It’s an itchy time of year

Is your cat grooming half of her hair off, or is your dog licking his paws raw? It may well be that your pet is experiencing allergies, one of the most common health problems for pets. Forty percent of dogs and cats are estimated to have allergies. Just like people, animals have allergic reactions because their immune system — the system that protects the body from foreign and potentially infectious substances — overreacts to some material. Almost anything — pollen, dust, an ingredient in pet food, a household chemical, an insect bite — can set off an alarm in the immune system, causing it to pump out large amounts of white blood cells, hormones, and other material called histamines into the bloodstream.

The result for animals can be a range of different effects, including itchy, swollen skin (known as pruritis); difficulty breathing; or a disruption of the digestive tract, such as vomiting or diarrhea. These symptoms are the animal equivalent of a person’s sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes.

Pets with these kinds of allergic symptoms can be pretty miserable creatures, and unfortunately they can’t be cured. Allergies are lifelong, chronic problems. The good news is that there’s a lot you can do to help your animal “children” feel better. The best way to start is to find out what your pet is allergic to so that you can keep the allergen out of his environment. Animal allergies generally fall under one of four main categories.

Contact Allergies

These are the least common type of allergy in animals. They happen when an animal’s skin comes in contact with the material to which he’s allergic — if he rubs his face against a wool blanket, for example, and he’s allergic to wool. The chemicals in flea collars can cause this problem as well. The skin at the point of contact will be irritated; it may itch, become thickened or discolored, have a strong odor, and/or lose hair due to constant biting or scratching.

Contact allergies are generally not a hard problem to solve; they’re usually confined to a specific area of an animal’s body.  The area of the pet that contacts the floor or carpet is typically affected. The allergen shouldn’t take too much work to discover. You can try removing different materials that your pet touches until you find the one that irritates his skin.

Food Allergies

Diet can be a complicated factor in pet allergies. Most animals are not born with allergies to food; their immune systems develop an allergic response over time to some part of their diet, often one of the animal proteins. A food allergy can present in many different ways, including the itching, digestive disorders or irritated anal glands.  They can be a real challenge to solve, however.  There is not a specific test for food allergies.

You can try to figure out what’s causing your pet’s allergic reaction by feeding him different diets, but the allergic effects of food can stay in the system for 8 weeks. You may have to keep your furry friend on a special hypoallergenic (non-allergy-causing) diet for 8 to 12 weeks to see how he reacts, and you may have to do it several times with several different diets before you find one that doesn’t cause an allergic reaction.

And while you’re feeding these test diets, you’ll have to make very sure that your pet doesn’t eat any treats, vitamins, leftovers, scraps or even plants around the house. He must eat the test diet exclusively for the entire 8 to 12 weeks to determine whether he has an allergic reaction to it.  A diet trial does not mean to switch from one grocery brand to another.  Special diets are available with proteins your pet has probably never had such as Ostrich and Rice, Rabbit and Rice, Venison and Rice and one of these is fed for 12 weeks.  If the allergy symptoms resolve, it does not mean that you pet must only eat the trial diet.  Improvement confirms that a food allergy is present and then you can add ingredients, one at a time, to see if the symptoms return.

Inhalant Allergies

Inhalant allergies are the kind we humans are most used to. Just like us, our pets get hay fever, meaning they can be allergic to the pollen and mold that fill the outside air during the spring and fall. They can also be allergic to the dust mites, mildew and mold that can be inside every home. These kinds of allergens usually produce severe itching in pets, which is usually concentrated in the ears, feet, groin and armpits, although it can be spread across the entire body. Dogs in particular may develop hairless, irritated “hot spots” from constantly chewing on and scratching the affected skin.

Most animals that are allergic to airborne particles are usually allergic to more than one. Often, they will only experience itching during the pollen-heavy seasons of the year, just like humans who have hay fever. If you find that your pet’s allergies seem to be seasonal, you may be able to limit his outdoor time during allergy season. Your pet may be reacting to an indoor allergen, however, or an allergen that doesn’t vary by season. In that case, there’s not much you can do to keep him away from whatever he’s allergic to, although an air filter might provide some relief.

