Animals Have Hay Fever Too
Dermatologic disease in animals in one of the most frequent reasons for a trip to the veterinarian for both dogs and cats. And like in humans, the skin is considered a major organ – it has countless important chemical and biological functions, and recurrent skin problems in animals can be a red flag for other underlying disease.
“Dogs and cats are commonly afflicted with allergies, and no matter what the inciting allergen, oftentimes these animals will exhibit most, if not all, their symptoms in their skin,” says Dr. Cheryl Bell. Even today, with numerous effective and easy to use treatments available for fleas, the number one allergy of animals is flea allergy. Even just a few flea bites will give an allergic dog or cat terrible skin infections and extreme itchiness. And in cats, it can be quite difficult to detect fleas, as they are quite adept at grooming them off and swallowing them before their owner will notice them.
Another common allergy in dogs is called atopy, which simply put, means an allergy to an environmental substance. Like people, with dogs this is usually something the dog inhales, like ragweed, dust mites or pollen. And while some affected dogs do get red, inflamed eyes like people, much more frequently they have bacterial skin infections from inhaled allergens, sometimes covering much of the their body. Dogs can also have food allergies, but they rarely cause gastrointestinal problems as would seem logical. Instead, chronic ear and skin infections with yeast and bacteria are the typical symptoms. Lastly, animals can be allergic to something they physically touch, although this kind of allergy is more rare.
As with people, there is no cure for allergies, and it can be incredibly difficult to pinpoint what an animal is allergic to without significant testing. First, the veterinarian will try to eliminate exposure to the things that are controllable, such as fleas, or an animal’s diet. Bloodwork should be performed to rule out other causes for skin problems, such as hypothyroidism or other endocrine (hormonal) disease. Allergy testing is available, and is the only way to definitively diagnose an environmental allergen. But even if such testing is done, it can be impossible to limit an animal’s exposure to an environmental allergen, especially with dogs. Treatment depends on curing the subsequent infections with antibiotics and using antihistamines, steroids and other immunosuppressive drugs to decrease itchiness and inflammation. There is also increasing acceptance in using immunotherapy in animals – allergy shots, given at home by the owner.
In treating these problems, owner participation and compliance is paramount. Medications need to be administered on time and completely. It is not at all uncommon for the afflicted cat or dog to have scratched or licked themselves numerous raw, ulcerated sores. In such cases, veterinarians must also use the dreaded e-collar, the plastic or fabric cone that all animals hate. Dr. Bell empathizes; her cat is wearing one right now for a skin infection near her hip. She states, “My cat is spending most of her time growling and hissing and contorting herself into various positions to try and lick her sore. But I know she won’t heal if she does, so she is keeping the collar on.”
Cheryl L. Bell, VMD is an Associate Veterinarian at Windcrest Animal Hospital. She graduated from Duke University in 1991 and received her veterinary medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 2007. Formerly in advertising and marketing but pursuing a childhood dream to be a veterinarian, Dr. Bell spent three years in a premedical studies program in New York City while working full-time as a marketing executive in order to be admitted to veterinary medical school. She has volunteered for numerous animal rescue organizations and shelters in New York, Philadelphia and locally. She has fostered literally hundreds of cats in danger of euthanasia in shelters prior to finding new adoptive parents. Dr. Bell lives in Landenberg, PA with her husband Bob, son Cole and cat Bella.
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Centreville Veterinary Hospital
302-655-3315
5804 Kennett Pike, Wilmington, DE
(next to Buckley’s Tavern)
www.centrevilleveterinary.com
WINDCREST ANIMAL HOSPITAL
3705 Lancaster Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19805
(302) 998-2995
24 Hour Emergency
www.windcrestanimal.com
TALLEYVILLE VETERINARY HOSPITAL
3001 Concord Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19803
(302) 478-0648
www.talleyvilleveterinary.com
HOCKESSIN ANIMAL HOSPITAL
643 Yorklyn Road
Hockessin, Delaware 19707
(302) 239-9464
www.hockessinanimal.com
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