Is your cat grooming half her hair off or your dog licking his paws raw? It may well be your pet is experiencing allergies, one of the most common health problems for pets. Just like people, animals have allergic reactions because their immune system–the system that protects the body from foreign and potentially infectious substances–overreacts to some material. Almost anything–pollen, dust, an ingredient in pet food, a household chemical, an insect bite–can set off an alarm in the immune system, causing it to pump out large amounts of white blood cells, hormones, and other material called histamines into the bloodstream. The result for animals can be a range of different effects, including itchy, swollen skin–known as pruritis–difficulty breathing, or a disruption of the digestive tract such as vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms are the animal equivalent of a person’s sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.

Pets with these kinds of allergic symptoms can be pretty miserable creatures, and unfortunately they can’t be cured. Allergies are life-long, chronic problems. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to help your animal “children” feel better. The best way to start is to find out what your pet is allergic to, so you can keep the allergen out of his environment. Animal allergies generally fall under one of four main categories.

Contact allergies

These are the least common type of allergy in animals. They happen when an animal’s skin comes in contact with the material he’s allergic to–if he rubs his face against a wool blanket, for example, and he’s allergic to wool. The chemicals in flea collars can cause this problem as well. The skin at the point of contact will be irritated–it may itch, become thickened or discolored, have a strong odor, and/or lose hair due to constant biting or scratching. Contact allergies are generally not a hard problem to solve–they’re usually confined to a specific area of an animal’s body, and the allergen shouldn’t take too much work to discover. You can try removing different materials that your pet touches until you find the one that irritates his skin.

Food allergies

Diet can be a complicated factor in pet allergies. Most animals are not born with allergies to food; their immune systems develop an allergic response over time to some part of their diet, often one of the animal proteins. A food allergy can present in a lot of different ways, including the itching, digestive disorders, and respiratory distress already mentioned. They can be a real challenge to solve, however. You can try to figure out what’s causing your pet’s allergic reaction by feeding him different diets, but the allergic effects of food can stay in the system for eight weeks. You may have to keep your furry friend on a special hypoallergenic (non-allergy-causing) diet for eight to twelve weeks to see how he reacts, and you may have to do it several times with several different diets before you find one that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction. And while you’re feeding these test diets, you’ll have to make very sure that your pet doesn’t eat any treats, vitamins, leftovers or scraps, or even plants around the house. He has to eat the test diet exclusively for the entire eight to twelve weeks to determine whether he has an allergic reaction to it.

Inhalant allergy

Inhalant allergies are the kind we humans are most used to. Just like us, our pets get hay fever, meaning they can be allergic to the pollen and mold that fills the outside air during the spring and fall. They can also be allergic to the dust mites, mildew, and mold that can be inside every home. These kinds of allergens usually produce severe itching in pets, which is usually concentrated in the ears, feet, groin, and armpits, though it can be spread across the entire body. Dogs in particular may develop hairless, irritated “hot spots” from constantly chewing on and scratching the affected skin.

Most animals that are allergic to airborne particles are usually allergic to more than one. Often, they will only experience itching during the pollen-heavy seasons of the year, just like humans with hay fever. If you find that your pet’s allergies seem to be seasonal, you may be able to limit his outdoor time during allergy season. Your pet may be reacting to an indoor allergen, however, or an allergen that doesn’t vary by season. In that case, there’s not much you can do to keep him away from whatever he’s allergic to, though an air filter might provide some relief.

Flea allergies

This is an extremely common problem for pets, possibly the most common allergy of all. Animals aren’t actually allergic to the fleas themselves, but to proteins that fleas secrete in their saliva when they bite. Your pet doesn’t have to be a walking flea circus to suffer from an allergy, either. Affected animals can itch severely from a single bite for over five days! So, if you suspect your pet is allergic to fleas, you’re going to have to work very hard to keep the little pests away. Frequent baths are a good idea, as are the prescription flea applications and pills. Consult your veterinarian when you chose a flea repellent for your pet, though; the wrong kind or too strong of a concentration could cause irritated skin, seizures, and even death in extreme cases. You will also want to treat your pet’s environment, including any bedding or carpeting he comes in contact with.

