by Audrey Harvey

You may have heard of “allergy shots” for dogs and people. That’s a generic name for immunotherapy treatment for allergies, and is the ideal way to manage atopy, or allergies to dusts and pollens, in our dogs.

Allergic reactions occur when a dog’s immune system over-reacts to an allergen, resulting in red itchy skin. The idea behind immunotherapy is to give your dog very small doses of that allergen, and gradually increase the dose over time. That way his immune system gets used to the allergen, and is less likely to react to it.

A vital part of immunotherapy is actually figuring out what your dog is allergic to. This involves visiting a veterinary dermatologist for skin testing. Your dog’s side will be shaved and small amounts of various allergens such as various pollen extracts, dust mite extract, and flea extract are injected into his skin. If he is allergic to something that has been injected, a round raised welt will appear on his skin where the injection was given.  You can then work out what your dog is reacting to.

Your dog’s dermatologist will then formulate an injection based on the results of these tests. This injection will contain small amounts of the materials he is allergic to. It is then injected into your dog every few weeks, starting with an extremely low dose. The dose is then slowly increased over a 4-6 week period.

Immunotherapy can have a success rate of 60%- 80% in controlling the symptoms of atopy in dogs. This means that you don’t have to use corticosteroids to ease your dog’s itch, which will reduce the chance of unpleasant and potentially dangerous side effects. Just imagine – no more itching and scratching, and no need to give your dog tablets or injections on a regular basis just to keep him comfortable.

Immunotherapy isn’t for everyone, and the reason for that relates to a dog’s owner rather than to the dog itself.  This treatment for atopy is expensive: the average cost is $500 - $1000 per year in veterinary services and vaccine formulation, as maintenance booster injections are usually required for the rest of the dog’s life.

Many people don’t like the idea of having to give their dog an injection on a regular basis. Their veterinarian can do this for them, but this can be inconvenient and will add to the expense.

There can be some adverse reactions to immunotherapy injection – because you are injecting something that your dog is actually allergic to, it can make his symptoms worse!

The other main disadvantage of immunotherapy is it isn’t a quick fix. It can take from one month to one year to see a positive result. This on its own won’t be quick enough for many dog owners who are concerned about their dog’s discomfort. They want their dog to feel better much quicker than that, and prefer to rely on medication such as corticosteroids.

If you do want to try immunotherapy with your dog, you can’t use any medication at the same time. There’s no point in trying to allow his immune system to adapt to allergens while you suppress it with drugs.  So, you’ll need to use other methods to ease his itch while the vaccines are taking effect. This is where Comfy Dog colloidal oatmeal shampoo is so useful. Its colloidal oatmeal is approved by the FDA to ease itching, and its all natural herbal extracts will soothe his skin without interfering with the work of his vaccine. After a shampoo, use Fur Butter for extra conditioning, and your dog’s skin will be much more comfortable as his treatment takes effect. Finally you can try Itchin’ For Relief- an all natural anti-itch spray that provides some immediate relief.  If you are still desparate you can try Sleepytime Tonic. This is perfect for those nights when your dog wakes you up licking and scratching obsessively. All natural Sleepytime Tonic will help to calm your dog so that you can both get some much-needed sleep!

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

by Audrey Harvey

All of your dog’s uncontrollable itching and scratching can be frustrating.  You may have heard that allergies are the most common reason for the constant scratching, but there are many other reasons why your dog may be scratching. Let’s look at some causes of itchy skin that aren’t related to allergies.

1.       Fleas. Even if your dog is not allergic to fleas, they can cause him irritation when they bite. He’ll bite and scratch his skin, particularly over his rump and down the back of his hind legs. This can be managed by keeping your flea numbers down. Keep some Flea the Scene handy and use it regularly to kill fleas on your dog and stop him scratching.

 

2.       Hormonal problems. An underactive thyroid gland can result in changes in the skin which predispose to bacterial or fungal infection. Cushing’s Disease, caused by an overactive adrenal gland, can also lead to secondary infection. These infections are usually itchy.  Diagnosis is usually straightforward – your vet will have a good idea based on clinical signs and it can be confirmed with blood tests. Management involves treating the underlying hormonal problem, and giving your dog antibiotics or antifungal medication to control the itchy infection.

 

3.       Drug reactions. Some dogs have an unexpected reaction to a drug which causes skin inflammation and itching. This can be very difficult to identify. Diagnosis depends on the itch starting soon after a drug is given to your dog, and it easing when the drug is stopped. Skin biopsies may be helpful. Treatment is easy – don’t give your dog that drug anymore!

