atopy Archives - Evesham Veterinary Clinic

Dermatology

Jeffrey Bell, VMD — Fri, 01 May 2020 15:59:00 +0000

At Evesham Veterinary Clinic, we can diagnose and treat diseases of the skin, ears, hair, and nails (claws).

A very common problem in our area is allergic skin disease. Affected pets may constantly lick, chew, bite, or scratch. Head shaking may be associated with an ear infection, frequently seen along with allergies. Other signs may be hair loss (alopecia), malodorous skin or ears, or changes in the skin’s color or texture.

Diagnosis often consists of ruling out ectoparasites such as fleas, ticks, and mites. We can check for ear mites, and do tests for mange or scabies. Ringworm (dermatophytosis) can be tested for.

Diagnosis might also include cytology impression smears or fine-needle aspirates.

Bacterial, viral, and fungal skin infections as well as neoplastic skin diseases can also be treated.

Allergies may be due to environmental causes such as pollen, mold, or dust mites. Food allergies are also sometimes present. Some breeds may show a predilection for atopy or food allergies.

Although it is rare to be able to completely cure allergic skin diseases, it is often possible to manage them successfully with excellent quality of life.

Therapy may include:

Apoquel
Antibiotics
Immunotherapy
Heska Allercept Drops
Cytopoint
Parasite treatment
Prednisone/prednisolone
Atopica (cyclosporine)
Fish oil or Omega-3 fatty acid supplements
Antihistamines

EVESHAM VETERINARY CLINIC

800 ROUTE 73 SOUTH

MARLTON, NJ 08053

(856) 983-9440

eveshamvet.com

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Cytopoint – Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic (CADI)

Jeffrey Bell, VMD — Wed, 14 Dec 2016 20:33:48 +0000

Cytopoint, formerly known as Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic (CADI), is an injectable treatment for canine atopic dermatitis, or skin allergies due to pollen, mold, dust mites, and other environmental causes. It has recently been developed by Zoetis (formerly known as Pfizer). We at Evesham Veterinary Clinic are committed to bringing you this cutting edge technology.

Cytopint is made possible by recent advances in monoclonal antibody production. Cytopoint is a caninized anti-cIL-31 monoclonal antibody (mAb) specifically designed to target interleukin (IL)-31, a key cytokine involved in sending the itch signal to the brain.

It is more targeted than prednisone, Atopica, and Apoquel. Side effects have been rare, and it is safe for dogs of all ages and dogs on concurrent medications. A single injection lasts for up to two months.

For more information or to schedule an appointment to see if your dog would benefit from this innovative new treatment, please call (856) 983-9440.

EVESHAM VETERINARY CLINIC
800 ROUTE 73 S
MARLTON, NJ 08053

(856) 983-9440

www.eveshamvet.com

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Ear Infections in Dogs

Jeffrey Bell, VMD — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 16:13:36 +0000

Ear infections, or otitis, are a common problem in dogs. Painful, itchy ears can cause a decrease in quality of life, odor, hearing loss, and behavior changes.

Clinical signs:

Redness
Itchiness
Odor
Pain
Discharge

Because there are many possible causes of ear infections, it is important to have a veterinarian evaluate the dog before starting ear medicine.

Factors in ear infections:

Bacterial infections
Yeast overgrowth
Atopy – allergies to pollen, mold, dust mites
Anatomy – narrow ear canals, pendulous ear pinnas – warm, humid ear canal
Food allergies
Swimming
Breed predilection (e.g. Cocker Spaniels)
Thyroid condition (hypothyroidism)
Ear mites, flies, other mites
Ear tumors
Ear foreign bodies

Diagnosis is made by history, physical examination, and otoscopic examination. Other tests can include ear cytology, ear culture and sensitivity, blood chemistry tests, thyroid tests, and allergy tests.

Left untreated, ear infections can progress to chronic changes in the ear canal, pain, deafness, and infection of the middle and inner ear.

Common medications used for ear infections in dogs include Osurnia, Mometamax, Animax, Quadritop, Tresaderm, Revolution, prednisone, Apoquel, cetirizine, diphenhydramine, Simplicef, Baytril, Zeniquin, and others.

For more information or if you believe your dog or cat might have an ear infection, please call us.

Evesham Veterinary Clinic

Marlton, NJ 08053

(856) 983-9440

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Allergies in Dogs

Jeffrey Bell, VMD — Mon, 04 May 2015 20:07:35 +0000

Allergies

Like people, dogs can suffer from allergies.

As in the human population, the incidence of allergies in pets seems to be increasing. While allergic humans may often sneeze, wheeze or even have serious respiratory difficulties, allergic reactions in pets are characterized by skin problems, exacerbated by their primary symptom—itching and scratching. Cat and dog allergies fall into three main categories: flea allergy dermatitis, atopy, and food allergy. Many pets can be affected by one or more allergy.

Atopy

What is atopy and what are its symptoms?

Atopy, or environmental allergy, is an allergic reaction to airborne substances like pollen, moulds, house dust mites and animal dander (skin or hair fragments). It is most common in dogs, but some cats are also affected. The incidence of atopy depends as much upon a pet’s genetic susceptibility as exposure to the allergen itself. (An allergen is any agent causing the allergic reaction.) Terriers, Setters, Retrievers, Dalmatians and Chinese Shar-Pei are among the breeds that are particularly prone to atopy.

