Itching and Scratching the Winter Away
Dr. Jane Bicks,
DVM
I tching
and Scratching the Winter Away
It's that time when pets and humans are more vulnerable to each other
than ever. Since this is the chilliest month of the year, animals are
more likely to be cooped up in the house -- and us with them! All of the
windows and doors are closed to the world and the heat is blasting
around the clock.
These kinds of conditions can make our winter homes playgrounds for
various allergens. Our pets are vulnerable to the dust in the carpet,
the mold inside the walls of your old house and other pets. On the other
hand, warm moist times of the year or times when the seasons are
shifting are also high allergy times. Our pets are hardly ever safe from
them. Allergies are the most common conditions affecting cats and
according to Kansas State University, fifteen percent of dogs suffer
from common allergies like pollen, mold and house dust.
However, common allergies aren't the only ones that affect our pets.
Just like humans, pets can be allergic to anything from eggs to oak
trees. Allergies are conditions that pets and humans share with equal
intensity, so we must use our powers of empathy to make them as
comfortable in their skin as possible. This month, the HealthyPetNet
News will focus on pet allergies: what they are, what to look for and
the different methods of GIVING RELIEF.
So What Are Allergies Anyway?
Essentially, an allergic reaction is the work of an overactive immune
system. It's when an animal responds abnormally to a seemingly everyday
substance like grass or common food ingredients. Substances can cause an
allergic reaction upon exposure by ingestion, inhalation or skin
contact.
Allergic animals possess antibodies that react badly to specific
allergens to produce what we know as allergic reactions. Watery eyes and
constant scratching are common manifestations of the immune system in
overdrive, overcompensating to expel the allergen from the body.
The Different Types of Allergies
Contact Allergy
Of the various types of allergies, contact allergies are the least
common in both cats and dogs. Examples of contact allergens are flea
collars, plants, grass and certain types of bedding such as wool.
Because contact allergies result in a local reaction to the skin,
symptoms include skin irritation and itching at the points of contact.
Inhalant Allergy
This is the most common allergy for cats and it is prevalent in dogs, as
well. This type of allergy is caused by the hypersensitivity of the
immune system to common environmental substances. Some of these
allergens are with us seasonally (ragweed and grass pollens) and others,
such as mold and mildew, are with us all the time. This type of allergy
usually manifests in the form of severe, generalized itching. The
itching may be most severe on the feet, flanks, groin and armpits.
Inhalant allergies and food allergies are often the reasons for chronic
ear infections in dogs. Recent studies have shown that it can
also affect the cat's urinary tract resulting in crystal formation in
the urine.
Flea Allergy
This is the most common form of canine
allergy and it's relatively common in cats, as well. The normal dog and
cat experiences only minor irritation in lieu of a flea bite with
minimal itching, if any. The flea-allergic dog or cat; however, suffers
from severe itching when the flea's saliva is integrated into the skin.
It's not the flea itself, but its saliva that is the culprit. Just one
single bite can make a pet itch to the point of self-mutilation: chewing
itself and removing large amounts of hair. Pets tend to chew mostly on
and around the tail. The constant chewing makes them more vulnerable to
bacterial infections, a complication which causes even more itching.
This is a vicious cycle, indeed. This particular skin problem is fondly
known in veterinary circles and among other pet professionals as flea
bite dermatitis or FAD. A skin allergy test can be performed by a vet to
determine if a dog is allergic to flea saliva.
Food Allergy
This is one of the hardest allergies to detect and probably even harder
to treat. Pets, for the most part, aren't born with food allergies. More
often than not they, like humans, can and do develop a hypersensitivity
to food they have been eating for years, which causes us to overlook the
possibility of a food allergy. Cats tend to become allergic to their
most common protein like tuna, while dogs can be allergic to proteins
such as chicken, beef and the proteins in corn and wheat.
Food allergies manifest in a myriad of
ways: itchy skin, licking of the feet (especially in dogs), shaking of
the head, rubbing face on carpeting, coughing and rare digestive
problems such as vomiting and diarrhea. They can also result in chronic
ear infections in both dogs and cats.
In list form, below is an overview of
the many allergic symptoms, some already discussed.
Common symptoms include:
- excessive licking under
the tail
- chronic ear infections
- irritated skin with some
hair loss
- licking front paws
- sores around the muzzle
and face rubbing
- head shaking
Rare symptoms
include:
- asthma like symptoms
- behavioral change
- seizures
Allergy
Sleuths:
Detecting the Problem
If you detect any of the above symptoms in your pet's behavior, make an
appointment with your vet. Though itching, for instance, can be caused
by a variety of different things, your vet can perform diagnostic tests
to differentiate between causes of itching.
For more severe and complicated cases,
your vet can refer you to a board certified dermatologist.
The first step in allergy treatment is pinpointing not only the type of
allergy, but what your pet is allergic to. This is done several ways.
Skin test:
To perform a skin test, the vet shaves some parts of the animal's body
and injects specific allergens into the skin to see if the skin welts.
Blood test:
Just like in humans, the
vet takes blood and tests it to determine the substance(s) the animal
is/are allergic to.
Hypoallergenic Diet:
Pets with
non-seasonal allergies may be allergic to basic food ingredients.
Treatment of food allergies can be a very complicated and time-consuming
affair. The easiest way to determine which food ingredient your pet is
having a reaction to is to feed a special food that contains ingredients
the pet has never eaten. These special foods are available at veterinary
offices. During this time, your pet can't eat anything but this special
food, so that means no table scraps, treats or bones. If the allergy
symptoms go away after a few weeks (anywhere from 2 to 12), then you
could start feeding your pet isolated foods that he was eating before to
see if an offensive reaction occurs. Then, you'll mostly likely find
your culprit. Once your vet is able to determine your pet's allergen,
whether by a skin test, blood test or a hypoallergenic diet, you
should then do everything to remove it from your pet's diet. We're not
always so lucky, though. Sometimes, your pet may be allergic to things
in the environment, which are often inescapable realities.
