ALISON LAURIE-CHALMERS: Allergies may be irritating but they can be managed
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Bobby was a cheeky three-year-old West Highland white terrier. He was brought into the surgery with a recent history of being agitated and restless, and he had been constantly scratching at his skin and ears.
Each year around spring there is a surge of similar such cases at the clinic with recurrent, irritating skin problems. These cases present with itchy and inflamed skin, particularly around their paws and ears, over the top of their backs, abdomen skin and around the groin and armpits. This irritating problem can be due a lifelong skin condition called atopic dermatitis.
Atopic dermatitis is a chronic, allergic skin disease of dogs which is caused by an immunological hypersensitivity to common substances in the environment and sometimes also to certain foods. It is an inflammatory, chronic skin disease, and is one of the most common skin diseases in dogs, affecting up to 10 per cent.
These allergic reactions can be brought on by normally harmless substances, like mould spores, house dust mites, food storage mites and other environmental allergens – including grass, weed and tree pollens. Also, it is common for a dog to be allergic to a variety of different things.
Certain breeds of dog are also more prone to it.
Dogs can show first signs of atopic skin disease symptoms at a young age, between six months and six years, though atopic dermatitis can be so mild during their first puppy year that often it does not become clinically apparent before they are three.
Atopy usually presents with intense itching, scratching, rubbing, licking and overgrooming, rashes, sneezing, watery eyes, paw chewing, and generalised skin inflammation. It commonly affects the skin around the eyes, muzzle, ears, lower limbs, paws, abdomen, armpits, and groin. Brownish saliva staining on the licked coat is commonly seen in these animals, noted as a red-brown staining of the hair.
The skin itself may also change in colour, instead of being pale pink, a black mottling (hyperpigmentation) will slowly develop. Secondary bacterial and yeast infections are common. Occasionally, it can only be the ears that seem to be affected.
Treatments aim to reduce the over-active immune system and improve the overall general skin barrier. These can include daily medications to reduce the skin inflammation and relieve itching, regular medicated and soothing shampoos, topical anti-inflammatory treatments, skin supplements, and often a special diet. Allergen avoidance is only useful if the actual allergens are known. If the allergens are known, allergy desensitisation therapy can be trialled.
Along with all these treatments, antibiotics or anti-fungal medicines are often also required to treat any secondary skin infections that can result.
Treatment is more about having a long-term management plan, than finding a cure, and some pets do need a long-term anti-itch medication.
With treatment, dogs with atopy can live a comfortable, happy life. Treatments often do not cure the condition but aim to control the symptoms and in doing so improve the patient’s general wellbeing and comfort. Flare ups can still occur and it is important to get treatment at the first signs.
Wee Bobby was referred to a dermatologist, and thankfully, he responded very well to treatments.
If your dog is showing symptoms, contact your vet.
Alison Laurie-Chalmers is a senior consultant at Crown Vets in Inverness.
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