Search Results for "allergies"

For many people and pets, spring (aka “allergy season”) is a time of excessive sneezing, itching, and scratching. For some pets, however, their allergy season is never ending, lasting into summer, fall, and winter.

Veterinary dermatologist Dr. Adam Patterson, a clinical associate professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, discusses allergic skin disease and how to best relieve the itch for affected pets, which can include dogs, cats, horses, and other species.

“Environmental allergy, aka atopic dermatitis, is a skin condition in which the immune system overly reacts to the pollens of grasses, trees, and weeds, as well as to indoor substances like house dust mites, mold, and dander,” he said. “Clinical signs may be seasonal or year-round in presentation.”

Of these allergens, the most common to affect pets in central Texas are dust mites and grasses, as well as cedar and oak pollen. Many pets are also allergic to flea bites, which can perpetuate the effects of atopic dermatitis.

Unlike people who experience lots of sneezing and runny eyes with allergies, pets’ main sign of atopic dermatitis is itching. In addition to scratching, pets may try to relieve an itch by rubbing, licking, chewing, biting, head shaking, or scooting.

“Common itchy body areas include the face, ears, paws, armpits, groin, rump, and anal region,” Patterson said. “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.”

Recurring bacterial and/or yeast skin infections—which appear as red and/or black skin, red bumps, pimples, scabs, dander, hair loss, or thickening skin—often accompany allergic skin disease. Similarly, owners may also notice recurring ear infections that cause itchy red and swollen ears that may leak pus.

If a pet is showing any of these signs, a veterinarian can help determine the various causes.

If atopic dermatitis is determined to be the cause, in addition to itch relief medications, initial treatments may include baths, flea prevention, and anti-infection medication, as well as a possible change in diet.

“Given the safety and effect of many allergy medications today, dogs in central Texas should have allergy signs for at least five to six months out of the year before considering skin testing for environmental allergies in order for the diagnostic tests and treatment to be cost effective over the long haul,” Patterson said.

If the condition is left untreated, it can have mild to serious consequences.

“It can cause unrelenting itch, odor, remodeling of the ear canal (an increase in skin thickness and collapse of the ear canal), and multi-antibiotic resistant bacterial skin infections,” Patterson said. “Ear canal removal, an expensive surgery, may be required.”

To avoid excessive, costly treatments and extra discomfort for your pet, make sure to talk to your veterinarian if your pet is showing signs of an environmental allergy to determine a plan, which could even include referral to a veterinary dermatologist. Getting rid of that annoying itch will help make spring, and possibly the entire year, more enjoyable for everyone.

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.

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.

Everyone knows the annoying feeling of having something in your eye. This irritating feeling can be caused by a common eye problem known as conjunctivitis—which is sometimes referred to as “pink eye”. Pet owners should be aware that conjunctivitis is also common among cats and dogs and there are simple ways to identify this condition so appropriate treatment can be obtained.

According to Dr. Lucien Vallone, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, some of the most common signs of conjunctivitis in pets include mild redness in the white of the eye, swelling in the eyelids, eye discharge or tearing and squinting. Some pets may even scratch their face in an attempt to relieve the eye irritation.

“The conjunctiva is a mucous membrane that lines the surface of the eye and eyelids and covers the white of your eye,” Vallone explained. “This mucous membrane provides a barrier to infections and also creates a portion of your tears. When this tissue becomes inflamed, it is known as conjunctivitis. Common causes of conjunctivitis in cats and dogs include allergies and certain bacteria and viruses.”

Specifically, cats may develop conjunctivitis after contracting the feline herpesvirus—a virus that is known to cause upper respiratory infections in cats, similar to the common cold. Vallone said this virus is extremely prevalent in cats and can flare up any time a cat is stressed, such as when new cats are added to a household. In comparison, dogs often develop conjunctivitis as they mature through adolescence. Veterinarians most often attribute this type of conjunctivitis to viruses or allergies.

Routine puppy and kitten vaccinations can drastically reduce the risk of viral conjunctivitis in cats and dogs, Vallone said. To further decrease your dog or cat’s risk, limit their exposure to other animals that are displaying signs of eye disease and may have infectious conjunctivitis. If you see a pet that has red and inflamed eyes, or any other symptoms that may appear to be a sign of conjunctivitis, try to prevent your pet from coming into contact with them.