Flea Allergies

This is an extremely common problem for pets and is possibly the most common allergy of all. Animals aren’t actually allergic to the fleas themselves but to proteins that fleas secrete in their saliva when they bite. Your pet doesn’t have to be a walking flea circus to suffer from an allergy, either. Affected animals can itch severely from a single bite for more than 5 days! So, if you suspect that your pet is allergic to fleas, you’re going to have to work very hard to keep the little pests away.

Frequent baths are a good idea, as are the prescription flea applications and pills. Consult your veterinarian when you choose a flea repellent for your pet, though; the wrong kind or too strong of a concentration could cause irritated skin, seizures and even death in extreme cases. You will also want to treat your pet’s environment, including any bedding or carpeting with which he comes in contact.

Other Options

What makes allergies hard to deal with is that, in many cases, you either won’t be able to determine exactly what is causing the reaction or you won’t be able to remove it from your pet’s environment. This is where your veterinarian comes into the picture. You and your veterinarian will probably have to work together to determine the best treatment, or combination of treatments, for your pet’s allergy. You may have to go through a series of trying a possible solution, waiting to see how your pet reacts to it, and moving on to another solution. Your veterinarian may suggest one or more of the following tests or treatments:

Testing — Your veterinarian has a few different tools to help determine the source of your pet’s allergy. Intradermal or “scratch” tests involve making small abrasions in an animal’s skin and inserting small amounts of materials to which the veterinarian suspects the pet might be allergic. If the animal is allergic to one of the materials, say dust mites or ragweed pollen, the immune system will react to it, and that particular scratch will become inflamed. There are also a number of blood tests that your veterinarian can use to analyze the amount of certain chemicals that the immune system releases into the bloodstream when it is exposed to different allergens. These tests can be used to tell whether your pet is having an allergic reaction or whether the problem is caused by something else, and sometimes they can determine the source of the allergy.

Steroids — These drugs work to suppress the immune system and make the allergic reaction less severe. Steroid treatment can help your pet even if you can’t determine what he’s allergic to or how he’s being exposed. Steroids can have several side effects, however, and they affect nearly every organ in the body. Steroid use can cause weight gain, increased thirst and urination, and increased aggression and other behavioral changes. Steroids are generally used if the allergy occurs for a short amount of time, because long-term use makes animals more prone to infection, as well as susceptible to diabetes and seizures.

Immunotherapy — This is one of the safest and most effective ways to treat allergies, but it also takes the longest amount of time to work. In immunotherapy, animals are given regular — often weekly — vaccinations that contain small amounts of the substance to which they are allergic. The same therapy is used for people who go in for allergy shots. It gradually desensitizes the immune system to the allergen, meaning that, as time goes by, the immune system is reprogrammed and doesn’t react to the allergen as strongly. Unfortunately, it takes some time for the immune system to re-adjust. It can sometimes take 6 to 12 months before animals show any improvement from the treatment.

Antihistamines — These drugs, much like the allergy medication that people take, work to block the chemicals, called histamines, that are released by the immune system. They are effective at reducing itching and inflammation, and they are relatively safe to use. Their major drawback is that they cause sedation and can make pets extremely drowsy and sluggish. Occasionally, they can change an animal’s energy level enough to affect his quality of life.

Symptomatic treatment — Even if none of the above treatments are effective, you can still give your pet a lot of relief by simply treating his symptoms as they come up. There are a number of soothing shampoos on the market that contain ingredients like oatmeal or Epsom salts. Your veterinarian may also be able to suggest ointments, ear treatments or sprays that can make your pet more comfortable. Be cautious about using home remedies or herbal treatments on your pet, however. Consult with your veterinarian before you try any new treatment, because you could damage your pet’s skin or aggravate the allergic reaction. Most of all, remember that, while you can give these symptomatic treatments often, they will only provide temporary relief. If your pet still seems uncomfortable despite the baths or other treatments, you can talk to your veterinarian about long-term treatment.

