Search Results for "allergies"

As the trees start to pollinate, the spring season starts to dawn and so do those pesky allergies. A time to put the winter cold past us and a look to the brighter days are not so bright for those with allergies. Many pets are affected by spring allergies and it is important to be aware if your pet shows signs so you can lighten its discomfort and help provide brighter days.

According to Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor and a board certified dermatologist at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), an allergy is an exaggerated response in which the body’s immune system overreacts to normally harmless environmental substances known as allergens.

Patterson explains that pets can show signs of allergies during only the spring or year-round dependent on what they are allergic to.

“Any cat and horse breed can be affected by allergies,” notes Patterson. “Any dog breed can also be affected, but there are certain breeds that are more susceptible to allergies, including: terriers, retrievers, Dalmatians, Shar Peis, and bulldogs.”

When people encounter allergic reactions, they tend to sneeze and wheeze. Whereas, animals tend to itch and scratch their way to a hopeful recovery, but this can actually promote more severe skin problems.

“An itch may be manifested as licking, chewing, biting, rubbing, scratching, head shaking, and/or scooting,” explains Patterson. “Common itchy body areas include the face, ears, paws, armpits, groin, rump, and anal region. Horses may present with an itchy skin disease and/or hives. Every pet has its own itch tolerance which means the intensity and reason(s) for your pet’s itch may not be the same as another animal. Regardless of the animal, allergic patients are prone to secondary infections that can cause skin discoloration, hair loss, pimples, or scabs.”

If your pet does show any of these allergic signs, it is in everyone’s best interest to contact your veterinarian. Your veterinarian can develop a customized treatment plan for your pet so the itch can be alleviated. However, Patterson comments that allergies can be managed, not necessarily cured.

“Treatments are tailored to the individual based on the extent, severity, and seasonality of signs,” says Patterson. “The ‘absolutes’ of therapy include: routine bathing to remove pollen accumulation, infection control (topical and/or systemic), and flea prevention. Other treatments can be prescribed based on what the patient is sensitive to, and the response to the ‘absolutes.’ It is important to recognize that allergies can be managed, but often are not cured.”

Sometimes steroids are used to alleviate an itch. However, Patterson warns that long-term use of steroids can cause detrimental health problems. “For this reason, it is recommended that the underlying trigger of allergic signs be sought and managed with other less harmful treatments for those animals with chronic problems,” explains Patterson.

The most common allergens that affect pets are fleas, food, pollen, molds, mites, insects, and dander. As there are a lot of factors to consider when diagnosing what your pets are allergic to, your veterinarian can perform tests and personal evaluations based on many factors to help determine the culprits.

“Elimination diet trials are used to exclude food allergies,” notes Patterson. “Skin or blood ‘allergy’ testing is used to select candidate pollens for immunotherapy (oral allergy drops or allergy injections) in animals with an environmental allergy. It is important to recognize that these tests DO NOT DIAGNOSE an environmental allergy as ‘normal’ animals can have ‘positive’ test results. The diagnosis is based on the history, clinical signs, and the process of exclusion.”

Spring allergies are more common in pets than most people believe. Ten percent of the canine population is affected by allergies. It is important to be aware of the allergic signs and notify a veterinarian when the symptoms persist. If you have any questions pertaining to allergies or skin ailments you can call the dermatology department at the CVM Small Animal Clinical Sciences at 979-845-2351 or visit their webpage to review frequently asked questions and answers.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

Many of us look forward to the warm spring weather after enduring the harsh winter months. The spring season brings peaceful fields of blooming flowers and a warm, inviting sun. Unfortunately, spring is also a time when many people suffer from allergies that can make daily life almost intolerable. Just like people, pets can suffer from pesky allergies too. It is important to know the signs of allergies in animals so you can alleviate any irritating sensations your pet may be experiencing.

Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor and chief of dermatology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), defines an allergic reaction as the body overreacting to substances (like pollen) in the environment that are normally harmless. This hypersensitivity to the environment can exist seasonally or year-round in both people and animals.

While humans suffer through allergy season coughing and sneezing into a handful of tissues, pets deal with allergies differently. An animal’s common reaction to an allergy is observed as itch in specific body areas, which can result in skin irritations and infections.

“An itch may be manifested as licking, chewing, biting, rubbing, scratching, head shaking, and/or scooting,” Patterson said. “Common itchy body areas include the face, ears, paws, armpits, groin, rump, and anal region. Horses may present with an itchy skin disease and/or hives.”

Patterson further explains that every animal has a different reaction to allergies, just like people do.

