Posts from August, 2015

Atopy, or allergic dermatitis (commonly – “grass allergies”), occurs when an individual develops allergic symptoms as a result of exposure to an airborne allergen.  In the case of atopy, the allergen is typically inhaled or absorbed thru the skin.  Common allergens involved in atopic dermatitis include pollens, grasses, molds, dust and dander.  In humans, symptoms of atopy include sneezing, itchy eyes or asthma (what we think of as hay fever).  In pets, symptoms of atopy include redness and itching in the skin around the face, ears, paws, armpit, groin and rectum that leads to chewing, biting and scratching these areas of the body.  Similar patterns of itchiness can develop in cases of food allergy.  Flea allergy dermatitis typically involves itchiness that develops over the trunk on the back half of the body.

Based on symptoms alone, it can be difficult to distinguish the cause of your pet’s itchiness.  Along with food allergy, there can be other causes of itchy skin, such as parasites or infections caused by bacteria, yeast or another fungus.  It is important for your veterinarian to perform a complete physical exam and obtain a thorough history when treating itchy skin.  There are some characteristics of atopy that may help distinguish it from other causes of itchy skin. Symptoms of atopy typically develop between the ages of 1 and 3 years.  In contrast, food allergy symptoms often develop later, between the ages of 5 or 6 years in dogs.  Atopy often starts as seasonal itchiness but eventually may persist year-round.  Food allergy symptoms are non-seasonal.  Symptoms of atopy are typically very responsive to corticosteroid (cortisone-type) treatments. Itchy skin due to food allergy or infection is variably responsive to steroid therapy.

GNOSIS

Examination and history alone may not be sufficient to determine if your pet is suffering from atopic dermatitis.  Your veterinarian may recommend performing some diagnostics to rule out other causes of itchy skin, such as a skin cytology (to look for bacteria or yeast), skin scraping (for mite identification), or cultures (for fungal or other infectious agents).  Once other types of infections are ruled out, testing to diagnose atopy may be recommended.  Intradermal skin testing (injecting small volumes of allergen under the skin and monitoring the skin reaction) or blood testing (measuring levels of antibodies to specific allergens) can be performed.

TREATMENT

If either intradermal skin testing or blood testing for atopy has been performed and specific allergens have been identified, immunotherapy may be recommended.  This involves administering an “allergy vaccine” either orally or by injection to desensitize your pet to the allergen.  Approximately 60-80% of pets will improve within 6 months of starting therapy.  Allergy vaccine therapy is typically life-long once started.  Avoidance (if possible) is another therapeutic option.  Exposure to house dust mites and molds can sometimes be minimized with identification and reduction of indoor sources.  Exposure to pollens can be reduced by wiping down with moist cloths after going outside or frequent bathing.

When the specific allergen(s) has not been identified, management of atopy typically involves administration of oral medications that help reduce the body’s inflammatory response to allergens and topical treatments to prevent secondary skin infections.  Oral antihistamines can safely be given long-term with very few side effects.  However, antihistamines only work in about 20% of atopic pets.  Concurrent use of oral fatty acid supplements may help improve response to antihistamines.  Fatty acids are anti-inflammatory but also have a synergistic effect when used with antihistamines.  As mentioned above, oral steroids are very effective at controlling the symptoms of atopy.  However, long-term steroid use has many potential adverse side effects.  Therefore, steroid therapy is reserved for short-term seasonal control or in patients where other therapy is not feasible or effective.  Cyclosporine (Atopica) is an oral immunosuppressive agent that can be used to treat the symptoms of atopy.  Atopica helps approximately 60% of patients with atopy.  Side effects associated with long-term use are not completely known.

Topical treatment can help to reduce itchiness and prevent or treat secondary skin infections.  Bathing with a hypoallergenic, moisturizing shampoo and rinse can help to reduce topical allergen exposure.  Topical steroids can be used if the symptoms are localized to a small area of skin, eyes or ears.  Overuse of topical steroids can lead to side effects associated with oral or systemic use of steroids.  Topical tacrolimus, a topical immunosuppressive, is another option for control of localized itchiness.  Medicated shampoos are sometimes prescribed to reduce secondary infections that occur with chronic allergic dermatitis.  Reducing bacteria and yeast on the skin further reduces itchiness.