“If your pet develops conjunctivitis, there are specific treatments that can be tailored to your pet depending on the underlying cause of the conjunctivitis,” Vallone said. “For example, conjunctivitis associated with feline herpesvirus can be treated with certain antiviral medications paired with methods to reduce stress. This can drastically improve discomfort associated with this specific form of conjunctivitis.”

Just like humans, pets can develop eye irritations and diseases that may cause discomfort. If you notice any signs of conjunctivitis in your pet, or any sign of eye discomfort, see your veterinarian to develop a treatment plan for your pet.

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 .

As a second-year veterinary school student, I think I can speak for everyone when I say that veterinary school has a funny way of warping your priorities in life.

With the high volume of information and stress that students are typically under, it’s very easy to let things like sleep, self-care, and maintaining relationships fall to the wayside in favor of reviewing just one more lecture or finishing just one more assignment until you look up to find that it’s midnight.

This was the unfortunate cycle I found myself in just two weeks ago as I tried to catch up on school after missing a week because of the flu. I likely would’ve continued this way until at least Spring Break.

However, life had other plans.

Friday, Feb. 21, found me not carefully following my meticulous study schedule like I had planned for the weekend but holding the hand of my best friend in the emergency room.

She had been experiencing shortness of breath for a couple of weeks but, as we all do, decided to attempt to manage her symptoms the best she could until we had a break in exams. If she was still experiencing issues at that point, she would go to the doctor to see about getting treatment, since it was more likely something like bronchitis rather than allergies.

Neither of us could have ever been prepared when the doctor informed us they had found a mass roughly the size of an orange sitting in the center of her chest and the cause for the shortness of breath she was experiencing was likely cancer.

In that single instance, my priorities completely rearranged.

No longer was I worried about the upcoming assignment that was due or catching up. My No. 1 priority became doing anything and everything I could to support my best friend.

The next 48 hours were a blur of family, meetings with doctors, discussing hospital possibilities, and developing a plan of action. As we progressed through the week, faculty members and our classmates were informed of the events of the weekend.

I am still in awe of the response. I watched as my classmates completely reorganized their lives, and the hours that were normally spent secluding ourselves in a study bubble were readily forgotten in favor of organizing events to support my best friend, which became top priority.

The way our CVM family has come together to support one of our own has been an amazing reminder that we are all here for the same dream, but we can’t accomplish that dream alone. Dreams and goals are so important, but they are nothing compared to the people beside us.

May you all remember to look up from the books once awhile and take in the life around you…because life comes at you fast.

One of the worst things about this time of year is the increase of fleas on pets, outside, and, possibly, in homes. Flea prevention is crucial since adult fleas cause the most problems for pets. In order to become adult fleas, the blood-sucking creatures need warm weather, between 70 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit, and about 70 to 80 percent humidity, said Dr. Alison Diesel, lecturer in dermatology at Texas A&M University College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM).

“Those ideal conditions are exactly what we are experiencing during this time of the year, which is why we generally see more fleas coming out in the spring,” Diesel said.

She added that fleas can be present year-round in Texas because there is not usually a “true winter.”

Fleas can cause various problems for pets.  Some animals, for example, are allergic to an allergen in the flea saliva causing the animal to have an allergic reaction.  This causes the animal to scratch, which could lead to a secondary bacterial skin infection.  If there is a large flea problem, anemia could be a potential problem, especially among small animals that do not have large amounts of blood.  Fleas can also carry diseases such as tapeworms or Bartonella, and infect both pets and humans.

Amanda Friedeck, a veterinary technician at the CVM, said there is no way to completely prevent fleas, but a key factor to controlling fleas is breaking the life cycle.

“The best way to control fleas is to break the cycle.  More fleas lay more eggs.  … The best treatment either kills the adults or kills one of the juvenile stages,” Friedeck said.

Diesel said the flea life cycle has four phases: the adult fleas lay eggs, the eggs hatch into larvae, the larvae turns into pupae, which, eventually, turn into adults.

