets or skin/ear allergy flare-ups.

In both of these broad conditions, one of the most important things I’ll often tell clients is to fast their pets for 24 to 48 hours, offering fresh water several times daily and/or chicken or vegetable broth. That’s unless the pet is a diabetic or has some other chronic disease like cancer, where consultation with their pet should be done first before fasting.   However, often fasting a pet like this and then reintroducing a bland, cooked, lean white meat turkey and sweet potato or rice diet after a 48 hour fast will often calm the digestive or skin symptoms. In addition, over-the-counter Pepcid AC or Famotidine (at a dose of 1/2 mg per pound) once daily can often help settle a sour stomach or vomiting pet.

If a pet is suffering from diarrhea, short term use of Imodium or Lomotil can sooth an irritable bowel, along with use of slippery elm from the health food store.  An excellent probiotic called Fast balance by Vetriscience also can quickly calm either diarrhea or vomiting symptoms in either dogs or cats.  For the common hairball vomiting problem in cats, Laxatone or Petromalt Hairball Remedy can help soothe an acute flare-up of vomiting.

As for skin or ear allergy problems, including allergic hot spots and focal areas of intense itching and dermatitis, this can often be soothed by topical sprays, creams or oils. Some products I recommend include the all natural Be Soothed from 1800Petmeds, Dermaguard, or Genesis spray.  During allergy season itching, shampooing every few days with products like 1800PetMeds Aloe Vera and Oatmeal Shampoo and Conditioner can also help alleviate skin symptoms.  Excel Hydrocortisone Shampoo can also be very effective. Oral treatment with antihistamines like Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) or Chlorphenirimine will also help to ease itching symptoms in many cases.  I’ve seen the wonderful product Zymox Otic HC work miracles in those pets with acutely inflamed ears.  Of course if symptoms intensify or worsen, or if you are ever in doubt, a veterinary exam and consultation is always best.