 

4.       Pain. Orthopedic problems such as back or hip pain may cause your dog to scratch that area to get some relief.  There can also be pain associated with docked tails which can lead to scratching around the rump. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels can suffer from a painful condition called syringomyelia which results in them scratching the back of their head and neck.

 

5.       Parasites. Sarcoptes is a little mite which causes severe itching in dogs, and also in you if you’re unlucky enough to become infected!  It can be tricky to diagnose, as your vet will need to identify it in a skin scraping. If a scraping is negative, it may be worth treating your dog for Sarcoptes, just to rule it out. Another mite that can affect dogs is Demodex. This mite doesn’t cause an itch, but it can cause a secondary bacterial infection of the skin, which is extremely irritating.

 

6.       Fear and anxiety. Some dogs respond to anxiety by scratching to the point of self-mutilation. It’s important that you treat the anxiety while you manage the itch, otherwise it won’t resolve. Give your dog some Sleepytime Tonic to help calm both of you.

 

If your dog is itchy, he may not have an allergy. Make an appointment with your vet to get a proper diagnosis and identify the underlying reason for his scratching. In the meantime, using colloidal oatmeal on his skin will reduce the inflammation and ease the itch in his skin. Comfy Dog shampoo and Fur Butter conditioner are the ideal product for this – not only does it contain oatmeal, but it includes natural herbal extracts which also have an anti-inflammatory and anti-itch effect. They are safe and without side effects, and will make your dog feel more comfortable very quickly. 

 

Audrey Harvey is a veterinarian who has worked in small animal practice for 20 years, and has been involved in teaching and competing in dog obedience and agility. She is passionate about preventative health care in dogs, particularly obesity management and the prevention of boredom related behavioral problems. Audrey lives in Brisbane Australia, and shares her couch with an Australian Cattle Dog, an Australian Working Kelpie and two Whippets.

By far, the most common cause of skin allergies and itching in dogs is fleas. These tiny insects survive on a diet of fresh blood, and their bite will make your dog nibble and scratch at his skin to try and ease the irritation. They’re not fussy; if there are a lot of fleas around, you’ll find they’re quite happy to feast on your blood, and you’ll start scratching too.

 

Although most dogs are bothered to some extent by fleas, some are actually allergic to them. When a flea bites, it injects saliva into your dog, and it is this saliva that causes a severe reaction in sensitive dogs.

 

Skin changes asssociated with flea allergy typically appears on your dog’s rump, along the top of his tail and down his hind legs. His skin will be red, and his scratching can actually break the skin, leading to infection and open sores. The infection is also itchy, and so the scratching continues.

 

Treating flea allergy takes effort.

 

Firstly, you need to treat the inflammation and infection in your dog’s skin. If his skin is particularly bad, you’ll need to visit your veterinarian. She will prescribe anti-itch medication such as corticosteroids or antihistamines to stop his scratching, and antibiotics if secondary bacterial infection is present.

 

Choose a shampoo carefully, as the wrong product has the potential to make his skin feel worse.  Comfy Dog shampoo contains colloidal oatmeal which has been approved by the FDA to relieve itchiness, and its gentle formulation won’t dry out or irritate his sensitive skin. After rinsing, follow up with Fur Butter conditioning treatment, which also contains oatmeal, as well as shea butter and all natural herbal extracts. His coat will feel soft and shiny, and smell great!

 

The second part of controlling flea allergy is to keep your dog flea free. Even though you don’t see fleas on his skin, that doesn’t mean they aren’t there. It doesn’t take many fleas to make an allergic dog itch.

 

Although you can use flea shampoos, they aren’t the best option for flea control. With sensitive skin, it’s better to use a soothing shampoo such as Comfy Dog to keep your dog’s skin in good condition, and rely on other methods for flea control.

 

There are a variety of products that are available for flea control, from monthly tablets to products that are applied to your dog’s skin once a month. Flea the Scene is an important part of any flea control regime. Peppermint oil and tea tree oil are effective natural insect repellents, and it is safe and gentle enough to use frequently on traumatized skin.

 

Keep in mind that the fleas you find on your dog’s body are only a tiny part of your problem. The majority of your fleas can be found in your environment,  in the form of eggs, pupae and larvae. To get the most effect out of any flea control program for your dog, you must stop fleas from breeding, and prevent these immature fleas growing into adults.

 

One option is to give your dog a tablet once a month which contains an insect growth regulator. This will break the flea lifecycle by interfering with its development within the egg and preventing eggs from developing into adult fleas. Another option is to use a chemical spray in your home or yard which contains a similar insect growth regulator.

 

If your dog has an allergy to fleas, you can’t be complacent. Keep him flea free with Flea the Scene, and control his itch with Comfy Dog shampoo and Fur Butter, and you’ll help to prevent him developing red, itchy infected skin. He’ll be a much happier dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

For a while now we’ve been hearing stories about dog’s with red tear stains being given Eyemunity and seeing a noticeable improvement in their itchy skin and allergies.

