Scratching that itchy feeling
This week at the hospitals has been dominated by itchy patients – and sneezing owners. Yep, hay fever season is still going, with itchy eyes and non-stop sneezing. We don’t see so much sneezing in my patients, but all that holiday fun in the long grass along the riverbank can make our four-legged friends very itchy. And there is a difference between what we see with cats versus dogs. Imagine what it would be like if you had grass down your shirt. We wouldn’t last five minutes from the scratching.
Polly is normally a Persil white – that must have been a good ad campaign – feline who sleeps the whole day away and is out all night. When she finally emerged from her carry basket she was fidgety and her skin was twitching. There were small scabs all along her back and underneath her belly were several raised, red areas of skin that she had been licking furiously.
Owner Andrea had been using a recommended flea control product every month and there was no evidence of fleas at all. Flea control is really important in any itchy patient to eliminate a potential cause, such as flea-bite allergy. This is where you become hyper-allergic to just one flea bite and come up in an intense allergic reaction.
Polly was suffering from a common skin condition we call miliary dermatitis. Miliary means nodular and dermatitis is inflammation of the skin – dermis. The most common cause in cats is allergy to airborne pollens. Skin tests can be done to find the type of allergen, but, just like us, we can’t hide from the pollen, so we often need to treat these itchy felines with anti-inflammatories and anti-histamines during spring and summer.
In cats, these are usually given as a long-acting injection because giving tablets twice a day for long periods can be hazardous to your fingers in some feisty felines. Our four-legged canine friends are often running through long grass and clambering up riverbanks, so they are more prone to contact allergies.
Castro is a good example. He is a bullet-proof jack russell terrier who comes in several times every summer with red pimples all over his belly and bright red itchy skin on his inner thighs and armpits. His owner’s biggest complaint is ‘‘that I can’t hear the TV for his constant scratching’’.
The most common sufferers are the shorterlegged breeds. They have three important factors making them more prone. They are low to the ground, are often white-skinned and they have few hairs or fur underneath to protect their skin. But other individuals and breeds can also suffer from allergic, itchy skin.
Treatment is often via oral medication, which can be adjusted to the lowest effective dose, along with gel cream or spray for isolated patches of itchy skin. Long-acting injections, although effective, are associated with a much higher incidence of long-term side effects, so are a no-go in our canine friends. There is an amazing new drug available that makes treating these allergies so much better, with little or no side effects. So what can you do to decrease the chances of your fourlegged friend getting itchy?
Tips
If possible, hose your dog’s belly and legs after a walk to the river to rinse off any allergens
Give your dog a daily dose of essential fatty acids – primrose oil or fish oil capsules. These act as natural anti-inflammatories
Stay out off the long grass and riverbank weeds during the summer, especially. And avoid the ‘‘wandering dew’’ weed
Maybe get one of those lightweight dog T-shirts for them to wear when on a walk.
There are a lot of ideas and medications we can use to alleviate that uncomfortable itch for your friend. Check your dog daily for grass seeds in their paws and ears at this time of year.