There’s plenty of allergic dermatitis treatment options for your dog | Pet Peeves
As I write this, it is only the beginning of February and we are already seeing a lot of very itchy dogs. Perhaps it was the very cold winter, causing many of the plants to burst forth with pollen, but whatever the cause, the number of dogs being presented with allergic dermatitis is higher than usual.
Allergic inflammation of the skin is a common problem in the spring and summer months. In many instances, it is caused by flea populations exploding in the warmer weather. If fleas are not in the picture, then the likely cause is allergies associated with pollens and molds.
If fleas are in the picture, there are many excellent flea medications on the market these days. Over the counter topicals such as Frontline and Advantage II are a possibility. With your veterinarian’s assistance there are oral flea and tick medications such as Nexgard and Bravecto.
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After eliminating the fleas, the next step is to address any itching not caused by fleas. The first line of defense is a good soothing bath. Often people are worried about bathing their pet too much. But keep in mind, if the dog has extremely itchy skin or a rash, bathing even once a week is not too much as long as the shampoo is very soothing (think aloe/oatmeal and pramoxine) or medicated (chlorhexidine and miconazole for yeast and bacteria).
Antihistamines are easily obtained and very helpful with the histamine release that occurs with allergies. Benedryl is the old stand-by, but Zyrtec and Claritan are being used effectively for mild itching these days.
If the basics are not enough, consult your veterinarian for some of the newer itch medications. Apoquel and Cytopoint are the new wave in controlling itching. They attack the itching at the cellular level. When the body is exposed to an allergen that it recognizes, the cells release inflammatory cytokines that trigger the itching. Cytopoint and Apoquel attack the cytokines at their source. They are effective against ATOPIC dermatitis which is allergies to pollens, molds, dust mites, and such.
Apoquel is a pill that is given once a day to alleviate the itching, and Cytopoint is in the form of an injection that lasts four to six weeks. They are very expensive, but they have fewer side effects and, in some dogs, are much more effective than the old standby, steroids. One caution is for dogs that have a history of tumors or cancer. Apoquel, because it is more immunosuppressive than Cytopoint, can encourage tumor growth if the pet has a history.
When cost is a concern, consider steroid therapy. Used carefully, prednisone can be a life saver for a very itchy dog. Steroids should be given on an ‘every other day’ treatment regimen. This is because steroids are also produced naturally in the body by the adrenal glands. By using minimal doses and alternating one day on, one day off, the adrenal glands will still have enough stimulation to stay active. This dosing also reduces the frequency of side effects. Side effects from steroids include drinking a lot of water, urinating a lot, weight gain, and, for some dogs, panting and pacing can be a problem. The key to remember is to use as little as possible and as infrequently as possible to attain the desired effect. But this is true for any medicines we take.
This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: There’s plenty of allergic dermatitis treatment options for your dog