Methods of
Treatment
Hypo sensitization, also known as the allergy shot, is a viable means of
treatment. After determining exactly what your pet is allergic to,
injections are prepared containing precise amounts of the offending
allergen to be administered on a regular basis, allowing your pet to
build up immunity to the allergen. Your pet will still be allergic but
this will help it to live more comfortably in its surroundings.
Prescription drugs, such as steroids, should be used only as a last
resort. Antihistamines also fall under this category. Prescription drugs
can be quite well at controlling the symptoms though some should not be
used for extended periods of time.
Omega-3 Fatty Acid Formulas soothe
from the inside out. University studies have shown their unequivocal
benefits to our itchy pets.
Things You Can Do At Home
When it comes to allergies, like most things it's a matter of
controlling, not curing. Once an animal's body becomes hypersensitive to
certain things, it is then eternally vulnerable to those things. Out of
all the methods of treatment, the most common treatments are actually
topical products such as shampoos and antihistamines. There are also
supplements that you can give to your pets to help support the insides
of their bodies, which to an extent determine the condition of the
outside. HealthyPetNet's Skin Care System is perfect for helping
suffering pets cope with the various allergies that manifests in the
skin. Let's spread that HealthyPetNet love from the inside out!
A Delicious, Soothing Skin Supplement:
Skin &
Coat Formula for Dogs & Cats
Cornell Feline Health Center was one,
if not the first, to demonstrate that inhalant allergies (mold, grass,
weeds, carpeting, etc), the most common allergies to affect cats,
respond to omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids, the essential oils
prevalent mostly in fatty fish like salmon, herring and wild game, have
been proven to soothe the skin. As we've learned, our animals' allergies
manifest mostly in the skin. All allergies aside, skin and coat problems
are among the most frequent reasons we take pets to veterinarians. After
all, a pet's coat is the telltale sign of overall health. Our delicious
beef-flavored
Skin & Coat chewable tablets contain fish oils and vitamin
E to promote healthy skin and a luxurious coat. The fish oil inherent in
these capsules are much more concentrated than most of its kind, making
it the choice of
pet owners in the know.
Manufactured by a pharmaceutical plant
that makes human products, the essential fatty acids are
microencapsulated, a manufacturing process that allows higher amounts
of the oil to be put into each tablet.
These supplements are also special because they contain a dynamic
combination of other oils and the ratio is one of our best kept secrets.
This formula is used to perfect a dog or cat's coat condition. Many
breeders believe that these tablets should be given no matter how good
the food you're feeding. They seem to maximize beauty.
Skin & Coat Formula is also
recommended for animals with excessive itching and scratching, because
it soothes irritated skin from the inside out. Whether a pet is itching
from allergy, dry winter heat or changing seasons, this formula aims to
soothe. It's great for pets that shed excessively, leaving the coat
glossy, supple and healthy looking. If your pet's coat is dappled with
white flakes, you won't need a special shampoo. Perhaps the best thing
about HealthyPetNet's Skin & Coat Formula is the great roast beef flavor
that cats and dogs just love. No more battles with capsules and no more
messy liquid oils! Wouldn't it be great if we could chew a tablet daily
and look great!
Bathe
Your Pet with
Spa Scents Revitalizing Shampoo
Studies show that if we shampoo our
pets' coats regularly, it is less likely that foreign substances will
enter through the skin. Regular bathing simply discourages allergens --
irritants such as dander and dead hair. When our pets itch and injure
their skin, it leaves their internal landscapes more vulnerable to skin
problems. Our self-adjusting
Spa Scents Revitalizing Shampoo is formulated for both
therapeutic and normal use, with both cleaning and conditioning action.
It effectively removes dirt, while it sends nutrative soothing herbs
deep in the skin.
Dr. Jane believes that a shampoo should do
more then wash. Our shampoo supports healthy skin and healthy coats.
When it's all said and done, shinny full coats, healthy looking skin and
a great fresh scent make it one of the most popular shampoos around.
Lavender, marigold and aloe vera are just a few of the herbs that are
responsible for this remarkable shampoo. Whether our pets are
scratching, biting or laying happily at our feet, Dr. Jane has managed
to formulate a shampoo that does it all. Use
HealthyPetNet's Skin & Coat
Formula in conjunction with
Spa Scents Revitalizing Shampoo and
Soothing Mist for
the optimal health of your pet's skin and coat.
Use
Soothing Mist
on Problem Areas
Used in conjunction with the
Skin &
Coat Formula and the
Spa Scents Revitalizing Shampoo, you have a dynamic trio on
your hands. Our
Soothing Mist and Herbal Blend Shampoo work the outside
while the Skin & Coat Formula works the inside. There is no better
holistic union of skin care out there to promote the optimal health of
your pet's skin and coat. Our
Soothing Mist provides the skin's cells
with proper nourishment to replenish themselves in the unending cycle of
cell life present in the skin. When your pet is feeling itchy, spray the
Soothing Mist for comfort and to discourage them from further damaging
themselves with incessant scratching. Our
Soothing Mist contributes
ingredients that the skin needs for repair. The soothing mist has been
nicknamed "magic." We have to admit that it is magical how the aloe,
zinc and many herbs soothe and condition the skin like they do.
Click here to learn
more about fish oil
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