| How allergy signs can affect your life. This is the | | | | pretty easy to 'cure' dog food allergies (the cure is to |
| story of an otherwise very happy Labrador Retriever | | | | just eliminate the ingredients from the menu) |
| with concurrent allergies. It is based on an interview | | | | compared to curing environmental allergies. It is often |
| held with Nell Kremers. | | | | impractical to keep a dog away from offending |
| Scratching for Relief | | | | allergens, so another solution than elimination is |
| Demi is a friendly Labby, she's always happy and | | | | required. Based on the results of the allergy test a |
| playful... or at least she used to be up until one | | | | special mix was created in the laboratory to |
| summer at 15 months of age. She then just started | | | | desensitize Demi to the identified culprits. |
| biting and scratching. As if the itching drove her mad | | | | Since this involves weekly injections the owner had |
| she was iterally rubbing and licking her skin away. The | | | | to learn how to inject Demi subcutaneously with |
| once beautiful chocolate-brown Labrador lost her | | | | these liquids. This kind of therapy thus requires a |
| shine. | | | | dedicated dog owner and it can be quite difficult to |
| She showed bald spots in her arm-pits and below her | | | | inject your own pet (well, that's my personal |
| tail plus self-inflicted wounds in her face. Scratching | | | | experience). The owner was given three kinds of |
| for relief of allergy symptoms does cost a lot of | | | | fluids (red, green and blue caps) and the amount was |
| energy. | | | | set for a period of 6 months of therapy. There is a |
| At first it just seemed as if she had developed a bad | | | | small risk of anaphylaxis, but still it's the safest |
| habit and the owners at first tried to correct her for | | | | long-term treatment available. About 70% of treated |
| overdoing the scratching thing as perhaps she was | | | | dogs respond well to immunotherapy and the others |
| just seeking attention being in the puberty age. Demi, | | | | at least show some alleviation of the clinical |
| the docile dog she is, obeyed and stopped the | | | | symptoms. |
| scratching as long as one of her human family | | | | Learning to Live With Dog Allergies |
| members was around. But as soon as they left the | | | | Demi is now four years old and most of the time she |
| room, she would make up for lost scratching time | | | | is a happy dog. She will receive desensitization |
| and hit it like crazy. Also when she got aroused and | | | | injections (maintenance dosage) probably for the rest |
| her blood started flowing more quickly through her | | | | of her life. To relief any itching that remains here's a |
| veins, it appeared the itching increased. | | | | tip from Nell that works for Demi: dilute some |
| Change to Hypo-Allergen Dog Food | | | | tea-tree oil in water and spray this on the inflicted |
| And so it happened she was taken to the vet (well, | | | | areas. It reliefs the itching, desinfects the skin and |
| not for the first time of course). She showed | | | | helps the healing process of hot spots. |
| self-inflicted wounds and around her eyes virtually no | | | | Knowing what allergies she has, she can enjoy an |
| hair had survived the intense scratching. The vet | | | | occasional treat again (though never dog biscuits or |
| checked her for parasites and teeth problems (as | | | | any other kind of treat that contains wheat such as |
| she was scratching around her jaws as well) but | | | | most dental sticks). Luckily Demi just adores fruit and |
| found no problems in that area. He then advised to | | | | cheese which is safe to eat for her! You can make |
| change her dog food from high energy Eukanuba to | | | | Demi really happy by offering her pineapple, mango, |
| Lamb & Rice, to rule out a dog food allergy. | | | | strawberries, cucumber, apples and pears. But she |
| Lamb & Rice is a combination that is often | | | | also loves a piece of bread, though she's allergic to |
| prescribed as a low-allergen dog food and the | | | | the ingredients. |
| rationale behind it is that dogs won't have eaten this | | | | People passing by on the street sometimes want to |
| before. However, nowadays Lamb & Rice is not | | | | offer a dog biscuit to this happy furry lady, but of |
| such an exotic dog food anymore... and in this case | | | | course this is strictly prohibited. And since everyone |
| this choice was not so fortunate for Demi. | | | | would get tired of explaining the ins and outs of this |
| Demi has a very loving owner who would sleep on | | | | decision, some people don't understand why this |
| the couch, during the heavy episodes, just to be in | | | | Labrador isn't allowed to enjoy a tasteful treat. Also |
