This entry was posted on 2020-10-02 by Pet Heaven Store.

Trying to understand hypersensitivity reactions or ‘allergies’ in our pets is the first step to better skin health management. In many cases we are often looking for ‘the cure’ to our pet’s problem skin. But unfortunately, this is often very unrealistic or virtually impossible, as one cannot always find the cause of the allergy. And in many cases, if you are lucky enough to find the cause, your pet may still need lifelong management, as it will always have the allergy. Things to remember are that many pets are born with allergies, it’s in their DNA; that no two pets are the same and that there really is no magic product that will once and for all fix your pet’s problematic skin.

Always bear in mind that the skin is the biggest organ of the body, although it is not thought of in this way. And when the biggest organ has a problem, it requires immediate and regular attention. Skin can have its own disease processes like any other organ system such as the heart or kidney or lungs. It can become diseased or start reacting at any age, but it is always worth noting when your dog or cat became allergic and for how long and in what season. Keep a diary for your own records, as this might really help you see a pattern in the future especially since many skin problems are life long. Most allergies will appear in your pet after six months of age, with the majority of affected pets being around the age of 1 or 2 years.
This term allergy can be divided into a few categories. Firstly your pet can be allergic to parasites and this is generally called Flea Allergy Dermatitis. Secondly your pet can be allergic to food. And thirdly your pet can have an allergy to something in the environment, which we don't know or can't control and this is called Atopy.

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD) is an allergic reaction to flea bites or flea saliva. One flea bite can cause a massive overreaction of the immune system and these pets tend to be extremely itchy at the base of their tails. Most often hair is also missing because of excessive biting and licking and one may even see raw patches and crusting. Pet’s with FAD don’t often have many fleas as it only takes one to cause this reaction! From this it is clear why these pet’s need to be parasite free in order to manage this allergy and make them more comfortable.

Atopy is a common allergy that involves an overreaction by your pet’s immune system and is thought to be inherited. It is also called inhalant or contact allergy. In most cases, but not always, atopy is seasonal. Grasses, pollens, house dust mites and mould spores are examples of the things that set off this allergic reaction. Basically put, anything that causes humans to get hayfever and sinusitis can cause your dog or cat to itch and be allergic. The biggest problem with atopy is that it is difficult to find the exact cause of the allergy. And often your pet may be allergic to more than one thing. In most cases your pet may develop secondary infections, which can be due to bacteria or yeast. These are generally called flare-ups and we always need to treat these secondary flare-ups as they will just get worse and become a chronic skin disorder. For this reason the aim of a management plan is to keep these flare-ups to a minimum. Parasites, in most cases fleas, also play a role in atopy as these pets are oversensitive to any bites. Therefore, just like the case with flea allergy dermatitis, pets with atopy need to be parasite free.

Food allergies or hypersensitivities are in fact not that common, and are often confused with food intolerances. Food allergies involve an overreaction by the body’s immune system. Whereas a food intolerance covers a large number of adverse food reactions but does not involve the immune system. Another way to think of this is that a food intolerance will occur shortly after your pet has eaten something that does not agree with it, such as gluten or a preservative in a certain food. Whereas a food allergy may take a bit longer as generally the body needs to be exposed to the food it's allergic to, a few times. Adverse food allergies and food intolerances often present with exactly the same clinical signs, as this is the only way the body can demonstrate it has a problem with food. The cause of a food allergy is usually a protein such as chicken, beef or fish. And the only way to effectively diagnose this allergy is by doing a 8-12 week food trial on a specific hypoallergenic diet recommended by your veterinarian. Remember that food allergies often involve the skin and digestive tract, whereas food intolerances only involve the digestive tract.

It is always a good idea, together with your veterinarian, to spend time on trying to figure out your dogs or cat's skin condition in a logical stepwise approach. It is important to remember that not all animals are equally itchy. And that pet’s are definitely not all allergic to the same things, even when the skin problem looks the same. And some skin conditions that look like an allergy may have a completely different underlying cause, such as something like lupus or an infection. In allergies, by reducing the things that trigger the immune reaction, we aim to manage the skin better and reduce the itchiness. No allergic pet will ever be 100% itch free and allergic skins are very sensitive skins that are ready and waiting to overreact to anything.

It is unlikely that a single product that will treat your pet’s allergy but rather a number of products together will form the management plan for your pet’s skin. Aspects to focus on would include parasiticides to keep your pet flea free, the best suited diet for your pets specific allergy (food allergy vs intolerance),supplements such as omega 3 and 6 to reduce inflammation, soothing shampoos created for allergic skins and topical ointments to aid skin health and create skin barriers.