CONCLUSION

Itchy skin in pets is very common but the cause is not always obvious without a thorough examination, history and possibly some testing.  It may be necessary to perform testing and trials of therapy to discover the cause of the skin disease and what best controls your pet’s specific skin condition.  Treating atopy can require a multi-modal approach of oral medication, topical treatments and possibly desensitization therapy.  We at Dupont Veterinary Clinic strive to provide your pet with the best care possible and hope that we can make you and your pet as happy and comfortable as possible!

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Is Scruffy’s scratching keeping you up all night? Is Scruffy licking his feet raw and scratching his ears relentlessly? While there are many causes of itchy skin in dogs, seasonal allergies are one of the main culprits during this time of year. Human allergies tend to show as itchy, watery eyes, or sneezing; however, dog allergies affect the skin, especially the feet, ears, and face.

Dogs can be allergic to numerous different sources, such as pollen, mold, dust, or grass. During the late summer to early fall time we have a significant increase in dogs suffering from red, irritated, and itchy skin. Licking the feet between the toes, scratching ears, or scooting their rear end on the ground can all be signs of seasonal allergies. Allergens can cause this irritation from contact, when a dog walks through the grass, or from inhaling the allergens themselves. Once these allergens have made contact they cause a large release of a substance called histamine that causes the red, itchy, inflamed skin throughout the body.

While some dogs can get through the allergy season with just an over-the-counter allergy medication, other dogs may need additional anti-inflammatory medications, such as a steroid, to get them through their roughest season. Please contact Dupont Veterinary Clinic (260-637-7676) for the appropriate dosing of an over-the-counter allergy medication for your pet, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec. Some dogs respond really well to the anti-histamine in these common allergy medications; however, sometimes the inflammation is too significant and a steroid would be prescribed instead to soothe the red and inflamed skin.

If a dog has been itching and licking his feet or legs for a prolonged period of time, it is possible for them to develop a secondary bacterial infection. Once the skin becomes irritated the natural skin barrier is broken down and bacteria that is normally found on the skin can start to cause an infection. In these cases, you need to see your veterinarian for a course of antibiotics to help get rid of the bacteria and allow the skin heal. Depending on how affected the skin is, your veterinarian may recommend an E-collar, or the cone of shame, to prevent continued licking and itching of the skin.

Dogs with seasonal allergies are more prone to ear infections as well, since the inside of the ear is lined with skin that can be affected by histamine release as well. Once the skin on the inside of the ear is irritated and inflamed, the bacteria that is found in the ear causes an infection. The ear is an excellent place for bacteria to proliferate since it is a dark, warm, and moist area, which bacteria love! If your dog is itching his ear constantly, it is important to bring him or her in to see your veterinarian to have an ear cytology performed. This ear cytology is when we take a cotton swab of the inner ear, stain it, and look at it under a microscope to see if the infection is caused by bacteria or yeast. Once we know what is growing in the ear and causing the infection, your veterinarian can choose the appropriate ear medication to treat the infection.

If your dog’s itching and scratching is keeping you up at night, contact your veterinarian at Dupont Veterinary Clinic to have your pet examined. Each pet is an individual and will need different treatments based on his or her clinical signs. We want to take care of your pet’s allergies so you and your fur-family can enjoy a relaxing end to the summer!

By Ashley Dawes, DVM

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Is Scruffy’s scratching keeping you up all night? Is Scruffy licking his feet raw and scratching his ears relentlessly? While there are many causes of itchy skin in dogs, seasonal allergies are one of the main culprits during this time of year. Human allergies tend to show as itchy, watery eyes, or sneezing; however, dog allergies affect the skin, especially the feet, ears, and face.

Dogs can be allergic to numerous different sources, such as pollen, mold, dust, or grass. During the late summer to early fall time we have a significant increase in dogs suffering from red, irritated, and itchy skin. Licking the feet between the toes, scratching ears, or scooting their rear end on the ground can all be signs of seasonal allergies. Allergens can cause this irritation from contact, when a dog walks through the grass, or from inhaling the allergens themselves. Once these allergens have made contact they cause a large release of a substance called histamine that causes the red, itchy, inflamed skin throughout the body.