“Every pet has its own itch tolerance, which means the intensity and reason(s) for your pet’s itch may not be the same as another animal,” he said. “Regardless of the animal, allergic patients are prone to bacterial and yeast infections that can cause skin discoloration, hair loss, pimples, scabs, and/or ear disease.”

According to Patterson, cats and horses can be affected by allergic skin disease. He says that any dog breed can be affected as well, but certain breeds—including terriers, retrievers, Dalmatians, Shar Peis, and bulldogs—are more susceptible.

If your pet shows any sign of an allergy, it is best to contact your veterinarian so they can properly diagnose the cause of itch, which may include allergy.. Your veterinarian can also perform tests to determine the most effective treatment plan to alleviate your pet’s discomfort. Allergens that most commonly irritate pets include fleas, food, pollen, molds, mites, insects, and dander.

“Treatments are tailored to the individual based on the extent, severity, and seasonality of signs,” Patterson said. “The ‘absolutes’ of therapy include routine bathing to remove pollen accumulation, infection control (topical and/or systemic anti-infectives), and flea prevention.”

Patterson also emphasizes to pet owners that allergies can be managed, but rarely cured. For pets that suffer from chronic allergies, treatments may include changes in diet, symptomatic medical therapy, and or allergy vaccines specific to the animal’s environmental sensitivity. Patterson reminds pet owners that indiscriminate use of long-term steroids can cause serious health issues.

However, if a pet’s allergies are left untreated, there can be other harmful effects. Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the CVM, explains how your pet may suffer detrimental health problems without treatment.

“Allergies if left untreated/unmanaged can cause continued discomfort in your pet,” Diesel said. “Self-trauma to the skin can create wounds that can become secondarily infected. We occasionally see pets that have spent so much time itching and scratching that they are not sleeping well and may even lose weight…In more severe cases, a visit to a veterinary dermatologist may be quite helpful.”

Although many people suffer from allergies, many of us do not recognize that allergies are just as common in animals. If you think your pet may be afflicted with allergic skin disease, your veterinarian can begin the process of helping your pet enjoy both the indoors and outdoors again.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

With the emergence of springtime, comes the arrival of allergies. Although the landscape is lush, many people experience the beauty that comes with the warmer weather as well as the bothersome allergy symptoms. Pets can also be affected by allergies and it is important to be mindful of any symptoms that your pet might be displaying.

“People sneeze and wheeze with allergies, while dogs tend to itch and scratch,” says Dr. Adam Patterson, clinical assistant professor and a board certified dermatologist at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. “The hallmark sign of allergic skin disease is itch that can be manifested as licking, chewing, rubbing, biting, scooting, head shaking, and/or scratching. Typically, the face, ears, paws, armpits, groin, and rump are the most affected sites.”

Patterson explains that animals with allergic skin disease are highly prone to recurring skin and/or ear infections involving bacteria and yeast. Infections can cause increased itch, redness, pimples, blackheads, scabs, dander, hair loss, skin thickening, and odor. Horses many times will break out in hives.

“Animals tend to be allergic to many of the same things people are hypersensitive to such as pollen, mold, dust, house dust mite, and foodstuffs,” Patterson explains. “An exception would be fleas – the most common thing dogs and cats are allergic to. Despite this, many people are in ‘fleanial’ and refuse to believe just a few flea bites can be triggering the itch response in their pet.” Likewise, horse owners may not be aware how just a few insect bites could be responsible for or contributing to itchy skin disease.

Allergic skin disease can be mistaken for many other forms of skin disease. A veterinary dermatologist is trained to work with primary care veterinarians to get down to the bottom of how to best diagnose and manage skin and ear disease, including allergies, in animals. See www.acvd.org for more information.

It is important to understand that allergies can be managed, but not cured, just as with humans. The goal is to reduce the extent and severity of signs, not completely eliminate them.

“Management regimens might include increased frequency of bathing (washing pollens of the skin surface), antimicrobials or antibiotics, flea prevention, fatty acids, antihistamines, change in diet, steroids, and immunotherapy, also known as desensitization or hyposensitization. The use of the latter can be determined through a good step-wise diagnostic approach along with allergy skin testing and administered by way of allergy shots or oral allergy drops,” says Patterson.

When it is time to take your pet in for allergy skin testing?

“Typically, dogs should have allergy symptoms for at least 5-6 months out of the year before considering skin testing for environmental allergies, which include reactivity to pollen, molds, house dust mite, and house dust, in order for the diagnostic tests and treatment to be cost effective over the long haul,” Patterson recommends.

