weeks. During this trial the dog will only
be able to eat the prescribed diet-no treats, rawhides, or tablescraps.
I also would strongly encourage sticking with a veterinary diet,
as many over-the-counter diets contain similar ingredients to
one another, and although the bag may claim to be for sensitive
skin, if the dog is truly food allergic it may not help in the
least.
Inhalant Allergies
The aim of controlling inhalant allergies is to keep the skin
from becoming irritated and prone to infections. Most of the
time this control can be achieved with the use of fatty acids
and antihistamines. There are blends of Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty
acids available that are specifically designed to aid these allergy
dogs. These seem to improve overall coat quality, potentially
help to stabilize cells, and provide some anti-inflammatory properties.
Alone they likely will not be enough to control the problem,
and that is why they are often used in conjunction with antihistamines.
Antihistamines work well in people, but are often not as effective
in dogs. For this reason I'll have clients try three different
antihistamines, one at a time, switching at two-week intervals
and try to determine which was the most effective. Again, there
is no magic bulletwe are aiming for management.
Some dogs reach a level of itchiness and inflammation that they'll
require steroids, more specifically, corticosteroids, not the
anabolic type that have the baseball world in a frenzy. Corticosteroids
have an amazing ability to decrease inflammation and provide
great comfort to many of these dogs. The catch is that the body
also produces steroids for many purposes, and by adding some
from outside the body we are altering the natural systems. It
is for this reason that I use them only when needed and try them
for a |
short course at a relatively low-dose.
Because we are altering the body's production, often times steroids
will need to be tapered down as opposed to just quitting them
all at once to allow the body to return to normal production.
For those dogs that need to be on steroids long-term because
it is the only way they get relief, it is best to have them on
an every other day course, as this lets the body continue its
normal production on the 'off' days.
A few words on "allergy shots." True allergy shots
are when either a blood test or skin test is performed on the
dog to determine what is causing the allergy. From this information
a vaccine is created that the owner administers at home. The
vaccine contains small amounts of the substances causing the
allergies, with the hope of training the body to not over-respond
to the stimulation. Though this system sounds like the way to
go, the testing and treatment are relatively expensive and often
have a poor success rate. For this reason I often save this option
for very frustrating cases.
Many pet owners have their vet give an injection often referred
to as an "allergy shot." These shots are often a steroid
injection that stays in the body long-term and can help control
the symptoms for several weeks. The problems with these injections
can be many. If your dog only requires one or two shots per allergy
season to remain comfortable there is probably not much need
for concern. However, if you find your dog needs these steroid
injections frequently, the treatment plan probably needs to be
reviewed.  |
Often the secondary infections are not being addressed,
and although the dog is more comfortable, the real problem is
essentially being masked. The bigger source for concern, though,
is effects to the internal system discussed previously. When
these shots are given repeatedly, the internal system can shut
down, which can lead to many long-term problems. Long-term use
also can cause the development of diabetes, cause dogs to be
unable to respond in shock situations, and cause numerous other
internal disorders. As you can see, sometimes those quick fixes
have a bigger price.
Take Home Points
Essentially I've just scratched the surface of a very complex
problem. Many times when an itchy dog comes in for its first
visit, it will come with records from many veterinarians who
the owner has become frustrated with because of a lack of a complete
solution, and I have no doubt other veterinarians in town see
former clients of mine who did not want to manage a problem but
would rather have a quick fix.
The key point is to understand these itchy dogs are frustrating
from both sides of the exam table, because these are not normal
dogs. And although it may not be what you want to hear, these
are dogs with conditions that will need to be managed for the
rest of the dog's life. Take an active role and try to find the
best options for you hunting partner. Work with your veterinarian
to find a treatment plan that works best for you and your dog's
situation.
By Joe Spoo DVM hails from
Sioux Falls, SD
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