Other Options

What makes allergies hard to deal with is that in many cases, you either won’t be able to determine exactly what is causing the reaction or won’t be able to remove it from your pet’s environment. This is where your veterinarian comes into the picture. You and your veterinarian will probably have to work together to determine the best treatment, or combination of treatments, for your pet’s allergy. You may have to go through a series of trying a possible solution, waiting to see how your pet reacts to it, and moving on to another solution.

Your veterinarian may suggest one or more of the following things:

Testing–Your veterinarian has a few different tools to help determine the source of your pet’s allergy. Intradermal or “scratch” tests involve making small abrasions in an animal’s skin and inserting small amounts of materials that the veterinarian suspects the pet might be allergic to. If the animal is allergic to one of the materials, say dust mites or ragweed pollen, the immune system will react to it and that particular scratch will become inflamed. There are also a number of blood tests your veterinarian can use to analyze the amount of certain chemicals that the immune system releases into the bloodstream when exposed to different allergens. These tests can be used to tell whether your pet is having an allergic reaction or whether the problem is caused by something else, and sometimes they can determine the source of the allergy.

Steroids–These drugs work to suppress the immune system and make the allergic reaction less severe. Steroid treatment can help your pet even if you can’t determine what he’s allergic to or how he’s being exposed. They can have several side effects, however, and they affect nearly every organ in the body. Steroid use can cause weight gain, increased thirst and urination, and increased aggression and other behavioral changes. They are generally used if the allergy occurs for a short amount of time, because long-term use makes animals more prone to infection, as well as susceptible to diabetes and seizures.

Immunotherapy–This is one of the safest and most effective ways to treat allergies, but it also takes the longest amount of time to work. In immunotherapy, animals are given regulary–often weekly–vaccinations that contain small amounts of the substance they’re allergic to. The same therapy is used for people who go in for allergy shots. It gradually desensitizes the immune system to the allergen, meaning that as time goes by, the immune system is reprogrammed and doesn’t react to the allergen as strongly. Unfortunately, it takes some time for the immune system to readjust. It can sometimes be six to twelve months before animals show any improvement from the treatment.

Antihistamines–These drugs, much like the allergy medication people take, work to block the chemicals released by the immune system, called histamines. They are effective at reducing itching and inflammation, and they are relatively safe to use. Their major drawback is that they cause sedation, and can make pets extremely drowsy and sluggish. Occasionally, they can change an animal’s energy level enough to affect his quality of life.

Symptomatic treatment–Even if none of the above treatments are effective, you can still give your pet a lot of relief by simply treating his symptoms as they come up. There are a number of soothing shampoos on the market that contain ingredients like oatmeal or Epsom salts. Your veterinarian may also be able to suggest ointments, ear treatments, or sprays that can make your pet more comfortable. Be cautious about using home remedies or herbal treatments on your pet, however. Consult with your veterinarian before trying any new treatment, because you could damage your pet’s skin or aggravate the allergic reaction. Most of all, remember that while you can give these symptomatic treatments often, they will only provide temporary relief. If your pet still seems uncomfortable despite the baths or other treatments, you can talk to your veterinarian about long-term treatment.

Whatever treatment decision you and your veterinarian come to, rest assured that the patience and determination it can take to treat allergies is well worth it. Though it may take some time and effort, you can help your itchy, grouchy pet feel comfortable again.

Copyright © 2008, American Animal Hospital Association

Reprinted with permission from the American Animal Hospital Association.

Behavior is one of the key ways animals have to communicate their likes, dislikes, and even their physical condition and health. One activity that signals something is not right with your pet is excessive or incessant scratching.

