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11-08-2005, 07:42 PM | #1 |
I Love Thor Donating Member | For those with an ITCH...I have some info I did a little reseach on itchiness and allergies in dogs. Here is some stuff that I found. I thought it might be helpful since there have been a lot of posts about people's dogs itching (mine included!!). Here is the link to the whole website and then a few points that I thought were good that I pulled. http://www.homevet.com/petcare/allergy.html#itch Allergies and the Itchy Pet Pets that scratch excessively may be allergic to something. Some pets are affected at certain times of the year, while others have problems all year. Pets may be allergic to such things as flea bites, pollens, molds, grasses, trees, wool, tobacco smoke, certain foods, and even other pets. Regardless of the offending agent (allergen), the main signs are scratching and chewing the skin, which may result in extensive skin damage. The damaged skin is then highly susceptible to bacterial infection. What Are Allergies, and How Do They Affect Dogs? One of the most common conditions affecting dogs is allergy. In the allergic state, the dog's immune system "overreacts" to foreign substances (allergens or antigens) to which it is exposed. These overreactions are manifested in three ways. The most common is itching of the skin, either localized (one area) or generalized (all over the dog). Another manifestation involves the respiratory system and may result in coughing, sneezing, and/or wheezing. Sometimes, there may be an associated nasal or ocular (eye) discharge. The third manifestation involves the digestive system, resulting in vomiting or diarrhea. Aren't There Several Types of Allergies? There are five known types of allergies in the dog: contact, flea, food, bacterial, and inhalant. Each of these has some common expressions in dogs, and each has some unique features. How Is Inhalant Allergy Treated? Treatment depends largely on the length of the dog's allergy season and involves five approaches: 1. Treatment with natural holistic therapies are often an effective means of controlling atopy. Omega fatty acids ("fish oils"), gamma linoleic [lin-oh-LEE-ic] acid, vitamins A, E, and Zn in conjunction with natural anti-inflammatories such as quercetin [KWER-set-tin] and bioflavinoids frequently can control symptoms. 2. Anti-inflammatory drugs. Anti-inflammatory therapy will dramatically block the allergic reaction in most cases. Natural antiinflammatories should be tried first in conjunction with a fatty acid supplement. Antihistamines combined with the other therapies are frequently very effective, though they can cause mild temporary sedation. Steroids ("cortisone") can be used as a last resort in combination with appropriate supplements and antihistamines. If steroids are appropriate for your pet, you will be instructed in their proper use. When supplementation, antihistamines and steroids are combined, most allergic dogs are significantly improved. This is a non-specific approach which does not treat the allergy, only the result of the allergic state (itching). 3. Shampoo therapy. Many dogs are helped considerably by frequent bathing with a hypoallergenic shampoo. It has been demonstrated that some allergens may be absorbed through the skin. Frequent bathing is thought to reduce the amount of antigen exposure through this route. In addition to removing surface antigen, bathing alone will provide some temporary relief from itching and may allow the use of a lower dose of steroids. Some of the hypoallergenic shampoos incorporate fatty acids; these may be absorbed through the skin and offer a localized anti-inflammatory action. The role of the fatty acids in allergy treatment is an area of active research interest in veterinary medicine. 4. Antibiotics. Dogs that damage their skin by licking, chewing,and scratching are quite susceptible to bacterial infections in the skin. If this occurs, antibiotics should be given until the infection is controlled. The skin infection itself can be quite irritating and cause a dog to itch even more. 5. Hyposensitization. The fifth major form of allergy treatment is hyposensitization with specific antigen injections (or "allergy shots"). Once testing identifies the specific allergens, very small amounts of the antigen are injected weekly. The purpose of this therapy is to reprogram the body's immune system. It is hoped that as time passes, the immune system will become less reactive to the problem-causing allergens. If hyposensitization appears to help the dog, injections will continue for several years. For most dogs, a realistic goal is for the itching to be significantly reduced in severity; in some dogs, itching may completely resolve. This therapeutic approach is recommended for the middle-aged or older dog that has year round itching caused by inhalant allergy What is Food Allergy? A food allergy is a condition in which the body's immune system reacts adversely to an ingredient in a food such as the protein source, or a preservative. I found this info helpful I also found a place that sells a omega mixture with all the goodness of everything that site suggested to help with inhalent allergies. www.naturalpets.com Good luck to everyone with these itchy problems! HAnnah |
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11-09-2005, 06:31 AM | #2 |
I Love Thor Donating Member | BUMP BUMP~this might be helpful.... |
11-09-2005, 06:42 AM | #3 |
I Love Thor Donating Member | one more thing the website it www.ONLYnaturalpets.com Now I'll let this alone! |
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