Whatever treatment decision you and your veterinarian come to, rest assured that the patience and determination it can take to treat allergies is well worth it. Although it may take some time and effort, you can help your itchy, grouchy pet feel comfortable again.

This article originally appeared on healthypet.com

Asheville Dogs Are Raising Money to Fight Cancer!

Animal Hospital of North Asheville Thanks Them with a Sponsorship

On August 7, 2010 there will be a parade of dogs in Asheville who are giving their all to fight cancer as they participate in the American Cancer Society’s Bark for Life. Animal Hospital of North Asheville is a sponsor of the event to show our appreciation for these dogs getting out to fight cancer in people! We also appreciate the American Cancer Society for their recognition of the important role that companion animals play in our lives when they say:

Canine companions represent unconditional love, joy, security, compassion, and no judgments of human abilities orappearances. Bark For Life is an irresistible way to “take a bite out of cancer”, smile, and make new friends canine & human.

The American Cancer Society Bark For Life, “Bark For Life” (ACS BFL) is a full American Cancer Society Relay fundraising event that honors the care giving qualities of our canine “Best Friends”. Monies raised contribute to and are included in the annual Relay For Life event total.

Canine Caregivers are Canine Companions, Guide Dogs, Service Dogs, Rescue Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Police Dogs, Cancer Survivor Dogs, and Diagnostic Dogs, who with their owners, are joining the American Cancer Society as Relay teams and participants to celebrate cancer survivorship, to honor people lost to cancer, to fundraise in support of cancer research, education, awareness, patient services, advocacy, and to help eliminate the suffering that cancer causes worldwide.

Visit: www.relayforlife.org/barkasheville to learn more about the event and to register.

The Fourth of July and its accompanying celebrations can be a traumatic experience for pets. A little preparation can go a long way toward making sure that they are safe and happy when the festivities begin.

Eliza Mazzaferro, MS, DVM, PhD, DACBECC, director of emergency services at Wheat Ridge Veterinary Specialists in Colorado, says the Fourth of July is a busy time because of the inherent risks the holiday poses to pets. The most common culprit: fireworks.

“Pets get anxious and break out of kennels, jump through windows and get lacerations, and when loose, can get hit by cars,” Mazzaferro says. “We have also seen where people toss a firework or firecracker into the air, and the dog jumps up, swallows it, and the firecrackers cause severe damage to the internal organs.”

Obviously pet owners should prevent their dogs from swallowing firecrackers, but even the noise can injure their stomachs; in large breed dogs, Mazzaferro has seen an increased incidence of bloat or GDV (gastric dilation and volvulus), where the stomach twists. This occurs when dogs are nervous or excited, which happens during firework anxiety.

You can tell if the noise is affecting your pet if they tremble, bark, howl, try to hide, or get so anxious that they attempt to break free from their enclosures. In these cases, Mazzaferro recommends staying with them to help calm them down, rather than leaving them home alone. It’s a good idea to keep them inside, making sure that they don’t chew anything in their excited state.

“Moving things that can be destroyed or are harmful is beneficial,” Mazzaferro says. “However, in very anxious pets, I have seen them bite through a metal cage and injure their teeth and gums, and also jump through plate glass windows. They try to escape the noise, not knowing that it is outside. I have seen dogs chew through doors and dry wall, so just keeping them confined to a room or a dog crate is not always foolproof to prevent injury.”

In such extreme cases, it may be wise to have a prescription for anti-anxiety medication from your veterinarian. Testing the medication before the holiday is a good idea to ensure that it has the appropriate effect.

In case your pet does run away, it is important to be sure their collar has a tag with the current phone number on it. Mazzaferro suggests that all pets be microchipped, and that the contact information it contains is current as well.

“Too frequently, we see pets brought in by Good Samaritans having been found injured, and we attempt to contact the owner with the information provided by the microchip company, and find that the numbers are not current or have been disconnected, and we cannot reunite the pet with their owner,” she says.