Patterson explains that rainfall cuts down on airborne pollen and may provide itch relief to pets, but at the same time rain may cause plants to produce more pollen over the next few weeks. Indeed, rain fall might worsen flea and mold allergies because moisture and humidity are favorable to fleas and mold. Of course, rain has no effect on food-related allergic skin diseases.

“Given the mild winter and lack of national weather fronts during the 2011-2012 seasons, pollen is likely to be at an all-time high this year. Consequently, there likely will be many itchy pets this year,” says Patterson.

Allergies are certainly not an uncommon thing to see in pets. It is important to be aware of the symptoms and to notify a veterinarian when they persist. For more information please visit https://vethospital.tamu.edu/large-animal/dermatology/allergies/

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the Web at vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.

*Photo- The cat was scratching because of allergies

Some of the most common reasons owners take their dogs to the vet have little or nothing to do with breed.

Many people assume that purebred dogs are more prone to disease than mixed-breed dogs, but a new study by the Dog Aging Project and led by researchers at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) and their Dog Aging Project collaborators across the country has busted this myth.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers In Veterinary Science, found that while certain dog breeds are prone to specific diseases, purebred and mixed-breed dogs are mostly equal when it comes to overall frequency of health condition diagnoses.

“There are several well-known diseases that frequently occur in specific dog breeds,” explained Dr. Kate Creevy, chief veterinary officer of the Dog Aging Project and a professor in the VMBS’ Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences. “This has helped perpetuate the misconception that all purebred dogs are more prone to disease, but that is not the case.”

The study — which surveyed the owners of more than 27,000 companion dogs — also found that some of the most common diagnoses, like ear infections or osteoarthritis, occur in both purebreds and mixed-breed dogs.

Breaking Down The Data

According to the study, 25 breeds make up about 60% of the purebred dog population within the Dog Aging Project. In order of popularity, those breeds are:

Within these 25 breeds, a total of 53 unique medical conditions make up the top owner-reported medical conditions.

“The medical conditions reported by owners of purebred dogs varied considerably,” Creevy said. “However, some conditions appeared frequently in the top 10 reported health conditions by breed.”

Across the 25 most popular breeds, those 10 conditions were:

• Dental calculus (hardened plaque)
• Dog bites
• Extracted teeth
• Giardia (a parasite)
• Osteoarthritis
• Seasonal allergies
• Ear infection
• Heart murmur
• Fractured teeth
• Cataracts

For mixed-breed dogs, the most common reported conditions were highly similar, with cataracts and heart murmur being replaced by torn/broken toenail and chocolate toxicity.

Some conditions, like dental calculus and osteoarthritis, appeared with roughly the same frequency in both purebred and mixed-breed dogs. Other conditions were more common in one than the other; extracted teeth and dog bites were more common in purebreds, versus ear infections in mixed-breed dogs.

“Out of the 53 medical conditions that owners reported, 26 did not differ significantly between mixed-breed and purebred dogs,” Creevy said.

Implications For Dog Owners

Ultimately, one of the most important findings from the study is that dog breed is only one aspect of pet health to consider when creating a pet’s care plan or researching what kind of dog to adopt.

“People should consider many factors when choosing a dog, including environment, lifestyle, social interactions and physical activity that will be available to the dog,” Creevy said. “Planning for both preventive veterinary care and medical care as the dog ages is also prudent. Dog owners should also talk with their primary care veterinarians about the kinds of medical problems to which their new dog might be particularly prone based on breed, size, sex, etc.”

As the study also showed, some of the most common reasons owners take their dogs to the vet have little or nothing to do with breed.

“Dental disease, allergies and osteoarthritis are among the most common conditions for all dogs,” Creevy said. “Owners should work with their primary care veterinarians on a plan to manage dental health. Regular exercise and maintaining lean body weight may help delay, prevent or lessen the impact of osteoarthritis.”

Expanding Dog Health Understanding

Though the study is already one of the largest cross-sectional studies of canine health, researchers at the Dog Aging Project are far from done examining its findings.

“We were surprised by the number of owners who reported that their dogs had experienced a bite from another dog,” Creevy said. “More investigation is needed to determine what this means and what particular factors might put an individual dog at risk.”

The DAP is a collaborative, community scientist-driven data-gathering research project that enrolls companion dogs from all backgrounds to study the effects of aging and gain a better understanding of what contributes to a long and healthy life for a dog.

The DAP continues to accept dogs of all breeds into the project. To date, more than 50,000 dogs have been enrolled.

Many of their research projects have led to translational studies that inform not only dog health, but also human health. To enroll your dog, or learn more, visit dogagingproject.org.

Allergies are among the most chronic conditions worldwide, according to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology. Though many of us love companion animals, some pets, especially cats and dogs, can cause allergic reactions in people.

