Poor Annie

In the latest round of skin issues we went to the vet with another flare up of her skin.

Her belly was bright red and she was miserable. And so were we, since she would lick all night long.

The vet decided that it was time to take a culture of the infected area and see what would grow in a petri dish.

Three days later she called to say that there were two skin bacteria growing.

One that was related to the Mursa staph infection.

The solution was for her to have shots one a day for five days administered by us. These were to be 5 cc shots which represents a fairly significant dose.

We were warned to keep an eye out for increases in water consumption and urination as this drug had negative indicators for the kidneys.

Sure enough 5 days in Annie started to drink like a fish and and pee like a horse.

We were advised to stop treatment and come in for a ‘recheck’.

Recently, as in the last 12 month or so, our dog has developed really painful and annoying itching, scratching, chewing and skin rash issues. During this time we have tried medicated shampoos, endless courses of antibiotic treatments, steroid therapy, and now vegetarian dog food.

We arrived at this new food experiment during research of traditional dog food.

As you are likely aware dog food contains any number of left over animal parts that are not appropriate for human consumption. As well, manufacturers are not required to list ingredients on their packaging so there is simply no way to know what you are feeding your beloved pet.

The home made food choice was not recommended by our vet as the exclusive nutrition source, even when supplemented by Pet Tabs. Although the combination of ground turkey, whole grain rice and eggs proved delicious to our dog, we remained concerned about her overall health.

Enter vegetarian dog food manufactured by Royal Canin. The ingredients are clearly labeled and include:

• oat flour
• brewers rice
• potato protein
• canola oil
• yeast culture
• tomato pomace
• beet pulp
• flax seed

and approximately 30 other ingredients. This is fed in combination with the aforementioned turkey and rice combination and the mixture receives two paws up from our dog. In the search for remedies to dog allergies, vegetarian dog food is a helpful alternative to standard food choices.

You might be thinking that your dog is unique with regards the his skin issues. You wonder if there can’t possibly be another animal that has the same issues of flaking, itching, scratching and pain. The fact is that dermatological issues are very common in the dogs.

In fact, a recent survey among veterinarians found that dermatological conditions are the single most frequently seen problem on an everyday basis.

In companion animals, parasites, allergies and hormone disorders are most commonly brought on as dermatological conditions. In our dogs, allergic conditions are the most common cause of chronic skin problems.

These require professional, veterinary intervention.

Atopic dermatitis or “Atopy” is a skin disease characterized by pruritus which is caused by an allergy to substances (known as allergens) in the environment. It should be no surprise to pet owners that atopy, or allergies, are encountered far more frequently in the dog, than any other companion animal.

Lucky for us we choose dogs vs. cats!

The most common environmental allergen is the house dust mite – yes, an allergy to the common dust mite. Allergies are so common in fact that atopy affects nearly 20% the dog population.

Allergies in dogs tend to be inherited, just as they are in humans. If the parents are allergic, there’s an increased chance that the offspring will be as well. Unfortunately I do not know of any owners that screen their puppy for the presence of allergies in the parents prior to taking the little ball of fur home. This is why we see that allergies are very common in some breeds of dogs and not as common in others.

Typically, dogs that are most likely to develop allergies generally develop symptoms between 6 months and 3 years of age. Depending on what they are allergic to, some dogs may suffer from seasonal allergies, while some may itch and scratch all year long. The biggest offenders are the common dust mite.

As old age effects humans so too as atopic dogs age, their symptoms tend to become less seasonal. They also become allergic to more substances, eventually leading to year-round symptoms.

Did you know that almost 25% of the more than 54 million dogs in the U.S. that have received professional vet care are found to have some form of an allergy or other immunological disorder? One of the most common types of dog allergies is the inhalant type. This known as atopy. Included in the list of these allergens are:

• pollens
• molds
• mildew
• the common dust mite

Dust mites are tiny, microscopic creatures that belong to the family of eight-legged creatures called arachnids. Also included in this family are other familiar household pests:

• spiders
• chiggers
• ticks

Dust mites enjoy warm, moist environments such as the inside of your mattress, your pillow or seat cushion on your couch. They make meals of dander (which is human and animal skin flakes), so they thrive in places where there are both people and animals. Fortunately dust mites don’t bite,  they do not spread disease and usually don’t make their home on people or pets. They are harmful only to people and pets that become allergic to them.

When dogs are allergic to dust mites they generally react to the proteins in the bodies and feces of the dust mite. These fecal particles are found in the highest concentrations in:

• pillows
• mattresses
• carpeting
• upholstered furniture

There may be as many as 19,000 dust mites in one gram of dust, but usually 100-500 mites live in each gram – which is about the weight of a paper clip.

Even though you may be a clean freak, most home environments support a population of the common house dust mite. Small population are not cause for concern as they do not contribute to allergic reaction in dogs. Large populations, however, will contribute to the allergic disease process. Unfortunately almost 44% of U.S. households have dust mite levels in specific locations to contribute to allergic sensations and ultimately the presence of symptoms in our pets.

There are many options to diagnose and treat dust mites and other allergens known to effect dogs.

The single best step is consult your vet for testing and treatment options.

Our family dog Annie has been exhibiting the following signs of dog allergies:

• facial itching
• foot chewing
• belly itching

Rather than this being a minor annoyance for Annie or us as owners, this was starting to effect her overall health.

The more she licked, the more hair she ate, the more she coughed. The more she chewed, the redder she got, sometimes to the point of bleeding.

Suspect one to this dog allergy dilemma was her diet, as dog allergies brought on by food are a prime cause to the distress our dog was in.

In fact dog allergies are one of the itchiest conditions known to dogs.

Processed food proteins, fillers and assorted colorings are all further processed inside their bodies. The immune systems may recognize some of these now changed or combined proteins as the foreign invader that needs to be attacked by the immune system. While other evidence of inflammation may appear in area such as the GI tract or other organ, it is the skin that suffers the most.

Many people assume that a change of diet is what will bring on an allergic reaction. The fact is that food allergies take time to develop. In fact you may have been feeding the very food that is causing the allergies for years without any sign of trouble.

In order to get to the bottom of the food allergy mystery you will need to set about a hypoallergenic diet that can be fed to your dog over a set period of time. This will determine whether or not it is, in fact, a food allergy or another cause.

If your pet recovers after the hypoallergenic diet is fed then a 2 weeks resumption of the original diet should be fed to validate the cause as the offending food. If in 2 weeks time the original food causes a new bout of itching and scratching then food allergy diagnosis might be assumed as a cause.