Allergies can drive
people just plain crazy,
so it's not far-fetched
to think they might have
the same effect on dogs,
cats and birds.
Yes, our furry and
feathered friends can
have allergies. And in
hot, humid Florida,
which one local
veterinarian
half-jokingly called the
world's allergy capital,
it's a particularly
common problem.
Fortunately, there are
many treatment options.
But how do we know if
our pets have allergies?
Unless you're kin to Dr.
Dolittle, they can't
exactly tell you about
their discomfort.
Instead, we have to
observe and recognize
the signs. A little
empathy, of course,
probably wouldn't hurt.
Whether
environmental, flea or
food related, allergies
typically manifest as
skin problems in pets,
experts say. Rather than
the sneezes, runny noses
and watery eyes that
people experience,
they're itchy from ears
to paws or beak to feet.
That causes them to
excessively scratch,
lick, bite, rip out fur
and pluck feathers.
Sounds miserable.
If the problem goes
on for more than two
months, it's time to
visit a veterinarian,
said William Abbott, a
dermatological
specialist with Animal
Friends Dermatology
Services in Orange Park.
"The thing is quality
of life," he said. "If
it's something you
notice and it's
affecting their quality
of life, then it should
be looked at."
Another sign to watch
for is a secondary skin
infection, which always
warrants a visit to the
vet, he added.
Part of the problem
in Florida is that
allergies are more
year-round than
seasonal.
"We just don't have a
break," Abbott said.
Richard Sutliff, a
veterinarian and
executive board member
with the Florida
Veterinary Association,
said the problem here is
10 times worse than it
is in Chicago, where he
previously worked.
Antihistamines and
topical treatments
If allergies are
suspected, there are a
few ways to go.
Pet owners sometimes
sneak an antihistamine
like Benadryl into a
treat, hoping a pet will
eat it and stop
scratching. But just as
human allergy sufferers
know, it causes
drowsiness and the
problems return before
long. As well, Benadryl
may not help pets as
much as it does people.
"It's really more
developed for
respiratory problems, so
it's not as helpful in
pets as it is in
humans," Abbott said.
Veterinarians can
prescribe antihistamines
and topical treatments
more likely to be
effective, which can
manage the irritations
and significantly
improve an allergic
pet's life, says Sutliff.
But they don't get to
the root of the problem.
When fleas bite
Fleas are one of the
most common culprits,
experts say. But when is
the problem a flea
allergy, and not just
itchy bites?
If the degree and
duration of response are
exaggerated, it could be
an allergy to flea
saliva. Preventative
treatments aren't magic
shields, and an allergic
pet may have an extreme
reaction to just one
flea.
"Some dogs that chew
themselves up - you will
hardly ever see a flea
on them. Very possibly
you will never find a
flea," Sutliff said.
Flea control, in such
cases, is imperative.
Abbott suggested that
pet owners may need to
have their homes and
yards sprayed in
addition to treating
their pets.
Food troubles
Other common causes
are food and inhalant
allergies, which display
similar signs. A
diagnosis has to be made
based on a pet's
history, said Abbott.
When food is a strong
possibility, there are
no useful skin or blood
tests to determine the
problem ingredients, so
a nine- to 12-week diet
reintroduction trial is
done, he said.
A pet's diet is first
limited to one
carbohydrate and one
protein it has never
eaten, then single
ingredients are slowly
added and reactions are
monitored. Once an
ingredient is identified
as the allergen, it can
simply be avoided.
Despite common
theories that some
ingredients are worse
than others, Abbott said
he didn't "want to
indict any particular
ingredient."
"It's more about what
ingredients they've been
exposed to," he said.
"Lamb once was a unique
ingredient because it
wasn't in any dog food,
so people said, 'Oh,
it's hypoallergenic.'
But it's not
hypoallergenic."
The air they breathe
For inhalant
allergies such as
pollen, dust mites and
mold, intradermal skin
testing is standard
practice for dogs and
cats, but not birds.
Similar to what is done
in people, dozens of
potential allergens in
tiny doses are injected
into pets so reactions
can be measured.
If an inhalant
allergy is detected,
allergy specific
immunotherapy similar to
what people undergo may
be initiated, and the
pet receives regularly
scheduled
desensitization shots
over a long time period.
At 86 percent to 88
percent, the success
rate is higher in pets
than in humans, Abbott
said.
He and Sutliff said
another treatment,
cortisone steroid shots,
is commonly asked about
but used as a last
resort for chronic
allergies.
They are sometimes
used, however, to quell
hypersensitive reactions
to insect bites and
stings, which can cause
hives, welts and a
swollen face - just like
in people.
heather.lovejoy@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4539
