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Allergies - by
Frances Smith, DVM
Posted August 2001
Allergies. Many of us humans have them, and so do our pets. Often we can
be allergic to the same things, as well as each other. (Yes, dogs can be
allergic to HUMAN dander!) Managing allergies can be quite a task and
depends greatly on what the sufferer is sensitive to.
Some pets have contact allergies – they react to something their skin
touches. This can be cleaning agents (carpet shampoo, laundry detergent,
other surface cleaners), carpets, or grass. Some can be allergic to
foods like beef, chicken, corn, or wheat. These allergies can produce
severe itching, gastrointestinal problems (vomiting and/or diarrhea), as
well as chronic ear infections (I know that sounds strange, but it
happens more often than you’d think). But, by far the most common
allergies are inhalant. That is, the animal (or person for that matter)
reacts to something floating around in the air. We all know what high
levels of pollens can do to us (personally I have several antihistamines
and a steroid nasal spray handy at all times), and it can affect our
four-legged furry friends as well. Humans often get allergic rhinitis
and sinusitis that causes that blasted congestion, runny nose, sneezing,
coughing, and runny eyes. Dogs, with the same reaction usually itch.
They scratch just behind the front legs, just in front of the back legs,
rub their faces on the floor, and lick their paws. If fleas are the
culprit, they often chew just above the base of the tail, but in truly
flea allergic animals (it’s the saliva of the fleas that causes the
reaction), they scratch and chew EVERYWHERE. And it only take ONE flea
bite a week to keep some of these severely affected animals chewing and
scratching themselves up. And, allergies are additive. The more things
an animal (or person) is exposed to that they are allergic to, the worse
it all is. (Now, you can see why your vet harps on ABSOLUTE flea control
if you have a dog with allergies.)
So, what’s a pet owner to do with an allergic pet? Become well aquainted
with a vet who knows something about allergies, and possibly a
veterinary dermatologist (for skin and ear problems) or internist (for
those nasty GI problems). Treatments vary with the individual, but the
most common one is the most obvious - avoid things that cause allergic
reactions!
For food allergies, it could be as simple as a diet change, but not to
just another brand of food. Most pet foods have ingredients in common,
and LOTS of ingredients. (Have you ever tried to read the label on a dog
food bag??) You must change to a specific low antigen diet, usually with
novel food sources – things your pet probably has never eaten – like
duck, rabbit, or venison with potato. A newer food, z/d (made by Hill’s
Pet Nutrition) has proteins (which are usually the culprit) broken down
into smaller pieces that should not cause the allergic reaction.
For contact allergies it might help to change laundry detergents or
floor covering cleaners. If grass is a problem, try keeping your pet off
the lawn right after it has been mowed. And for fleas, control the
problem with topical treatments such as Advantage (registered trademark
of the Bayer Corporation) or Frontline (registered trademark of Merial)
ON your pet, and strict environmental control in your house and yard.
Program (made by Novartis Animal Health) is a drug called lufenuron that
you give to your pet by mouth every month. This does not kill adult
fleas, but the eggs of fleas that bite the animal taking this drug will
not develop because it interferes with how the shell of the egg is
produced. They just dry up. This makes lufenuron a good tool for
environmental control. Chemicals that kill fleas in your yard and home
can be purchased from home improvement stores, pet stores, and
veterinarians. It is important to apply most of these about every three
to four weeks until your problem is under control.
For inhalant allergies, a desensitization program can have dramatic
results. For others, controlling the symptoms is the best you can do.
This can be accomplished quite well with corticosteroids, such as
prednisone and many others, with very good results. However, these
results come with the risk of other systemic problems that can be life
threatening. Another class of drugs used to combat the effects of
allergies is antihistamines. Many antihistamines that people take, dogs
can take too, but the dosages can be quite different, so always check
with your veterinarian before giving them to your dog. Fatty acid
supplementation, available through veterinarians and pet supply stores,
is also useful in breaking the awful itch cycle as well as providing
nutrients for healthy skin. Make sure you use a product MADE FOR DOGS!
Just putting some bacon grease on your dog’s food could cause more harm
than good. Fat of the bacon (or ham, or pork chop – you get the idea)
type can contribute to gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea)
and could lead to pancreatitis. Perscription shampoos and topical
medications may also help control that horrible itch, as well as
secondary problems such as bacterial or yeast infections.
The bottom line is that most allergies must be constantly managed.
Management may include diet changes, strict flea control, fatty acid
supplementation, special shampoos or other topical medications, and drug
therapy. Working closely with your veterinarian, you can make your itchy
little friend much more comfortable.
Please note: The information provided here is meant to supplement that
provided by your veterinarian. Nothing can replace a complete history
and physical examination performed by a veterinarian.
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