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American Veterinary Center
Happier & Healthier Pets |
30-
El Gezira EL Wosta Street
Zamalik , Cairo, Egypt. 11211
Tel .# 02 27376664
Mob.# 016 8877005 |
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Visit
Us Today
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 Like
people, dogs can suffer from allergies.
As in the human population, the incidence
of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While allergic humans
may often sneeze, wheeze or even have serious respiratory
difficulties, allergic reactions in pets are mostly characterized
by skin problems, exacerbated by their primary symptom—itching and
scratching. Dog allergies fall into three main categories: flea
allergic dermatitis, atopy, and food allergy. Many pets can be
affected by one or more allergy.
Food Allergy
What is food allergy and what are its
symptoms?
Food allergy is an allergic reaction to one
or more ingredients in a pet’s food. The most common allergens are
beef and milk products, cereals (wheat, corn, soya), chicken and
eggs. The exact cause of a food allergy is not known. Perhaps a
change in the pet’s immune system causes certain ingredients to be
perceived as “foreign,” initiating inflammatory mechanisms to fight
off the perceived “intruder.”
The most common symptoms of a food allergy are itching, licking or
chewing. Otitis Externa (ear infection) along with other skin
problems are also common in conjunction with food hypersensitivity.
Some pets may also have diarrhea and other digestive problems.
Symptoms can appear at any age, whether a pet has just started a new
diet or has been eating the same food for several years.
How is food allergy diagnosed?
The only effective way for your
veterinarian to diagnose a food allergy is to put your pet on a
“hypoallergenic” or “exclusion” diet for a minimum of 8–12 weeks.
Such a diet contains ingredients to which the animal has not been
exposed in the past. Because the source of protein causes most
allergic reactions, exclusion diets use proteins—often venison, fish
or duck—that are normally not found in regular pet food. An
exclusion diet may comprise home-prepared food or prescription
commercial hypoallergenic products.
If your pet has a food allergy, there should be a significant
reduction in the symptoms after the recommended period on the
exclusion diet. To identify all the food allergens, your
veterinarian will recommend adding a single protein back into the
diet every 1–2 weeks, while watching for a recurrence, or worsening,
of symptoms. If this happens, the veterinarian will recommend
removing the offending ingredient from the diet.
How is food allergy treated?
The best way to treat your pet’s food
allergy is to carefully monitor his or her diet, in order to avoid
flare-ups.
In rare cases, your veterinarian may also prescribe antihistamines
and corticosteroids.
Flea
Allergy Dermatitis
What is flea allergy dermatitis and what
are its symptoms?
Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), often called “flea bite
hypersensitivity”, is a skin disease caused by an allergic reaction
to flea saliva. A
single flea bite can trigger the disease’s intense itching. Dogs
with FAD chew and bite their backs, legs, bellies or tails. This
often leads to “hot spots”, or localized hair loss and skin
infections. You may find fleas and flea dirt (the flea feces look
like black specks) on your pet, although many dogs with FAD have
very few fleas, since they are constantly licking and chewing.
How is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?
Your veterinarian looks for the usual signs
(scratching, skin sores, the presence of fleas and/or flea dirt). He
or she may also perform a skin test to confirm that fleas are
causing the problem, as FAD symptoms can resemble those of other
conditions, including external parasites (mites, lice), infections
and other allergies, that cause severe itching.
How is flea allergy dermatitis treated?
The best way to treat FAD is to prevent
fleas from attacking your pet. Various insecticides and insect
growth regulators that eliminate flea infestations are available.
Your veterinarian can recommend the right product for your pet.
Daily vacuuming and frequent washing of your pet’s bedding can also
reduce your home’s flea population.
To break the “itch-scratch” cycle that leads to skin infections,
your veterinarian may prescribe corticosteroids, antihistamines and
essential fatty acids to relieve irritation. Warm water baths and
anti-itching shampoos and conditioners also help.
What is most important to realize is that there is no cure for FAD:
your pet will always be allergic to flea bites and you must be
continually on your guard to prevent further problems. Flea
prevention is a must.
Atopy
What is atopy and what are its symptoms?
Atopy, or environmental allergy, is an
allergic reaction to airborne substances like pollen, molds, house
dust mites and animal dander (skin or hair fragments). It is most
common in dogs, but some cats are also affected. The incidence of
atopy depends as much upon a pet’s genetic susceptibility as
exposure to the allergen itself. (An allergen is any agent causing
the allergic reaction.) Terriers, Setters, Retrievers, Dalmatians,
and Chinese Shar-Peis are particularly prone to atopy.
Itching, mostly around the face, feet, lower chest and belly, is the
primary symptom. Depending on the cause, this may occur only
seasonally (pollen) or year-round (molds, dust mites and dander).
“Hot spots”, other skin infections and ear problems can develop.
Frequent scratching due to chronic irritation may lead to hair loss.
These signs can be seen from 4 months to 7 years of age but are
typically first noticed around 1–3 years of age.
How is atopy diagnosed?
Atopy is confirmed through a process of
elimination. Other causes of itching, such as fleas, mites, lice,
bacterial and yeast infections, as well as food allergies, must be
ruled out first. Your veterinarian will ask you for a detailed
history of your pet’s itching problem. Skin or serum (blood) testing
for different allergens may then be performed to help pinpoint the
exact cause.
How is atopy treated?
Atopy is a lifelong condition and there is
no known cure. However, there are a number of ways to manage the
problem :
- Anti-itch therapy, including the use of
drugs, medicated shampoos and conditioners.
- Removing the source of the allergy from the
environment as much as possible.
- Immunotherapy uses a series of injections
to gradually accustom your pet’s system to the allergen(s) causing
the problem. Although its effectiveness varies, it provides at
least some relief for around 75% of pets with atopy.
- If the atopy is relatively mild (for
example, occasional itching during the pollen season), you can use
“Elizabethan” collars, T-shirts and socks to reduce irritation by
physically preventing your pet from scratching or biting
themselves.
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We understand that
your pet is a very special member of your family. |
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