Question:

My dog seems to have some allergies. I have had her on medicine, bought natural, organic food – what else can I do so that she stops picking at her paws due to allergies?

Answer:

Allergies are a common problem that I see in my patients. The veterinary literature cites an incidence of 10 - 15% of all patients develop allergies. My experience is that it occurs in an even higher percentage than that in my patients. Where you live has much to do with it. A warm, humid climate causes more allergens to be released, for a longer period of time into the environmental air. Obviously, the time of the year plays a big role when allergies may appear.

Allergies, which are commonly referred to as "atopy" by veterinarians, cause the immune system to react to a number of inhaled substances like grass and tree pollens or mold spores in the spring and summer, ragweed (in certain parts of the country) in late summer and fall and ingested individual food ingredients or indoor dust particles year around. Some of the most intense allergies are caused by the saliva that fleas inject upon biting and feeding on a pet. This is commonly referred to as Flea Allergy Dermatitis (or FAD).

Whatever the underlying cause is, allergic reaction is due to repeated exposure to the offending allergen(s). Because of the necessity of the repeated exposure, allergies are not typically a problem in pets less than a year of age. Allergies that occur in the winter (particularly in the colder, more northern climates where freezing occurs) can usually be narrowed down to be due to an ingredient in the food or house dust.

The normal "atopic" (allergic) response of the body is for the immune system to develop antibodies to the allergens. This ultimately causes release of histamines. The release of histamines results in an intense "tingly" feeling in the skin. While this occurs all throughout the skin, it is felt most on the feet, the face and ears, and the abdomen. The end result is pawing or rubbing at the nose and face, ears or shaking the head, licking or chewing of the feet and in general, scratching or licking of the body, particularly the belly. Pets do not typically exhibit the ocular and nasal symptoms like humans do, although they may occasionally sneeze. These symptoms tend to be more common in the dog than the cat.

While any breed may be affected, there are a number of the pure breeds that have been suggested to have more of a genetic predisposition to allergies. These include Dalmatians, Golden Retrievers, Lhasa Apsos, Miniature Schnauzers, Shar-Peis, as well as several of the specific terrier breeds (Boston, Cairn, Scottish, West Highland).

Diagnosing allergies is based primarily on the history and clinical signs found on a physical examination of your pet by your family veterinarian. It is important to make this trip to see your veterinarian however, since there are other causes of skin conditions that clinically look the same as allergies do. He or she may want to rule these out first by performing some minor skin scrapings or cultures at the time of your visit. There are other tests that may be performed to specifically diagnose what your pet is allergic to as well. These include serum testing, sent out to a laboratory, or intradermal skin testing which may be done upon referral from your usual veterinarian to a veterinary dermatologist. These tests can identify what the specific offending allergens are. In severe or chronic cases it is a good idea to have these more advanced tests done in order to provide relief in the form of hyposensitization injections, much like humans get.

If fleas are present, making certain that the pet and the environment are free of them is critical. This can be accomplished by following the Companion Animal Parasite Council's (CAPC) recommendation of year-round flea control on your pet with a product that is labeled to control flea infestations. I would suggest a visit to the CAPC website: www.petsandparasites.org. Again your veterinarian is another excellent source of information for products that have been proven to be safe and work well on fleas.

Finally, the notion of the allergen being in the food is a good one to be considered, especially if the allergy is present year-round, particularly in the winter months or especially if it is affecting the ears. There are a number of pet specialty diets that are formulated with unique ingredients that are not found in common formulations. Totally eliminating common ingredients found in pet foods like corn, wheat, rice, chicken, beef, lamb, etc. with novel ingredients that the pet has not seen before like peas, carrots, potatoes, fish, rabbit, venison, etc. or diets that have been specifically formulated to be molecularly too small for the immune system to recognize is the way to go. Don't forget you will need to eliminate treats, supplements or other (beef) flavored medicines that may contain the allergen. Your veterinarian can be an excellent source of information here as well.

Dr. Revoir’s veterinary opinion should only be used as an educational guide and in no way should be substituted for licensed veterinary care. Your veterinarian should be consulted in all health matters involving your pet.