Pet Allergies
by John and Annemarie Hudak
When we got Willie 2 ½ years ago, we knew that being the runt from a litter of
11 puppies he could be a high maintenance German Shepherd Dog.
Little did we expect that he would have an allergy problem!
Because of the serious allergy problem that developed, Annemarie
& I were asked to share our experience with GSDTC members and
friends.
Ill start with a statement regarding pet allergies from our vet of almost 10
years, Dr. D.R. Reed, County Line Animal Hospital, Naperville, IL.
Many owners are unfortunately all too familiar with allergies
in pets. It is believed
that 30 percent or more of all skin irritations in dogs are caused by
allergies. An allergic
reaction is one where an individual reacts to normal substances in the
environment. Even though
the causes of allergies in people and animals are the same, the clinical
signs exhibited are different. While
humans typically have respiratory and nasal signs, dogs far more
commonly show skin irritations, with intense itching.
Potential allergens include grass, tree and weed pollens, molds,
house dust, flea saliva, foods and many others.
Treating a pet with significant allergies can be challenging, for
owner and veterinarian alike. The
best form of treatment is avoiding the offending allergens.
In most cases however, this is not possible.
Antihistamines are unfortunately not typically nearly as helpful
in animals, as people. Corticosteroids
are quite effective and often used for short term symptom relief, but
prolonged use of steroids can have serious side effects.
Desensitizing the patient is another type of treatment.
The offending allergens are identified through a blood test or
skin test. Once this is
done a small amount of the allergens the dog is sensitive to are given
in increasing concentrations (by injection).
This builds the tolerance of the animal to the offending
allergens without the worry of side effects.
The disadvantages are the same as with people, in that the
process is not necessarily inexpensive, and not all individuals respond.
Hopefully the animal can discontinue any other allergy medication
all together. Some although
dramatically improved, will still need ancillary allergy medication
consistently or intermittently. The
first few injections are given in the veterinary office, but many owners
find they are able to give the following injections at home themselves,
particularly after the maintenance level of one shot per month is
reached at 6 months. If you
have an allergic pet, hyposensitization is another option to consider in
aiding that animals allergic suffering.
Well, after trying to control Willies allergies (not knowing exactly what they
were) for over a year with a few different oral and injection
medications that only gave some temporary relief, Dr. Reed suggested the
blood test to determine the extent of his allergies.
We eagerly decided to go for it because of the constant
scratching of his mouth and watering eyes plus his appetite was
inconsistent. Dr. Reed used
Spectrum Biomedical Labs in Mesa, AZ (one of the best in the country)
for the diagnosis. The test
results showed that Willie had a total of 31 allergies (24
outdoor/indoor and 7 food) along with 6
borderline allergies. We
started with the Spectrum Allergen Injection Set of three vials in June
last year and have Willie on special dog food & treats from Solid
Gold recommended by friends of ours.
So far Willie has gained weight, eats well almost consistently
now and only scratches his face and balks at eating for a few days after
each injection. We finish
with this first series February 16th.
We then start a once a month injection vial that will last 9 to
10 months. We will let you
know how he continues to respond. Feel
free to call us with any question you may have regarding our experience
with Willies allergies.
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