Other problems for pets that occur around the Fourth of July include pets getting wounded during fights at backyard barbecues with other animals, or eating table scraps like corn cobs, ribs, hot dogs or shish kabobs that can cause gastrointestinal upset (vomiting and diarrhea) or even pancreatitis, an inflammation of the pancreas. Cats can get an obstruction in the stomach or intestines that can be life threatening without surgery. To keep pets safe, partygoers should not put their plates or drinks on the ground where pets can reach them.

Barbecues can also attract bees and wasps. Allergic reactions to insect stings can cause swelling of the face, hives, itchiness, vomiting, diarrhea, and in the worst case scenarios, respiratory distress and collapse. If a pet shows any of these signs, they need to go to the nearest veterinary hospital for treatment.

Finally, summer heat can create health issues. Mazzaferro stresses that pets should never be left in a car under any circumstances to avoid heat stroke. She also suggests walking or exercising pets during the coolest part of the day, with plenty of shade, and access to water every 20 minutes to avoid heart exertion. If your pet is tired, collapses, or starts making increased breathing sounds, stop the activity, have your pet rest in the shade with cool water, and have them evaluated by a veterinarian.

By taking these precautions, you’ll ensure that both you and your pet enjoy a happy Fourth of July!

This article was written by Jen Reeder for the AAHA Healthy Pet website

Imagine you are a dog or cat: It is a slightly cloudy but warm day, you are covered in fur, your body is not made to perspire well, you especially overheat in high humidity and you tend to be active and excited in the car.

Then a loved one leaves you alone in the car stating, “I’ll be right back!” Minutes pass and the car begins to get hot. You pant harder and harder, but all the air you are taking in is hot. Your body temperature starts to rise. You begin to panic…

Panting cats are overheated.

The main methods of counteracting overheating that the dog and cat body can utilize are panting (but the air being taken in must be cool), drinking cold water, immersion in cool water or being wet down with cool water to allow evaporation, and being in circulating air that is cool. Pets, due to their poor ability to cool themselves, are in danger of overheating if left in a car even for a few minutes. Death or permanent organ dysfunction from overheating can occur in a matter of minutes! Please note that even if you leave the air-conditioner in your car running, computers in many cars today will shut the system off or cause it to blow hot air fairly quickly.

PETS IN THE MOST DANGER ARE THOSE:

• left alone in a car (minutes can mean heatstroke)
• isolated in one area of a car that is not as cool as the “people” area
• trying to keep up with an owner who is jogging or hiking
• who are overweight (40% of American pets are obese)
• who have a short-face such as Boston Terriers, Pugs, Pekingese, etc.
• who are older or very young (less physical ability to cope)
• who have thick coats
• who are excited or ones that just exercised or overexerted
• with any disease

SYMPTOMS or SIGNS:

• frantic panting in a dog and any panting in a cat
• dilated eyes
• weakness, staggering, non-responsive, vomiting &/or diarrhea
• red gums
• body temperature above 103 degrees may mean your pet is overheating

TREATMENT:

If you suspect that your pet is overheated, and he or she is losing consciousness, you must act quickly. Begin to gently cool your pet even without confirming a high body temperature:

• wet the pet down or use a tub of cool (not cold) water
• provide cool drinking water if the pet is able to drink
• stop aggressive cooling of the pet when rectal temperature drops to 103 to 104 degrees F.
• have pet examined by a veterinarian ASAP

HEATSTROKE PREVENTION:

This cat has found a unique way to cool down!

• NEVER leave any pet unattended in a car or isolate them to a warmer area of your car while you are driving
• with any summer activity, remember pets overheat easily and don’t know when to stop or pace themselves
• an inexpensive thermometer in your pet’s first aid box is valuable
• keep fresh cool water available at all times

At Animal Hospital of North Asheville, we see heartbreaking cases of heatstroke that could have been prevented had the pet’s family just realized how easy heatstroke can occur in dogs and cats. Our own Drs. Dave and Betsy Thompson experienced a terrifying heatstroke in their dog, Ding, while she was riding in their van with them on a spring day. Ding had chosen (she was not restrained) to ride towards the back of their 1975 panel van which did not have a rear air conditioner, when she suddenly got up, came forward to them, and collapsed as she lost consciousness. Due to immediate treatment, thank goodness, Ding survived, but the incident brings home just how vulnerable our pets are. Please be very careful with your pet this summer!  Always remember that they have less ability to cool themselves than you do.