| time to calm her down. No more scolding or shouting | | | | bread left on the grass for the ducks to eat is a risk |
| to try to stop her hurting herself, but instead | | | | for Demi. Especially when walking in the dark it's not |
| remaining calm and trying to transfer tranquillity to | | | | always easy for the owner to intervene on time. |
| her (as if giving Reiki to a dog). The owner would | | | | Should the allergy episodes worsen again, then there |
| gently let her hands go over the itching spots, which | | | | is one official remedy left: Prednisone injections. |
| gave Demi some relief. This was to avoid Demi | | | | Antihistamines, though beneficial in allergic humans, |
| mutilating herself as the self-inflicted wounds can | | | | give inconsistent results in dogs. So that leaves us |
| progress and get infected (so called hot spots). | | | | with steroid treatment. Counter effects of |
| However, the symptoms did not disappear and she | | | | prednisone are that it can damage the organs and as |
| was taken to the veterinarian again. She received a | | | | such may decrease life span. Though when all else |
| medicine to relief the itching and, thank god, this | | | | fails it's like Demi's owner stated: "Better be happy |
| worked so she could have some sleep again. Poor | | | | for a few years, than a very long life of discomfort |
| Demi had not enjoyed a good night of rest for quite | | | | and unhappiness". |
| some time and this was taking his toll as well, | | | | However, before turning to Prednisone as final resort |
| changing her behaviour and making her more nervous. | | | | it appears good results are booked with a holistic |
| She also got antibiotics and a skin sample was taken | | | | approach in similar cases. This is a non-traditional |
| for further research. No parasites or scabies was | | | | approach in veterinary medicine exploring alternative |
| detected. | | | | and complimentary areas of health care. Let's hope |
| Allergy Blood Test | | | | new therapies and treatments are discovered to |
| Standard treatment in itching is to change dog food | | | | prevent and cure diseases in our beloved pets. |
| for about 3 to 4 months and to only give your dog | | | | So what can we learn from this story about allergy: |
| that dog food, no treats, no snacks, no table scraps, | | | | *Prescribing Lamb & Rice dog food to rule out |
| nothing whatsoever. When symptoms remain, then a | | | | dog food induced allergies is not a good choice in all |
| blood test is indicated. And Demi obviously qualified | | | | cases. |
| for this next step. Finally it all became clear. Just have | | | | *Dog food induced allergies, inhalant allergies and |
| a look at the results below. | | | | contact allergies can occur at the same time making |
| Demi's allergy test revealed the following allergies: | | | | a clear diagnosis very difficult. |
| *Food allergies: Rice, wheat, lamb, soy, carrots and | | | | *When your dog is suddenly scratching a lot, examine |
| nuts with highest score for rice and wheat. | | | | his coat for fleas or other parasites and take him to |
| *Contact allergies: Various mites and also flea bite | | | | the vet if your investigation was negative. |
| allergy | | | | *When your dog suffers an attack of heavy itching |
| *Inhalant allergies: Wheat (again), barley, corn, oats, | | | | and is relentlessly scratching for relief, try to transfer |
| stinging nettle and ribwort plantain. | | | | calmness to your pooch. Diluted tea-tree oil can give |
| Demi was suffering from multiple allergies such as | | | | some relief. |
| grass allergy which explained the increase in allergy | | | | *When you meet a person who is walking a dog that |
| symptoms during summers (like the first episode) but | | | | looks like he has some kind of contagious disease, |
| also a very high score to rice and to a lesser extent | | | | don't immediately assume it is scabies and treat them |
| to lamb as well, the main ingredients in her so-called | | | | like pariahs. You can just ask. When the other dog is |
| hypoallergenic dog food. What an unfortunate choice | | | | suffering from allergic symptoms you need not |
| this had been! With this new knowledge, she was | | | | worry. Let dogs be dogs if they want to play |
| immediately taken of Lamb & Rice and | | | | together. There is nothing contagious about allergies. |
| transferred to Duck & Potato Diet (Tovet's | | | | *Allergies cause great discomfort to both dog and |
| DPD). | | | | owner and it is pertinent to try and identify the |
| Desensitization via Allergen Injections | | | | allergens that are causing this as quickly as possible. |
| To deal with the inhalant and contact allergies for | | | | *Holistic veterinary medicine may shine new light on |
| grain and grasses, immunotherapy was indicated. It's | | | | this subject when traditional therapies fail. |