edies ?

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :
A. The gold standard treatment for allergies is to prevent any access to the offending substances which cause them! Unfortunately in dogs it is not always easy to diagnose the causative substances or if it is then to avoid them. Common culprits such as pollen and dust mites can be hard to avoid completely but recommendations as per asthmatic children with regards to bedding etc can help significantly. Adverse reactions to food are relatively common in labradors and a hydrolyzed diet can eliminate scratching related to food ingredients and proteins; an 8 week trial on a hydrolyzed diet will investigate how much of an impact food has on her condition. Supplements to improve her natural skin barrier against allergic sensitivities can help and are included in some skin support diets if the hydrolyzed food does not help after 8 weeks. Medicated and or oatmeal shampoo can help in some patients also

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced pet care professionals :

Relief of environmental allergic itch at long last!

In studies, after one injection, CYTOPOINT started controlling itch within 1 day and provided relief that lasts for 4 to 8 weeks. That means your dog may be able to go as long as 8 weeks1 between injections.

Steroids: Injectable or oral steroids such as cortisone or prednisone have many pros and cons in the treatment of allergies in pets. They are inexpensive and work quickly and effectively to reduce itching, and for short term use they are relatively safe.
Sulfate-free shampoos that are organic and hypoallergenic can calm and soothe inflamed and itchy skin. Added natural anti-inflammatories such as aloe vera, tea tree oil, and thyme can assist in stopping the itch and protecting the skin. Topical and organic sprays can address small lesions and hot spots as well.
Should Dogs Take Systemic Steroids Long Term? Systemic steroids should not be used for long term treatment due to the high risk of serious side effects. If oral steroids are required for a longer duration, your dog`s condition should be re-evaluated and different treatment options should be considered.
You may only need a short course of prednisolone for up to a week. But some people need to take it many years or the rest of their life. Ask your GP what to expect for your illness.
Rapid Relief: Steroid shots can provide relief from allergy symptoms in as little as 24 to 48 hours.
Corticosteroids Explained

It won`t hurt the pet if we use a low dose of steroids for a short period (seven to ten days.) However, if we use more potent steroids for longer periods, then suddenly stop administering them, the animal`s body can`t adapt quickly enough and problems arise.

Arthritis in dogs has no known cure, so veterinarians prescribe cortisone shots to help them deal with joint pain and to reduce inflammation. The medication can stay in your pet`s body for as long as 8 to 12 weeks, but the effects may start to decrease long before that.
Though generally low-maintenance, Labs may also suffer from many different skin conditions. This can lead to all manner of troubles: raw, infected skin, hair loss, and coat problems. Of course, it`s mandatory to consult with your vet to understand what, why, and how to address your dog`s skin and coat condition.
Weaning a dog too fast off steroids may cause what`s known as an Addisonian crisis. The symptoms of this though are quite vague, including lethargy, loss of appetite, intermittent vomiting, and diarrhea, shaking, increased drinking and increased urination and episodes of weakness.
Fish oil is one of the best supplements to add to your dog`s diet. Fish oil supports your canine companion`s heart health, promotes a silky coat, reduces itchy and flaky skin, and can help relieve allergies and joint pain. It can even help strengthen their immune system and could help them fight canine cancer.
Life expectancy among people receiving steroids may be decreased due to refractory disease resulting in increased likelihood of using systemic corticosteroids, or risks associated with these medications.
2) In spite of its positive effectiveness, long term use of steroid can cause adverse effects, including osteoporosis, renal impairment, infection, gastrointestinal disorder, depression, hypertension and diabetes.
Serious side effects are believed to be rare when steroids are used for only a few days or up to two or three weeks at the most. But it`s still important to not continue treatment any longer than necessary and to use the lowest dosage that is effective. Long-term or repeated use increases the risk of side effects.
Hydrocortisone injection is used to treat symptoms of low corticosteroid levels (lack of certain substances that are usually produced by the body and are needed for normal body functioning). It is also used to treat severe allergic reactions.
Depending on the location of the injection, and the underlying problem, you should start to feel the effects of the cortisone shot within one week. For many, one injection provides relief from their pain for weeks, sometimes months.
Common corticosteroid drugs used to treat skin issues in dogs include cortisone, hydrocortisone, prednisolone and prednisone. These compounds reduce itching by reducing inflammation. In other words, these drugs treat the symptom of itching, but can do nothing about the underlying cause of the itch.
Hydrocortisone is a steroid (corticosteroid) medicine. It works by calming down your body`s immune response to reduce pain, itching and swelling (inflammation).
As dogs receiving treatment with corticosteroids may become more irritable, and this tendency may also be related to some form of physical discomfort for which the corticosteroids have been prescribed, it is important to avoid unpredictable physical contact.
Depression And Withdrawal

There`s a fair chance prednisone will make your dog depressed. It`s a recognized side effect. Dogs become withdrawn and antisocial.

