Chronic allergy dogs will have recurrent skin and ear infections unless the allergies are controlled.
Dr. Jeanne Haggerty-Arcay
Jeanne Haggerty-Arcay
We have entered into the peak of the allergy season for many people and pets. When we think of allergies we typically think of sneezing, watery eyes and a runny or stuffy nose. While these can happen in our pets as well, it is far less common to these types of allergy symptoms.
The far majority of pets show seasonal allergies in the form of what we call atopy (atopic dermatitis) or allergic dermatitis. These are terms that describe red, itching, irritated skin caused by allergies. This always causes confusion amongst pet owners because they expect pets to exhibit human allergy symptoms. So allergy pets are often overlooked by pet owners as having some other type of skin condition.
The most common presentation for a dog with allergies is an itchy dog that comes in with red skin, licking and chewing at their feet and showing signs of ear discomfort. They can have what would be considered symptoms similar to hay fever, but the skin manifestations are far more common.
Dogs can come in with any range of severity of these symptoms. They often have secondary infections of the skin and ears that have developed. When an allergic dog is reacting to something, the skin and ears become inflamed in response to that allergen. This inflammation disrupts the normal skin barrier, which normally acts to protect deeper tissue from becoming infected.
There are always some low levels of bacteria that live on the surface of the skin (yes, ears are part of the skin). When the skin barrier is disrupted, surface bacteria and yeast are able to penetrate that barrier and cause an infection. For this reason, dogs with allergies often present to us with secondary skin and ear infections.
In addition, chronic allergy dogs will have recurrent skin and ear infections unless the allergies are controlled.
So how do we address allergies? Most dogs have allergies to outdoor pollen. Here in South County our afternoon winds help contribute to the distribution of pollen and exacerbate many pet allergies. Allergies can be complicated to manage and there is a lot of trial and error that goes into finding what drugs will work for any given patient. The goal of treatment is to minimize allergies flare-ups, which in turn will help minimize the secondary infections and help keep these pets off antibiotics and antifungal medications.
Allergies are not cured, but rather managed. It is a life-long condition that can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating for many pet owners.
- Anti-Histamines: Both prescription and over-the-counter antihistamines are used in pets. They are many of the same drugs that are used in humans (but we generally do not use any of the decongestants). Dosages can be quite different from humans and we typically do not see the drowsiness seen in humans. They provide some relief, especially for those pets who do experience respiratory allergy symptoms. However, they often need to be used in conjunction with other allergy medications.
- Flea Control: Consistent flea control is recommended in all allergy pets, regardless of whether or not you are seeing fleas. The very first thing any dermatologist will do when seeing an allergy pet is make sure that he and all other household pets are on flea control.
This is one of the most common mistakes made by clients. Data indicates that we see one out of every 100 fleas on a pet.
An allergy pet will have a heightened response to all allergens when their immune system is triggered by fleas.
- Immune Modulators: There is a wide range of drugs used to help reset the immune system’s response to allergens. These may include pills, long-acting injections and steroids. We typically start with drugs that have the least side effects and suppress the least amount of the immune system. More aggressive drugs are chosen if there is not an adequate response.
- Topical Therapy: Topicals such as shampoos, sprays and mousse products are often used to help treat secondary infections and for temporary relief of itching. By themselves, they are rarely successful in controlling an allergy pet.
Cats can also have allergies and they too present with itchy skin that often has small scabbing (commonly referred to as miliary dermatitis) around the neck and back.
Both dogs and cats can have food allergies, but pollen-driven allergies are far more common. Internet and social media posts have given the impression that food allergies are more common than they really are. A true food allergy dog or cat typically needs to be managed on a prescription diet. Over-the-counter foods contain cross contamination that will often trigger allergic pets. Some dermatologists will report 90 percent or more of allergic reports as having pollen and flea allergies, leaving only the remaining 10 percent with food allergies.
Allergies in pets look different than in humans. Early recognition and treatment helps in achieving more successful outcomes. But these pets typically need lifelong management of the allergies in order to minimize secondary infections.
