Allergic Dermatitis in Dogs
SACDERMVET
7465 Rush River Drive Suite 830
Sacramento CA 95831
916 234 5722
Allergic dermatitis in dogs is due to the immune system reacting to something that is normally harmless. This skin and/or ears may become pink & itchy and produce more oil, dandruff or wax. The normal yeast & bacteria may then develop into an infection, which can make them look & smell worse, be more itchy & make the allergy worse.
As well as treating infections and itching we also need to manage the underlying causes.
Allergies and their damage tend to progress and become harder to treat over time.
Dogs can be allergic to:
1) Fleas, even before you see them.
2) Pollens, dusts, insects & moulds. Signs may vary with season or location initially but often become year round.
3) Less commonly food. We see many clients who have wasted a great deal of time, money & emotion on food. Sacdermvet does not sell food so we can give impartial advice. Blood or similar lab tests for food allergy are not helpful.
Dogs can be allergic to more than one and they amplify each other. Infection & itching can complicate the appearance. Treating infections is important but they are not the primary problem.
MEDICATIONS
Corticosteroids (steroids) such as prednisone, prednisolone, methylprednisolone & Temaril-P are commonly used to decrease itch & inflammation. They are inexpensive and act quickly but have a wide range of side effects and can make some conditions worse. The response & side effects vary with the individual.
Apoquel is a tablet that blocks an itch signal. It usually acts quickly but can wear off in less than 24 hours. It can make some dogs more prone to bacterial infections and demodectic mange and should not be used in dogs under 12 months of age. It may not always treat the underlying allergy itself and we see some cases where the allergy seems to progress even if the itch is controlled, but dermatologists tend to see the worst cases. Apoquel is not an antihistamine. It has also been used in some other skin conditions.
Cytopoint is a monoclonal antibody injection that binds the itch signal that Apoquel blocks. It is not long acting Apoquel. It seems to have a lot less side effects that Apoquel but again may not control the underlying allergy in some cases.
Cyclosporine is a drug that we have used for many years to control allergic dermatitis and otitis in dogs. It takes a few weeks to start to work but seems to treat the allergy itself and make dogs less prone to skin & ear infections. It has much better safety in dogs that in humans but can cause gut upsets for the first week or so. It is sometimes used at higher doses in immune mediated skin conditions.
Bathing to remove allergens, control infection and hydrate the skin is very important.
Allergen immunotherapy may be used for environmental allergies and has very good safety. You should not test your dog for allergies unless you understand what is involved and intend to do immunotherapy for a couple of years. The schedule is much less rigid than for humans and risk of adverse reactions is much much lower.
Medications such as specific types of fish oil, antihistamines, Redonyl and certain probiotics may also be helpful once we have cases under control. Many owners waste time and money on products advertised with very little evidence so avoid taking advice from online experts or petstore sales staff.