By Dr. Jennifer Schissler
Do you suffer from seasonal or year-round allergies? You might be surprised to learn that pets often do, too. In fact, ear infections and skin allergies, which are often related, are the top two reasons people take their dogs to the vet; these conditions are among the top 10 reasons people seek veterinary care for their cats, according to VPI Pet Insurance.
Veterinary dermatologists – with expertise in animal allergies, skin and ears – are trained to help. In fact, the specialty of veterinary dermatology developed because allergies, and the infections they induce, are the most prevalent cause of skin and ear problems in dogs and cats worldwide.
Pet allergies not only are common, but can impact the well-being of an entire household as suffering pets incessantly scratch and lick, often distressing their sympathetic owners.
Allergies can be seasonal or year-round. Environmental allergy can be triggered by indoor allergens, such as mold and dust mite; plant allergens, from grasses, trees and weeds, can irritate both indoor and outdoor animals.
As in people, fall ragweed season can bring about allergy flares in pets. In Colorado, springtime allergy season may start as early as February, with juniper and cedar pollination.
Here’s the dish on food allergy: Just as in humans, pet allergies may be caused by food ingredients. Food allergy is identified and treated through an elimination diet trial prescribed by your veterinarian. Of note, the vast majority of over-the-counter diets do not meet the requirements of a diet trial because of ingredients and/or methods of preparation.
How do you know if your pet has a food or pollen allergy?
Signs in dogs:
- Licking, biting and scratching, especially legs, feet, face, armpits, groin and rear
- Red, dry, greasy, scaly, malodorous skin
- Scabs, small red bumps and halo-like sores; hair-loss, caused by secondary bacterial infection
- Scratching the ears, shaking the head, discharge/odor from the ears
Signs in cats:
- Licking, biting and scratching of skin, and pulling out hair
- Bald patches or shortened hair
- Red, raised, moist patches of skin on the abdomen or thighs
- Swollen lips or chin
- Severe face scratching
- Small scabs on the skin, often on the back and neck
- Scratching the ears, shaking the head, discharge/odor from the ears
Diagnosing allergy in dogs and cats
Diagnosis is made by ruling out other causes of itch, such as mite infestation. Allergy tests are not recommended as the sole means of diagnosis because false-positive results are common.
All breeds of dogs and cats are affected by allergy. The most common dog breeds we see with allergic skin disease include: Golden Retriever, West Highland White Terrier, Cocker Spaniel, German Shepherd, Bull terrier breeds, English bulldog and French bulldog.
Preventing allergy in pets
There is no proven way to prevent allergies in dogs and cats. Genetics likely play a role. Early exposure to allergens, parasites and bacteria may influence allergy in variety of ways, but much remains to be discovered.
Allergy must be treated; it is never cured
Food allergy is treated with a restricted diet.
Complete avoidance of offending non-food allergens is impossible, therefore medical therapy is needed. Two main treatment strategies are immunotherapy and anti-inflammatory medications. Immunotherapy is administration of allergens by injection or drops given by mouth to promote tolerance. Allergy testing, via blood or skin, determines the ingredients included.
There are several anti-inflammatory options for treatment of allergies in dogs and cats. In addition, there are several exciting new medications for dogs that specifically target a chemical cause of itch (IL-31) with minimal side effects. Responses to medications are individually variable, and some animals will need a combination of treatments to optimize response.
In addition, patients often benefit from treatments applied to the skin to remove pollens, correct dryness and greasiness, and prevent secondary infection.
Aside from allergies, veterinary dermatologists diagnose and treat a wide variety of skin, hair and nail conditions, including parasites (mange), autoimmune skin disease, infections and hormone problems. Diagnosis of skin conditions requires techniques to microscopically assess for mites, bacteria, fungi and inflammatory cells on the skin. Blood tests assess for general health and hormone problems, such as hypothyroidism.
It’s a good idea to routinely examine your pet’s coat, skin and nails. If you notice changes, consult your veterinarian for advice, as these changes can be an indication of internal disease.
Dr. Jennifer Schissler is a veterinarian with the Dermatology and Otology service at Colorado State University’s James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