Librela is a solution for injection to be given subcutaneously (under the skin); the recommended dose depends on the dog`s weight, and is given once a month.
Prednisolone can be used in any sick pet from cancer. Low doses can be used to reduce the inflammation associated with cancer and make sick pets feel clinically better within one to two days.
Labrador Retriever

These dogs are smart, loyal, wonderful family pets. Sadly, however, they are known for frequently triggering human allergies. Their double coat may be relatively short, but it`s dense and sheds profusely. They`re also known for often suffering from dry, flaky skin.

In dogs, rather than sneezing, allergies make their skin itchy. We call this skin allergy “atopy”, and Labradors often have it. The feet, belly, folds of the skin, and ears are most commonly affected. Symptoms typically start between the ages of one and three and can get worse every year.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. My cat is excessively scrstching herself., to the point she has sores. She is strictly an indoor cat. Did have flees been treated for 2 months
ANSWER : A. For every flea you see on your pet, there are 100 more in the environment. Get your pet on a good topical or oral flea control through your vet. In flea control, you get what you pay for. Consider asking your vet for a dose of Capstar. It helps get the problem under control by killing the fleas on the pet starting in five minutes but only lasts for 24 hours.

You need to treat your home environment. If you use a pest control service, tell them you are having a flea problem and they can adjust their treatment. Use a premise spray that also contains an IGR, insect growth regulator. This keeps eggs and larvae from maturing into adults and helps break the life cycle. Also, vacuum EVERY DAY, throwing out the bag or emptying the canister every time into an outside receptacle and spraying the contents with insecticide to kill the fleas you’ve vacuumed up.

Treat your yard too, since fleas are opportunistic and will hop a ride into your home on your pant leg without you knowing it. Concentrate on areas under bushes, in the shade. Fleas are less likely to be located in open sunny areas where it gets hot.

If chemicals are a problem, you can use borax. Sprinkle it into rugs, into corners and under furniture, use a broom to work it into the fibers and let it sit for hours, days even. It won’t hurt you or your pet to have it present. Then vacuum it up, reapply as needed. Food grade diatomaceous earth can be gotten from a health food store and worked into the rugs and corners in the same way as borax. These treatments aren’t as fast and effective as chemical insecticides but they can help.

You might want to consider boarding your pet for the day at your vet, to give you the opportunity to flea bomb your house without having to worry about your pet being exposed. They can bathe your pet and give a dose of Capstar while you treat your home.

Be patient, you may have to repeat these steps multiple times 10-14 days apart to help break the flea life cycle.

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Q. I have a 6 year Chocolate lab with skin allergies. I have to take him monthly to the vet for a steroid shot.Its very expensive. Any home remedies ?
ANSWER : A. The gold standard treatment for allergies is to prevent any access to the offending substances which cause them! Unfortunately in dogs it is not always easy to diagnose the causative substances or if it is then to avoid them. Common culprits such as pollen and dust mites can be hard to avoid completely but recommendations as per asthmatic children with regards to bedding etc can help significantly. Adverse reactions to food are relatively common in labradors and a hydrolyzed diet can eliminate scratching related to food ingredients and proteins; an 8 week trial on a hydrolyzed diet will investigate how much of an impact food has on her condition. Supplements to improve her natural skin barrier against allergic sensitivities can help and are included in some skin support diets if the hydrolyzed food does not help after 8 weeks. Medicated and or oatmeal shampoo can help in some patients also

Q. My dogs skin has become red the vet said its an allergy to fleas yet he has none could it be an allergic reaction to my new carpet.
ANSWER : A. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Q. 8 year old Harrier mix recently started excessive licking in groin. now very red with hair loss. bitter cherry doesn’t prevent. no change in diet.
ANSWER : A. This is probably due to a severe allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites.