If your pet can’t stop scratching or biting himself, or rubbing his face or flanks, or licking at his feet, he has an underlying problem that is causing an intense and uncomfortable itch. Itching can be the result of any number of conditions, for example, fleas, allergies, seborrhea (a dry or oily skin disorder), mange, infection, nutritional or hormonal imbalance, or even sunburn.

Of course, when you have an itch, you want to scratch. After all, it gives you some relief. But prolonged scratching can itself cause skin irritation, which can lead to more scratching and abrasion, which may lead to open wounds and infection. We can relate— we’ve all scratched too hard at a mosquito bite and paid the price.

If you notice your pet scratching obsessively, immediately inspect the area for visible insects or bites, infection or healing wounds. Clean the area with hydrogen peroxide, or a first aid or antibacterial spray. I caution against using rubbing alcohol on raw or irritated skin.  A hydrocortisone spray or salve can offer relief from itching, which may curtail the pet’s impulse to scratch and further exacerbate the injured area. Also available are topical bitter sprays that discourage chewing or an Elizabethan or lampshade collar to keep the affected area protected. An over-the-counter children’s antihistamine may be of benefit to help relieve discomfort. Check with your veterinarian for a safe dose.

It’s important to realize, your pet cannot control his itch response and may, if left unchecked, cause severe damage by persistent licking, chewing or biting. Try to spend more time with your pet doing physical activities that will both distract him from his discomfort and tire him out so he’ll be more likely to sleep at night and less likely to stay awake scratching.

If the condition doesn’t clear up within 2-3 days, consult your veterinarian to determine the underlying condition causing the problem and to prescribe a course of treatment.

Tip: Regular bathing and grooming will help keep your pet’s skin and coat healthy and can help you notice irregularities before they develop into problems.

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM

Ahhh!

When performing a routine examination on a dog, one of the first things I look at is the health of the skin and coat. With pets, as with people, you can learn a lot from first impressions. Skin is the first defense, and it functions to protect the body from infection, caustic substances, ultra-violet light, dehydration and temperature extremes. As such, it is important to maintain its health and fitness. A healthy coat is vibrant and shiny; healthy skin is a pale cream color.

Just as important, the skin and coat reflect the function of internal organs and systems and can offer clues and signals to conditions that require medical attention. Skin and coat health are a vital diagnostic tool for determining your dog’s overall health and wellbeing.

So, although a healthy, shiny coat doesn’t guarantee good health, it makes it more likely that other systems are functioning correctly. Conversely, when an animal is truly sick and has immune deficiencies, one of the first places we notice it is in the skin and coat.

To help maximize the utility of this key tool, it is important to start with good nutrition and daily grooming. Proper balanced nutrition gives your dog the essentials it needs to sport a shiny coat and healthy skin. If, despite a healthy diet and good grooming, your dog’s coat or skin is problematic, it directs our attention to other conditions that require treatment. If, on the other hand, your dog is not getting proper nutrients, a condition that may require treatment will not be as readily noted, since nutritional concerns will likely be addressed first.

When I notice a dull coat or flaky skin, one of the first questions I ask is about nutrition. If the dog is not getting proper nutrition, I’ll tackle that issue first. If I can rule out nutrition or the need for supplementation as the cause, I’ll know to look more deeply into some of the other causes for the condition. Good nutrition therefore helps get more serious issues addressed more rapidly. And that’s good for your pet.

Sometimes even good nutrition requires supplementation. Absent other symptoms, a dog receiving proper nutrition whose coat is not vibrant and healthy may need a fatty oil supplement to help improve and condition the coat. Different strokes for different coats!

Other times there is an underlying cause that must be determined and treated. For example, redness or soreness in the lower back area may be signs of flea allergies, while rash or itching in the groin area may point to pollen or inhaled allergies. Foot chewing and face rubbing tends to indicate food allergies and bruising or petechiation (pinpoint hemorrhages) can be evidence of either severe injury or a clotting disorder. Circular crusty raised lesions suggest ringworm, a fungal infection. While patchy hair loss anywhere on the body may mean demodectic mange, crusty itchy skin by the arm pits, underside of the body, or at the ear margins indicates sarcoptic mange or scabies, which can be contagious to other pets and even to you!

