Historical November 1994 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Allergies affect dogs and cats in various ways. Many times the target organ is the skin.
A pet will scratch, or chew, an inordinate amount, damaging their skin. Red, inflamed skin; hair loss, either in patches or over large body surfaces; scabs and excess oils are all the results of trauma caused by a pet with allergic “itchy” skin. Sometimes these pets are defined as “face rubber/foot lickers.” A dog will rub the side of its face across the floor, or on the furniture. Owners often complain that their dog keeps them up through the night by licking and chewing on its feet. Chronic changes in the skin from allergies include skin infections, pustules, dark, coinsized lesions and crusts.
The skin thickens and becomes dark. Light colored hair stains a rust color from the saliva.
A cat may lick at its abdomen enough to create a bare belly. Sometimes, the only evidence of allergic problems are recurrent ear infections.
A pets whole body isn’t affected-just the ears.
The trauma caused by frequent ear scratching results in yeast or bacteria colonizing the ear.
The tissue lining the ear canal can be chronically inflamed producing more cerumin (wax), creating a more ideal environment for bacteria growth.
On rare occasions, the lining of the canal swells to the degree that the canal seals over.
If the tissue cannot be reduced medically, surgery is required to literally remove the external ear canal. Food allergies can cause recurrent digestive upsets: vomiting and/or loose bowels.
These allergies can develop even if the pet has eaten a particular diet for several years. Allergy testing is possible. Recent findings indicate that blood tests for allergies have comparable accuracy with skin testing. Regional screening for pollens, molds etc. plus selected food screening is done with one blood sample. Treatment involves allergy injections and feeding a hypoallergenic diet. Initially the injections are given several times a week and then reduced over a several month period to a maintenance schedule of monthly injections. Hypoallergenic diets must be strict. Many commercial diets claiming to be hypoallergenic are not exclusive enough in their ingredients. Treating a pet for chronic allergy problems can make the pet more comfortable and reduce the need for the use of corticosteroids to control itching, antibiotics, and reduce the number of visits to the veterinarian to treat the complications associated with chronic allergies.
In the long run, allergy testing and treatment can be beneficial for the pet and cost effective for the owner.
Original photograph caption
Gus, an allergic Scottie. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, November 1994.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1994_11.pdf, printed page(s) 6; PDF page(s) 6.