Although Eyemunity was actually formulated to remove the staining caused by Epiphora (a yeast bloom caused by a bacterial infection) the results come as no surprise. In fact they make perfect sense; allergies, after all are an autoimmune response and Epicor, the active ingredient in Eyemunity, modulates some of the factors involved in immunity. (Most noticeably Ige levels)

Well now we have more than anecdotal evidence to rely on. Results from a study published in Advances in Therapy (2009:26(8):795-804) found that Epicor "significantly reduced the severity of allergic symptoms." The study (a human trial of 96 subjects) was a randomized, double blind test that included a placebo. The results were measured through in-clinic visits, validated questionnaires and serologic (blood serum) testing.

This is good news for  millions of owners who’s dogs suffer from allergies and itching. Eyemunity provides a long term complement to the arsenal of topical products available for itchy, allergic dogs.

The all natural formula is an easy-to-use supplement that’s added to a dog’s food once a day. Unlike other tear stain products on the market it contains no pharmaceutical antibiotics so doesn’t come with any of those nasty side effects. You can use Eyemunity for as long as you like and not only will it clear up any tear stains but it will also improve a dog’s overall health and comfort. Especially if he’s plagued by allergies.

For more in tear stain control click here

For more on Epicor the active ingredient in Eyemunity click here

For a list and explaination of the ingredients in Eyemunity click here

 

 

by Audrey Harvey

 

Dogs with a normal healthy skin and coat don’t smell offensive, and they don’t itch. If your dog smells awful, has a greasy coat and is constantly scratching, it means there is something very wrong.

 

In many cases, the problem is a fungus called Malassezia. This little yeast organism is responsible for skin infections that are especially itchy, smelly and greasy to the touch.

 

Diagnosis and Treatment  

It’s not hard to diagnose Malassezia infection on your dog’s skin. Your veterinarian will apply some sticky tape to his skin, and gently peel it off, picking up some yeast organisms in the process. He will be able to identify the organisms under the microscope.

 

There are several options for treatment, depending on the severity of the infection. If it is only a small problem, you may be able to control it by regularly bathing your dog in an anti-fungal shampoo and applying an anti-fungal ointment. More severe cases need to be treated with anti-fungal tablets.

Where does Malassezia Come From? 

Small numbers of Malassezia live on the skin of all dogs, and neither you or your dog notice any effects. Before they can cause skin problems, there needs to be a change to the surface of the skin that allows them to grow and multiply. Large quantities of yeast on the skin result in the familiar musty odor and itch.

 

Malassezia seems to enjoy oily skin, and any condition that increases oil production will also increase the numbers of yeast on the skin. The most common condition is an allergic reaction, however dogs with seborrhea will also have increased oil production, and a secondary Malassezia infection.

 

There are some less common predisposing causes. Some dogs have a deficiency in their immune system, which allows Malassezia to multiply, and others are allergic to the yeast. If this is the case you should start your dog on immune boosting supplements like Eyemunity which is an all natural powder your sprinkle in your dogs food. It’s filled with herbs that will support your dogs immune system.

 

Dogs with hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism are also  predisposed to Malassezia overgrowth.  The end result is the same - lots of yeast, itchy skin, dreadful odor and a greasy coat.

 

Fortunately, Malassezia infections aren’t contagious, but it can take a bit of work to clear them up.

 

Prevention is Best

 

Because Malassezia infection is secondary to some underlying skin problem, the only way to stop it recurring is to identify and control that underlying cause. Your veterinarian can help you with this, and your dog may need blood tests and allergy tests to get to the bottom of it.

 

In the meantime, the oatmeal in Comfy Dog Oatmeal shampoo for dry & itchy skin will soothe your dog’s skin inflammation, and ease his itch. Because it rinses clean, it won’t leave any residue on his skin, and it will leave him smelling minty fresh. Follow it up with Fur Butter leave in conditioner for longer term itch control. It leaves the coat soft and silky and has a lot of colloidal oatmeal to deal with the itchy skin.

 

If you notice any areas where your dog is particularly itchy, tackle them with Itchin’ for Relief. This all natural spray will quickly ease his itch and stop him scratching. It also contains Onion Bulb Extract which will help prevent any fungal infection.

 

It can be hard work, but if you control your dog’s underlying skin condition, and care for his skin and coat with Comfy Dog shampoo and Fur Butter, the Malassezia won’t have the opportunity to multiply. This means no yeast infection, no itchy skin and no smelly dog. It’s worth the effort.