Dr. Mark Stickney, clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, explained why some people are allergic to cats and dogs.

“People are typically allergic to the dander and saliva of dogs and cats,” Stickney said. “Cats groom themselves more than dogs, so more people are allergic to cats and have more severe symptoms than those allergic to dogs.”

Though hypoallergenic pets have become more popular, Stickney said recent evidence has shown that there is no such thing as a hypoallergenic dog or cat. However, there are several breeds of dogs and cats that are purported to cause less severe allergic reactions.

“A few examples of dogs that may cause less allergic reactions include labradoodles, bichon fries, poodles, and Portuguese water dogs,” Stickney said. “Some examples of cats include Devon rex, Siamese, and Sphynx.”

If being around cats and dogs is a must, Stickney said there are some ways to alleviate pet allergies. Some options include bathing your pet weekly, getting a HEPA filter for your home, designating a “pet-free” room or area of your house, washing pet beds frequently, dusting and vacuuming your house regularly, and washing your hands after handling a pet. Seeing a physician about allergy treatment options also may help.

Additionally, Stickney said some allergic people can consider pets that are not known to cause allergies, such as lizards, ferrets, rats, and birds. However, Stickney reminds pet owners to do their research before getting a new pet.

“None of these animals should be ‘impulse buys’,” he said. “They all have unique husbandry and health care requirements.”

While allergies may affect our choice in pets, everyone can find a pet fit for them, even allergy sufferers.

Pet Talk is a service of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu .

Spring is coming, and it’s bringing allergy season with it. While you may suffer from all of the excess pollen in the air, your pets may also be affected by seasonal allergies, or they could be allergic to a more permanent feature of their environment.

There are several causes of allergic skin disease in pets, including biting insects, diet, and environmental factors. If the allergies tend to get worse during certain times of the year, external parasites, biting insects, or environmental factors tend to be the more likely culprits.

Dr. Alison Diesel, a clinical associate professor in dermatology at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, has advice for pet owners who may be noticing some extra itching from their dog or cat.

“The most common cause of allergic skin disease worldwide is fleas,” Diesel said. “The saliva that is injected when a flea bites can cause an allergic reaction in sensitive dogs and cats.”

Diesel said it is common for pets to be allergic to environmental factors such as mold, dust (as well as the associated dust mites), or pollens from weeds, grasses, and trees.

“A common misconception is that dogs and cats can have allergies to things like cleaners or laundry detergents,” she added. “This is something that is essentially never seen.”

While itching is the main indicator of allergic skin disease, Diesel said to watch for more than just scratching, because biting, licking, rubbing, rolling, head shaking, and scooting can also indicate that a pet is feeling itchy. Cats also may show excessive grooming behaviors, which can result in bald patches and hairballs.

“It is important to remember that other things, such as infections and parasites, can also cause the same symptoms,” Diesel said. “These first need to be investigated before jumping on the allergy train. Contact your pet’s veterinarian to help determine what may be causing the itch observed.”

A veterinarian can also help determine if the amount of itching is normal or excessive. Diesel said the Texas A&M Small Animal Hospital uses a scale of one to 10 to help rate a pet’s itching level.

“If the animal’s scratching is disrupting their normal behavior, their sleeping habits, or their owner’s sleeping habits, this is considered to be too much itching,” she said.

More extreme signs of itching—such as hair loss, red skin, scratch marks, and rashes—also indicate that the pet is itching more than a normal amount.

Once the cause of the allergy is determined, treatment can begin. Diesel said that flea prevention is the first step for any pet with allergic skin disease.

“Even when fleas are not seen, this is very important,” she said. “Even a small amount of flea saliva that is injected into a sensitive patient can cause a massive allergic response.”

She said other treatments include medications, special shampoos, topical products, dietary changes, and allergy immunotherapy, which involves giving the pet allergy injections or oral drops. The severity of the itch, duration of the itching, and other health conditions will determine which treatment is the best choice.

Diesel also said that some human antihistamine medications can be given to pets, but a veterinarian should always be consulted first. Pet dosages are very different from human dosages, and some decongestant medications may be toxic.

Some veterinarians, like Diesel, specialize in allergic skin disease. If your primary veterinarian cannot stop the itching, a veterinary dermatologist may be able to do further testing and prescribe different treatment options.

Pets deserve to spend each day as comfortable as possible, free from itching and pain. Now that spring is almost here, make sure you watch out for any of the symptoms of allergic skin disease in your dog or cat.

Pet Talk is a service of the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. Stories can be viewed on the web at vetmed.tamu.edu/pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to editor@cvm.tamu.edu.