THE ITCHY DOG
Itchy dogs are frequently allergic to one or more
substances which may include pollen, dust, fleas, food, and molds. The following
treatments may be used, alone or in combination, as recommended.
BATHING
- This is a mainstay of treatment. Bathe at least once a week (twice a
week or more is better), for at least 4 ‑ 6 weeks, before you can expect
to see a major improvement. You may then reevaluate and possibly decrease the
frequency of the baths. Use lukewarm water and a hypoallergenic or medicated
shampoo (see suggestions below). BE SURE to leave lather on the skin for 10
minutes if using a medicated shampoo. Dogs with pollen allergies often benefit
from daily rinses (water only), in addition
to their regular baths.
ANTIBIOTICS - Allergic dogs are prone to
skin infections (most often staph infections). Certain antibiotics may be used if
"pimples" or an infected rash develop. Sometimes a culture and
sensitivity test is done to determine which bacteria are present and which
antibiotic will be the best to fight the infection. The most common antibiotics
are Simplicef and Clavamox
.
ANTIHISTAMINES -Itchy skin doesn't respond
very often to antihistamines alone, but the sneezing/runny eyes component to
many pollen allergies often does respond, so we frequently do try
antihistamines. They may cause drowsiness or restlessness in some dogs.
Antihistamines are often used to lessen the amount of prednisone given. They
have a synergistic effect with fatty acids. Our favorites are Hydroxyzine,
Diphenhydramine, and chlorpheniramine.
CORTISONE - Cortisone (usually
prednisone) will ease the symptoms of most allergies, but can cause undesirable
side effects with long‑term use. We frequently give one injection of
cortisone at the beginning of treatment, because it will relieve symptoms while
we are trying alternative treatments. However, our goal is to avoid using
cortisone on a regular basis. Prednisone is often given in combination with
antihistamines in a product called Temaril P, allowing a much smaller dose of
prednisone to be used.
MITES - Several types of mites may cause itchy skin and can
be very difficult to differentiate from allergies. If your dog's symptoms
warrant it, we may do a skin scraping or trial treatment with mite medication.
Revolution topical treatment has been effective in control of sarcoptic mange.
YEAST – Some allergic skin problems can be complicated by
the presence of a secondary yeast infection. This infection can be cleared with
proper diagnosis and treatment. The doctor may do a skin smear to detect the
presence of malassezia yeast.
FLEAS – The Truckee Meadows does not have a significant
flea population. Many dogs can be allergic to fleas, but with the development of
"Revolution" virtually all of these dogs can become symptom free.
The stress of flea bites makes any skin condition worse than it would be without
the bites.
THYROID - Many dogs with itchy skin have an underlying
low thyroid condition. Thyroid problems do not cause allergies, but they weaken
the skin so any skin condition becomes worse. Most thyroid problems show up in
middle age and certain breeds are particularly susceptible. The condition is
detected with blood teats and treated with thyroid replacement medication. A few
dogs with chronic skin problems are found to have a condition called Cushing’s
Disease, which is an over production of cortisone by the adrenal glands.
DIET - Many dogs are allergic to something in their
food. Several clearance diets, developed for this condition, are available. Even
dogs with other, types of allergies tend to do better if they are on a premium
diet containing high levels of essential fatty acids. We routinely recommend
Royal Canin IVD diets.
SUPPLEMENTS - Virtually all dogs with
allergies do better if they are given a daily supplement containing essential
fatty acids (often including vitamins and zinc). These EFA's strengthen the skin
and make allergic reactions less likely to occur. Brand names include
"Efavite" and "DermCaps."
ALLERGY TESTING - Dogs that do not respond
adequately to the standard treatments, or dogs who have to rely on regular
cortisone for relief, are candidates for allergy testing. Allergy testing must
be done prior to the use of prednisone. If prednisone has been used, then a
period of time must elapse for the prednisone to clear from the body. A blood
sample will be taken to determine what allergens your dog is most sensitive to.
This is not an accurate test for food allergies. The information is used to
create an allergy “vaccine”, or provide guidelines, if feasible, to avoid or
eliminate the allergen from your pet’s environment.