“Ideally, targeting several phases of the flea lifecycle is best, particularly when dealing with an infestation.  The easiest stage to target is the adult flea since these lives on the pet.  The other stages (eggs, larvae, pupae) are present in the environment,” Diesel said.

Both Diesel and Friedeck said the best way to determine treatment of an animal’s flea problem is to take them to a veterinarian to discuss the best options and medications.

“Your pet’s veterinarian can help recommend the most appropriate product to help prevent fleas based on other factors (e.g. other skin conditions, food allergies, etc.) as well as discuss the appropriate way to administer the product (e.g. orally or topically),” Diesel said.

Diesel suggested using a flea prevention that lasts the entire month and is still effective if the pet gets wet.

“Using flea prevention every 30 days, or more frequently in some situations, can provide the best protection from fleas biting your pet, can kill adult fleas rapidly, and can prevent a flea infestation from being established in your pet’s environment,” Diesel said

Diesel and Friedeck agreed that it is important to minimize an animal’s exposure to fleas by avoiding infested areas and pets coming in contact with animals that have fleas such as wild animals.

“There are some things which can be done to minimize exposure to fleas: avoid known infested areas, do not allow your pet to come into contact with wild animals or burrows, and protect areas of the house where wild animals may enter to minimize wild animals from establishing residency in the first place,” Diesel said.

If fleas become a problem inside the house, Diesel and Friedeck suggested vacuuming once a week.

“Vacuuming is a very good way to rid of fleas in the house, but the bag must be thrown away and removed from the house,” Friedeck said.

She added that if there is a large flea presence, there are in-house treatments and exterminators.

“There are some in-house treatments and bombs, but they should only be used in heavily burdened environments,” Friedeck said.

Diesel suggested focusing on places where the pets spends most of their time inside the house when bombing because that will contain the most concentrated area of fleas.

“Don’t forget under beds and furniture, behind curtains, and along hallways connecting rooms when treating the house for fleas.  Again, it may be best to contact a professional exterminator when there is a large flea burden present,” she said.

In addition to treating animals and inside of homes, it may be necessary to treat the outside environment.  This can be done by spraying areas of the yard that are high in flea population.

“This includes shaded areas, under trees and bushes, in dog houses, under porches and decks.  As with indoor control, when the burden is high, a professional exterminator may be the most help,” Diesel said.

Diesel said the best strategy against fleas is to practice year-round prevention by treating all pets with flea medicine as well as treating inside and outside the home if an infestation is suspected.

“It is much easier to prevent fleas than to treat fleas,” she said.

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 /pet-talk. Suggestions for future topics may be directed to cvmtoday@cvm.tamu.edu.

Having a stressed or sick pet is concerning, especially if diarrhea, gas, and digestive issues are present. A probiotic could ease those digestive issues, but there are some considerations that an owner should be aware of before choosing one.

Dr. Emily Gould, a clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences’ Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, explores reasons for using probiotics and what makes a probiotic more effective.

Probiotics are supplemental, live bacteria found in certain foods or pills that generally improve gut health when there is too much harmful bacteria present. This irregularity of bacterial imbalances can be caused either by an intestinal disease or following the use of antibiotics.

For example, when a pet visits the veterinary clinic because of an illness, a veterinarian may prescribe antibiotics to treat an infection. In addition to eliminating the bacteria making your furry friend sick, the antibiotics can also decrease beneficial bacteria, causing an imbalance in the digestive tract. Your pet may experience diarrhea as a result.

“The purpose of administering a probiotic would be to replenish ‘good bacteria’ in the pet’s gut in order to restore a healthier intestinal gut ecosystem, correcting the imbalance,” Gould said.

Because there are limited studies on probiotics in veterinary medicine, it can be difficult to decide which supplements are beneficial. The range of probiotics available offer different varieties, types, and amounts of good bacteria; while researching the best probiotic can take time, it will also benefit your pet in the long run.

“There are a few products that either have studies to show it benefits our veterinary patients, or veterinarians have enough experience with them to know they provide benefits,” Gould said. “For example, we think of probiotics with more different types of bacteria as being more balanced and in general ‘better’ probiotics to give. Increased diversity of good bacteria is associated with a better product.”

