Info and tips on your itchy pet

As a small animal general practitioner some of the most common medical complaints will be related to underlying allergies. When I think of allergies there are 3 main types that I usually consider: flea allergy dermatitis, food allergy dermatitis, and atopic dermatitis (environmental allergies).

There are many other causes for hair-loss, scabs or itching so please seek advice from you veterinarian. Getting to the correct diagnosis first starts with an exam but we also usually need to do testing to confirm. For example, to check for mites I need to scrape the surface of the skin and look at what I collect under a microscope. But for this post I will focus on the three allergies mentioned above.

Flea Allergy

Flea allergy is a reaction some animals will have to the saliva of a flea. Like many allergies, the sensitivity to flea saliva will be different for every animal. Some dogs are highly sensitive to flea saliva and will begin chewing uncontrollably from just a single flea bite. Others can have 10+ fleas present on the body with minimal reaction. If your pet is allergic to fleas you may not even realize they are on your pet if they are present in low numbers.

Also most of our flea preventatives are designed to prevent fleas from infesting your house. This means you can have your dog on a great product that is working, but they still can get a flea bite out in the yard. The flea should die from the preventative that you use, but if your dog is sensitive they may still start itching.

One way to help manage fleas is to use a combination of products. You could give a chewable like Nexgard monthly while also having your pet wear a Seresto collar. Having a company treat your yard could also provide some relief for your pet. If you suspect your pet is experiencing symptoms of flea allergy then please speak with your vet about which products they would recommend.

One thing we consider is where is the animal itchy? Typically with fleas dogs are chewing at the skin around the base of their tail. So if I see an animal with a bald patch in that location, I will start looking for evidence of fleas. In a different post I wrote about how to prevent and remove fleas from your house.

Atopic Dermatitis

Another very common cause for itching in my area is atopic dermatitis, or environmental allergies. These are the animals who are allergic to grass, trees, weeds, mold, dust mites, etc. These dogs tend to lick at their belly and feet, or be prone to ear infections. If I examine a dog who is itchy in these locations: ears, face, feet, and belly; then I may make a presumptive diagnosis for environmental allergies. Especially if their symptoms present at certain times of the year, every year.

But to confirm this diagnosis, and find out exactly what your pet is allergic to, the ideal test is intra-dermal skin testing. I practice in close proximity to several veterinary dermatologist so it is easy for me to refer my clients to a specialist. It is just like skin testing in people. They will shave a large patch on your animals side, inject different allergens in to marked circles on the skin and watch to see which one develop a hive. These tests are also often combined with blood testing for more accurate results.

But not everyone wants to, or can afford, referral for allergy testing. So thankfully we have several options available to manage these symptoms. Some of the commonly prescribed products are Apoquel, Prednisone or Cytopoint.

For patients prone to ear infections, weekly cleanings can help to reduce their frequency. Cleansers like Epi-Otic and Douxo Micellar Solution are products I have prescribed as a maintenance cleaner. Some of my clients have used Zymox which can be purchased over the counter. Ears should be cleaned weekly as well as after bathing or swimming. If your pet is suddenly painful when you touch their ears, or if the inner ear appears red or swollen, these can be symptoms of an infection within the canal.

If your dog is one that obsessively licks at their feet, which they all seem to do in the middle of the night, then wiping the feet after walks can help. You can use a washcloth with water or a hypoallergenic baby wipe. If your dog doesn’t like having their feet touched then you can set up a foot bath station when they come in. Fill a shallow bucket with water and have them walk through it.

Something else I will recommend owners try is more frequent bathing. There are special veterinary shampoos which can help prevent infections by containing antimicrobial ingredients and ingredients which make the skin barriers healthier. But even just bathing with an over the counter oatmeal shampoo weekly will help slightly. It should be gentle enough to not dry out the skin, and by bathing weekly you reduce the contact time the pollen and allergens have with the skin. Human dermatologist recommend those of us with allergies bathe nightly so we don’t go to bed with pollen sitting on our skin.

There are also prescription medications which your vet may recommend for your pet. Allergies are a hyperactive immune response, and these drugs work to suppress this immune response. They are very effective for many patients but need to be used carefully. These medications will cause a generalized immune suppression, so there is an increased risk for secondary infections. But when used appropriately and for the right patients they can dramatically improve your pets quality of life.

If you do decide to pursue allergy testing, an injectable or oral serum can be developed to gradually increase your pets tolerance to their specific allergy. This is really the only treatment that targets your pets unique allergies. The downsides are cost, and the time it can take for improvement. For some pets it can take a year to see significant improvement after starting immunotherapy.

Food Allergy

The final type of allergy, food allergy, is actually the least common. These animals are usually allergic to the protein in their diet. Some of the most common proteins in our dog and cat food, will also be the most frequent culprits of a food allergy. And it is possible for older animals to develop food allergy. So having fed the same diet for their entire life does not rule it out.

Blood testing is not considered useful to diagnose food allergy. Just like when finding out what your baby is allergic to, the best way to find out if your dog has a food allergy is an elimination diet. There are prescription diets available that do not contain any of the common food protein allergies which are chicken, beef or egg. Or in some hypoallergenic diets, these proteins will be present, but are hydrolyzed (broken down in to such a small molecule they are not expected to trigger an allergic response).

A home cooked diet is a great alternative for a food trial, but the recipe should be formulated or reviewed by a veterinary nutritionist to be sure your pet is receiving all of the nutrition they need. Thankfully many nutritionist will do online consults so this is an option no matter where you live. But I stress that this diet should come from a board certified veterinary nutritionist.

Tufts Veterinary University offers a home made diet formulation as one of their services. You can read more information at the website:  https://vetnutrition.tufts.edu/

During a food trial it is necessary to feed this diet for at least 12 weeks to see if there is a reduction in itch. This includes no treats or table scraps as any break in the diet can ruin the trial.

If you’re not sure if the diet helped at the end of the trial, simply offer a small amount of the previous diet and observe your pet to see if they start itching again.

Allergies can be a very frequent and frustrating medical issue to manage. Many animals will have mild allergies which never even need treatment. But for those of you who have dealt with severe allergies in your cat or dog, you will appreciate how difficult and expensive it can often be to find treatment that works. Hopefully you have found a veterinarian who you trust that can help guide you toward the best options for your pet.