It’s no surprise that environmental consultant Ali Baird loves hiking with dogs — she met her husband Nathan in 1995 when he was hiking with his Rottweiler. Since then, she’s been hiking throughout the mountains of California and Colorado with canine companions and loving every minute of it.

“It’s fun for both of us — the dogs love it,” Baird says. “The best hikes are the ones that have a treat at the end for the dogs, like a lake. That way, when you reach the end of the hike, they’ve got a place to play.”

As the weather turns warmer, many nature lovers are getting ready to hit the trails with their dogs. Hiking with a dog is great exercise for both owner and pet, as long as certain precautions are taken, according to Wade Smith, DVM, co-owner of Community Pet Hospital in Firestone, Colo.

“The main thing is, don’t overdo it — which also applies to us,” Smith says. “If you haven’t hiked for a year and you try to do 6 miles, you’re going to get blisters on your feet, and dogs will, too. They’ll come back and slough their pads and have to be in bandages for a week — it can be a mess.”

To get your pooch in shape, Smith suggests starting with shorter hikes or taking walks to a neighborhood park. Walking on a sidewalk has the added benefit of naturally keeping a dog’s nails from getting too long, which can hurt it.

Before heading out on a longer hike, Smith says that it’s “a given” to be sure that your dog’s vaccinations are current, to know the area’s leash laws, and to know where the nearest emergency pet clinic is located (or to have a cell phone that will reach your veterinarian). Owners can spray their dogs with regular mosquito repellant — keeping it away from their eyes — and treat them with an anti-tick treatment.

Hiking early in the morning to avoid the heat of the day is a good idea, especially with dogs that have short faces, like pugs, Boston terriers, and bulldogs, which are more prone to being overheated, Smith explains. It’s important to pay attention to your dog’s condition on trails.

“Most dogs, if they start getting tired and falling behind, slow down,” Smith says. “They’ll tell you if you’re listening.”

Smith, who often hikes with his German shorthair pointer, Sherman and his schnauzer, Oscar, says it is crucial to bring water and a collapsible bowl for dogs as well as snacks (larger dogs can carry their own supplies in a backpack that fits like a saddlebag). A first aid kit with tweezers, bandages, gauze, and a knife can be helpful in case of thorns or prickers — or worse. If a dog encounters a porcupine, for example, you can remove a quill by cutting it and the quill will deflate, making it much easier to dislodge if you cannot wait to return downhill to a veterinarian.

Pictured above is Bob on a hike with Dr. David and Dr. Betsy Thompson. In this area, waterfalls pose a real danger to people and dogs. It is important for both dogs and people to stay away from the tops of waterfalls.

Sun protection is important, and people should consider putting sunscreen on light-skinned dogs or buying dog sunglasses like Doggles. These will protect a dog’s eyes from cornea and retina damage due to ultraviolet light, or from being poked in the eyes by pine needles.

And if you’ve been hiking with your dog for years, but it is developing mild arthritis problems, there’s no reason to quit hiking — just check with your veterinarian to see if a prescription for anti-inflammatory pain medication will help prevent your pooch from being sore afterwards.

The Bottom Line: Taking a few precautions can ensure that your pet stays healthy and enjoys the hiking season.

“It’s just great fun to watch your dog be super-happy on trails. And if you’re hiking alone, it’s a sense of security as well,” Baird says. “I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s good, quality time with your pets!”

By: Jen Reeder of the American Animal Hospital Association

More Information:

www.Gorp.com

www.Moabpets.org

www.Mc2sar.org