Probiotics should not cause any side effects as long as they are purchased from a reliable company that is known to be safe for pets, explained Gould.

For those whose pets are going through an elimination diet trial, a strict diet that slowly reintroduces foods to determine a pet’s allergies, Gould recommends looking at a probiotic’s label to make sure there is no flavoring. Probiotics from a reputable company will be of good quality and not have flavoring contamination.

“Many probiotic products will have animal protein flavoring or just not have good quality control during product manufacturing which can result in contamination,” Gould said. “This can definitely confound the effects of your food trial.”

Gould pointed out, however, that probiotics are supplements and will not treat other health issues. If there is chronic or severe vomiting, diarrhea, or changes in appetite, pet owners should take pets to their veterinarian to discuss the best solution.

“Although cats and dogs with chronic intestinal disorders might have symptoms that benefit from the probiotic, owners should know that probiotics are usually not a sole treatment,” Gould said. “Other diagnostics and therapeutics are usually necessary to find the root of the problem and treat it.”

Nevertheless, Gould says probiotics are great for pets with tummy troubles.

In the event your furry friend is having a tough time with their gut, talk to your veterinarian about different types of probiotics as a possible solution so that your pet can get back to feeling like themselves sooner. They might even thank you with a wagging tail!

Many dog owners have witnessed their pet excessively scratching their ears or rubbing their head on a hard surface. Some owners may even notice redness, swelling, or odor in their dog’s ear canal. Although we may do everything we can to keep our dogs clean, these common signs could be a result of a canine ear infection.

According to Dr. Alison Diesel, clinical assistant professor at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, canine ear infections are common and can be caused by multiple factors. “There are several contributing factors associated with the development of ear infections in dogs,” she said. “Some factors, such as excess hair in the ear canals, excess wax production, and increased moisture, can contribute to the development of ear infections; however, they do not solely cause the infection. There is generally an underlying cause, such as parasites, allergies, or foreign bodies. Other causes include hormone imbalances, benign or cancerous growths in the ear canal, or physical trauma.”

If you think your dog may have an ear infection, it is important to consult your veterinarian. Treatment for canine ear infections depends on the underlying cause of the infection as well as the specific type of infection involved. Ear cleaners or topical medications, such as ear drops or lotion, are common in soothing canine ear infections. Sometimes, additional medications may be necessary to decrease swelling in the ear canals or treat infections that have migrated into the deeper structures of the ear, such as the middle or even inner ear.

Although it may seem as simple as thoroughly cleaning your dog’s ears to relieve them of irritation, Diesel recommended avoiding home remedies for an ear infection. “Some medications can be harmful or painful when used in certain infections,” she explained. “For example, the use of a medication containing antibiotics may contribute to the development of bacterial resistance if used improperly. It is best to consult your pet’s veterinarian prior to treating the ear infection at home. If you have a cleaner your veterinarian has prescribed for ear infections in the past, this may be tried initially; however, a follow up examination should be pursued if clinical signs persist.”

You may bathe Fido regularly, but this does not protect him from developing an ear infection. To effectively prevent canine ear irritation, be sure to check your dog’s ears weekly for debris and wax build up. If your dog swims a lot or has a history of ear infections, you should talk with your dog’s veterinarian about using an ear cleaner periodically as maintenance.

“In some cases, long-term maintenance ear care, such as periodic ear cleaning, may be helpful to help prevent infections,” Diesel said. “To address this most effectively, it is important to have a conversation with your pet’s veterinarian to help develop a long-term plan. Discussing particular activities your pet likes and or concerns you have will help your veterinarian formulate a righteous preventative care plan. For example, if you frequently plan on taking your dog swimming, your veterinarian may recommend an ear cleaner that has some drying properties for use after swimming. A veterinary dermatologist can also be an additional helpful resource for long-term ear care in your dog.”

To prevent your dog from developing an ear infection, remember to clean their ears regularly. Ear infections are one of the most common health problems in dogs, but it is not a condition that should be treated at home without the guidance of a veterinarian. Be sure to seek professional help in treating your dog’s ear infection.

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 .