First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat her with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get her to the vet to perform a skin scrape – this might revile an infection or a mite infestation.

If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy.

Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the chewing and repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start her on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months.

There is also a nice topical spray available if the problem remains in the groin area, it’s called Cortavance and you can get it at the vets.

Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting her on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Read Full Q/A … : Spaying and Neutering

Q. What can I get over the counter for Dermatitis in a 18 pound long haired Doxie?
ANSWER : A. Dermatitis can be caused by a number of things in dogs ranging from allergies, skin infections caused by bacteria or fungus, skin dryness from changes in the weather or too frequent bathing or even from external parasites. Determining the cause of the dermatitis first is best before treating it.

If allergies are thought to be the cause, allergy medication can be given to help relieve symptoms. Your vet can provide you with the correct dosage for your dog’s size of over the counter medications. In more serious cases, stronger allergy medications may need to be prescribed. For dry or flaky skin, using a shampoo that is for sensitive skin or oatmeal based can help soothe it. Lowering the frequency of baths and instead using a pet wipe or baby wipe to keep your dog clean will also help sooth the skin. For external parasites, starting on a preventive treatment plan of flea and tick medication will help stop fleas from biting and allow the skin to heal.

If you suspect a more serious causes such as bacterial or fungal infection, or your dog does not improve with treatment, making a wellness check with your vet is best. Your vet can thoroughly examine the skin and may also recommend additional tests to check for any underlying causes such as infection, hormonal imbalance or illness.

Q. My Yorkie has scaly crusty patches on his skin. They can be flaked off, but usually return in a day or two. They spread to different areas on his body
ANSWER : A. This is probably due to an allergy, although it could also be fleas or mites.

First of all, in order to rule out skin parasites, you will need to treat her with a high quality flea treatment (e.g. advocate or advantage), then get him to the vet to perform a skin scrape – this might revile an infection or a mite infestation.

If all of those came back negative, the next step is to treat the allergy symptomatically and try discovering the cause of the allergy.

Some medications can be given by the vet in order to stop the chewing and repair the skin lesions (steroids and antibiotics). simultaneously you should start him on a prescription hypoallergenic diet for at least 2 months.

There is also a nice topical spray available if the problem remains on a specific area only, it’s called Cortavance and you can get it at the vets.

Hopefully you will see some results after all this, if not you and your vet should consider putting him on a long term allergy treatment (Atopica or Apoquel).

Q. My 12 year old cat is constantly grooming and scratching to the extent that she is pulling her hair out in spots. She is also losing weight.
ANSWER : A. Weight loss in older cats, especially when coupled with continued or increased appetite can indicate diabetes or hyperthyroidism. I recommend getting your cat in to see your vet as soon as possible for an exam and comprehensive labwork.

Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.

Q. My chocolate lab keeps biting at her legs until the hair has disappeared .I’ve change her diet completely .I now cook her food and she is still bi
ANSWER : A. Skin problems can have a variety of causes, sometimes more than one. It is important to have the problem checked by your vet to determine if there is a medical cause for your pet’s skin issues and treat accordingly.

In pets of all ages, fleas, food allergies and exposure to chemical irritants such as cleaners and soaps can be a cause. Any one of these may not be enough to trigger the breakouts, depending on how sensitive your pet is, but a combination can be enough to start the itch-scratch cycle. Finding out the cause and eliminating it is the best course of action. With flea allergies, if your pet is sensitive enough, a single bite can cause them to break out scratch enough to tear their skin.

Check for fleas with a flea comb. Look for fleas and/or tiny black granules, like coarse black pepper. This is flea feces, consisting of digested, dried blood. You may find tiny white particles, like salt, which are the flea eggs. Applying a good topical monthly flea treatment and aggressively treating your house and yard will help break the flea life cycle.

If you use plastic bowls, this is a possible cause for hair loss, though this tends to be on the chin, where their skin touches the bowl while they eat. If you suspect this to be the culprit, try changing the bowls to glass, metal or ceramic.

Food allergies are often caused by sensitivity to a protein in the food. Hill’s Science Diet offers some non-prescription options for sensitive skin as well as prescription hypoallergenic foods for more severe cases. Royal Canin carries limited protein diets that may also offer some relief. Your vet can recommend a specific diet that will help.

If there is no relief or not enough, consider getting your pet checked by a veterinary dermatologist and having allergy testing done.