Itching, mostly around the face, feet, lower chest and belly, is the primary symptom. Depending on the cause, this may occur only seasonally (pollen) or year-round (moulds, dust mites and dander). “Hot spots”, other skin infections and ear problems can develop. Frequent scratching due to chronic irritation may lead to hair loss. While the onset of these signs can be seen from 4 months to 7 years of age they are typically first noticed between 1–3 years of age.

How is atopy diagnosed?

Atopy is confirmed through a process of elimination. Other causes of itching, such as fleas, mites, lice, bacterial and yeast infections, as well as food allergies, must be ruled out first. Your veterinarian will ask you for a detailed history of your pet’s itching problem. Skin or serum (blood) testing for different allergens may then be performed to help pinpoint the exact cause.

How is atopy treated?

Atopy is a lifelong condition and there is no known cure. However, there are a number of ways to manage the problem:

Anti-itch therapy, including the use of drugs, medicated shampoos and conditioners.
Removing the source of the allergy from the environment as much as possible.
Hyposensitization uses a series of injections to gradually accustom your pet’s system to the allergen(s) causing the problem. Although its effectiveness varies, it provides at least some relief for around 75% of pets with atopy.
If the atopy is relatively mild (for example, occasional itching during the pollen season), you can use “Elizabethan” collars, T-shirts and socks to reduce irritation by physically preventing your pet from scratching or biting itself.

Flea Allergy Dermatitis

What is flea allergy dermatitis and what are its symptoms?

Flea allergy dermatitis (FAD), also called “flea bite hypersensitivity”, is a skin disease caused by an allergic reaction to flea saliva. A single flea bite can trigger the disease’s intense itching. Dogs with FAD chew and bite their backs, back legs, bellies or tails. FAD often leads to “hot spots”, or localized skin infections. You may find fleas and flea dirt (the flea faeces look like black specks) on your pet, although many cats and dogs with FAD have very few fleas, since they are constantly licking and chewing.

How is flea allergy dermatitis diagnosed?

Your veterinarian looks for the usual signs (scratching, skin sores, the presence of fleas and/or flea dirt). He or she may also order an intradermal or skin test as FAD symptoms can resemble those of other conditions, including external parasites (mites, lice), infections and other allergies, that cause severe itching.

How is flea allergy dermatitis treated?

The best way to treat FAD is to prevent fleas from attacking your pet. Various insecticides and insect growth regulators that eliminate flea infestations are available. Your veterinarian can recommend the right product for your pet. Daily vacuuming and frequent washing of your pet’s bedding can also reduce your home’s flea population.To break the “itch-scratch” cycle that leads to skin infections, your veterinarian may prescribe steroids, antihistamines and essential fatty acids to relieve irritation. Warm water baths and anti-itching shampoos and conditioners also help.What is most important to realize is that there is no cure for FAD: your pet will always be allergic to flea bites and you must be continually on your guard to prevent further problems.

Food Allergy

What is food allergy and what are its symptoms?

Food allergy is an allergic reaction to one or more ingredients in a pet’s food. The most common allergens are beef and milk products, cereals (wheat, corn, soya), chicken and eggs. The exact cause of food allergy is not known. Perhaps a change in the pet’s immune system causes certain ingredients to be perceived as “foreign,” initiating inflammatory mechanisms to fight off the perceived “intruder.”The most common symptoms of food allergy are itching, licking or chewing. Otitis Externa (Ear Infection) along with other skin problems are also common in conjunction with food hypersensitivity. Some pets may also have diarrhoea and other digestive problems. Symptoms can appear at any age, whether a pet has just started a new diet or has been eating the same food for several years.

How is food allergy diagnosed?The only effective way of diagnosing a food allergy is to put your pet on a “hypoallergenic” or “exclusion” diet for a minimum of 8–12 weeks. Such a diet contains ingredients to which the animal has not been exposed in the past. Because the source of protein causes most allergic reactions, exclusion diets use proteins—often venison, fish or duck—that are normally not found in regular pet food. An exclusion diet may comprise home-prepared food or prescription commercial hypoallergenic products. Ask your veterinarian for their recommendation.

If your pet has a food allergy, there should be a significant reduction in the symptoms after the recommended period on the exclusion diet provided your pet is not also allergic to the newly introduced ingredients. To identify all the food allergens, add a single protein for 1–2 weeks at a time, while watching for a recurrence, or worsening, of symptoms. If this happens, remove the offending ingredient from the diet. Consult your veterinarian for the correct procedure.

How is food allergy treated?

The best way to treat your pet’s food allergy is to carefully monitor his or her diet, in order to avoid flare-ups. In rare cases, your veterinarian may also prescribe antihistamines and steroids.

Other Insect Allergies

Mosquitoes and midges can also be responsible for allergic skin reactions in our pets. Similar to fleas, in susceptible dogs and cats the allergy occurs secondary to a reaction to the saliva injected by the biting insect. The most effective treatment is prevention! Screen all doors and windows, remove potential breeding sources such as stagnant water, and keep your pet inside during the times of day (early morning and early evening) when these insects are most active.

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