While some dogs can get through the allergy season with just an over-the-counter allergy medication, other dogs may need additional anti-inflammatory medications, such as a steroid, to get them through their roughest season. Please contact Dupont Veterinary Clinic (260-637-7676) for the appropriate dosing of an over-the-counter allergy medication for your pet, such as Benadryl or Zyrtec. Some dogs respond really well to the anti-histamine in these common allergy medications; however, sometimes the inflammation is too significant and a steroid would be prescribed instead to soothe the red and inflamed skin.

If a dog has been itching and licking his feet or legs for a prolonged period of time, it is possible for them to develop a secondary bacterial infection. Once the skin becomes irritated the natural skin barrier is broken down and bacteria that is normally found on the skin can start to cause an infection. In these cases, you need to see your veterinarian for a course of antibiotics to help get rid of the bacteria and allow the skin heal. Depending on how affected the skin is, your veterinarian may recommend an E-collar, or the cone of shame, to prevent continued licking and itching of the skin.

Dogs with seasonal allergies are more prone to ear infections as well, since the inside of the ear is lined with skin that can be affected by histamine release as well. Once the skin on the inside of the ear is irritated and inflamed, the bacteria that is found in the ear causes an infection. The ear is an excellent place for bacteria to proliferate since it is a dark, warm, and moist area, which bacteria love! If your dog is itching his ear constantly, it is important to bring him or her in to see your veterinarian to have an ear cytology performed. This ear cytology is when we take a cotton swab of the inner ear, stain it, and look at it under a microscope to see if the infection is caused by bacteria or yeast. Once we know what is growing in the ear and causing the infection, your veterinarian can choose the appropriate ear medication to treat the infection.

If your dog’s itching and scratching is keeping you up at night, contact your veterinarian at Dupont Veterinary Clinic to have your pet examined. Each pet is an individual and will need different treatments based on his or her clinical signs. We want to take care of your pet’s allergies so you and your fur-family can enjoy a relaxing end to the summer!

By Ashley Dawes, DVM

Ichi (pronounced EE-Chee), which means “one” in Japanese, is a one-and-a-half-year-old Doberman that is in training to be a PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) service dog. His owner, Mike, served six years as a Sniper in the IFO, Iraqi Freedom Operation, after the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks. Ichi is being trained to work by Mike’s side to help him through the day-to-day struggles that numerous war veterans go through when they suffer from PTSD. According to a 2008 RAND Corporation study, up to 20 percent of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans experience PTSD or combat-related depression. In addition, roughly 30 percent of post-9/11 veterans treated at VA medical facilities have screened positive for PTSD.

Ichi is part of a growing group of service dogs, trained to interrupt and redirect panic attacks that PTSD veterans experience. If Mike experiences a nightmare, Ichi will wake him up and distract him to help get his mind off of the night terror and help him to fall back asleep. Ichi is always excited and happy to help Mike. As soon as Ichi puts his training harness on he is ready to work! While in his harness he keeps close to Mike and is ready to help in any way. Ichi has also been trained to respond to the command “guard,” in which he stands behind Mike to create a passive barrier between him and others. These are only a few examples of how Ichi helps Mike acclimate back to civilian life.

PTSD service dogs are trained to perform an array of tasks or commands depending on the needs of the owner. For instance, they can be trained to alert an owner that an individual is standing behind them, retrieve medication or a family member, or alert and redirect anger to prevent escalation. PTSD war veterans have also trained their service dogs to walk into a room before the owner to check for other individuals that might be present, which is often referred to as a “room sweep.” Service dogs have been shown to significantly decrease the need for medications, if not completely remove the need for medication to treat PTSD.

Ichi is still a service dog in training, but he has already greatly improved Mike’s day-to-day outlook. Mike and Ichi are an impressive pair when they work together! They hope to spread the word to other war veterans that might suffer from PTSD so they too may receive the benefit of a constant canine companion.

At DVC, we appreciate the sacrifice that people like Mike make for all of us.  And we appreciate the human-animal bond that enhances so many of our lives.  We’re sure you feel the same!

By Ashley Dawes, DVM