Now that you appreciate how much we can learn from your dog’s skin and coat, be sure to contact your veterinarian if you see any of the following:

• Skin irritation, including redness, bumps, and rashes;
• Open sores of any kind;
• Excessive hair loss, either in concentrated patches or all over;
• Dull, dry hair that pulls out easily;
• Persistent foot licking or face rubbing.

By providing your dog with proper nutrition, supplementation when needed, and regular grooming, you will not only buttress your dog’s first defense, but also help direct your veterinarian’s attention to more significant health issues if and when they arise. And you’ll feel great knowing that you’re doing the best for your best friend!

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM

If you have a cat, you probably know the routine. You hear Fluffy coughing, witness the straining and trance-like stare, escalated coughing, choking, and then finally, a hairball is deposited onto the rug. Fluffy walks off, oblivious, and you are left to clean up the muck.

Most cats develop hairballs, a function of their fastidious grooming habits.  As they lick their coats, their tongues “grab” loose hair, which immediately gets swallowed. From the stomach, where it can’t be digested, it has only two ways to go—back up the esophagus, where it’s expelled as a hairball, or down through the small intestine toward the colon where it is becomes part of the stool.

As much as the pre-hairball hacking and choking is disturbing to witness, the real potential for complication is the risk of a blockage to your cat’s GI tract, which can be life threatening and may require surgical intervention.

The treatment for hairballs is twofold: 1) Brush your cat’s hair regularly for 10 – 15 minutes with a good quality brush. 2) Regular use of a hairball remedy, which will facilitate the hair’s smooth passage through the GI system and elimination. Be sure your cat has access to fresh drinking water at all times.

A cat who is experiencing hairball impaction will likely exhibit some of the following symptoms: vomiting and/or retching; diarrhea and/or inability to defecate; swollen abdomen; howling noises when using the litter box. If you note the persistence of any of these symptoms, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM

No two cats are alike and neither are their nutritional needs. Premium cat foods, don’t provide all the nutrients required for every individual cat’s needs. In addition, many of the essential nutrients can be lost during the manufacturing process. A daily vitamin/supplement will help ensure that your cat gets the nutritional support it needs for an active healthy lifestyle.

There are a variety of reasons to consider supplementing your adult cat’s diet.

1. Your cat is finicky and does not finish their food, thereby not getting all of their necessary vitamins.
2. Your cat is fed, are fed a homemade diet or one that involves a large percentage of table scraps may not be getting a complete balance of necessary vitamins.
3. Your cat is ill or recovering, with a suppressed appetite and is not receiving their daily requirements through the amount of food they eat.

As always consult with your veterinarian on the best possible nutritional program for a happy, healthy cat.

Proper dental care is as important for pets as it is for humans, so it’s absolutely imperative to train your pets so that they enjoy the idea of having their teeth cleaned as early as possible.

If you turn teeth cleaning into a game, then your pet will be more likely to get used to the process without much trouble. To start establishing good habits, place a pet specific, flavored, non-sudsing toothpasteon your finger, and just let your pet taste it at first. It’s important to shower your pet with praise while you clean his or her teeth so that your pet begins to associate teeth cleaning with something positive.

Once your pet gets used to the toothpastes’s tase, you can begin massaging the teeth and gums all over with your finger, and clean a little more each day. After each cleaning, reward your pet with praise, a meal, or with some play time to insure your pet makes a positive association with teeth cleaning.

After you master the finger technique, you may want to move on to a finger brush to make the cleaning more effective. Put the brush on your index finger and follow the same routine.

Finally, when you and your pet are both ready, you can graduate to the toothbrush. Do the same thing you did before and remember the most important thing, train your pet to enjoy dental hygiene, make it fun!

Article by Dr. Jeff Werber, DVM