Friends of the Riney Canine Health Center,
Thank you for joining our pack! I’m Brian Collins, an extension associate for the Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center, and I’m pleased to share this month’s “From the Vet’s Desk” monthly health tip with our members.
Some of you may look out your window as you read this and see snow. On February 2nd Punxsutawney Phil promised us that spring is just around the corner. Meteorologists consider March 1st the first day of spring because March, April, and May are the three months that precede the three warmest months of the year. However, most of us think of spring beginning on March 19th when 12-hours of sunlight will bathe almost the entire planet.
We usually see the last of snow in April here in the Northeast and soon flowers and other native species will start blooming. For those readers who are affected by allergies (also known as hay fever), it’s a mixed blessing. Along with the beautiful flowers that we associate with spring, are the real culprits behind spring allergies: tree and grass pollen and mold. To be fair, allergies can affect us all year, depending on what is present in the environment. There are different pollens present at different seasons and there are some allergens that are present all year – including indoors. Grass pollen can continue throughout the summer and then ragweed blooms in the fall. Allergies can also be triggered by spores from indoor and outdoor mold and fungi. Other allergens that can be present year-round include dust mites, pet dander, and even cockroach droppings!
Do you know that dogs also suffer from allergies (also known as atopic dermatitis)? People with allergies typically feel symptoms that seem similar to a cold and include itchy eyes, congestion, sneezing, and sinus pressure. However, while a dog may have red eyes and sneezing, dog owners mostly observe varying degrees of scratching, biting, and chewing themselves which often means the dogs are feeling itchy. This can also be very distracting to the people around them!
If your dog has been treated for seasonal allergies in the past, it’s best to start treatment soon at the onset of the signs of itchiness. It’s easier to get the itchiness under control if therapy is started early, plus allergies can lead to bacterial and yeast infections in the skin and even hot spots. If you are noticing any of these symptoms in your dog for the first time, it’s a good idea to set up an appointment with your vet so that a thorough exam can be performed. Part of the assessment is determining if the itching is due to environmental allergens or another cause such as fleas or a food allergy.
Your veterinarian will ask you a series of questions such as how long the itching has been going on, where the dog is chewing, licking, and/or scratching himself, and how itchy he is on a scale from 0 to 10. Your vet will look for signs of fleas, sarcoptic mange, rashes, and skin infections. If a flea preventive is not being used, one will probably be recommended. There’s not a specific test to make a diagnosis of environmental allergies, so a presumptive diagnosis is typically made based on the history, symptoms, physical exam findings, and response to treatment.
Fortunately, there are numerous treatment options for dogs to relieve the itching of allergies. For mild itching your vet may recommend an antihistamine. There is also an array of shampoos, creme rinses, wipes, and mousses. More severe itching can be treated with corticosteroids, which are very effective and cost effective, but can have undesirable side effects over time. Two newer drugs have revolutionized the way we manage allergies. Apoquel is an oral medication that works by inhibiting cytokines -- molecules that contribute to inflammation that are in excess in allergic individuals. An injectable medication called Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody that reduces itching, and a single subcutaneous injection can sometimes be effective for 4-8 weeks. There are other medications as well – and even allergy shots!
Allergies can certainly be unpleasant for the dogs that suffer from them. Fortunately, with timely trips to your veterinarian, there are many options that can provide safe, effective relief. Your veterinarian can even refer you to a veterinary dermatologist who can help with more challenging cases.
As fellow dog lovers, you can also relate to spring being the onset of “mud season”. Despite the pollen and mold, runny eyes and sneezing, I anxiously await warmer weather even though it means wiping twelve dog paws six times a day!
Read more about allergy related topics such allergy testing, fleas and itchy ear problems on our searchable health topics page.
As always, thank you for being a Riney Canine Health Center member. We look forward to catching up with you next month!
Dr. Brian Collins, D.V.M. ‘94extension veterinarian
Cornell Richard P. Riney Canine Health Center