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Some Advice to Keep the Old Fellow From Scratching

Posted on: Tuesday, 9 November 2004, 03:00 CST

Q: I have a middle-aged Labrador retriever that has had a skin condition, allergic dermatitis, for some time. He has been treated by the veterinarian, and although he has improved to some extent, he still scratches a great deal. Have you any ideas how we can help the poor old fellow?

A: Allergic dermatitis is a general term to describe a group of skin allergies that may well have a multiplicity of causes. Allergies are immune reactions to a specific substance (the allergen) that the body recognizes as foreign. These reactions occur following exposure to the allergen. The reaction may occur at once or it may occur only after repeated exposure to the allergen.

The most common classes of canine allergies are fleabite allergy, food allergy and atopy, an allergic reaction to either contact allergens or inhaled allergens. Other causes, although less common, are drug reactions, hormonal and other parasites such as mites and ticks.

The symptoms of an allergy consist of scratching, licking, chewing and biting at the feet and ears. They may appear as raised, red, scaly areas on the skin, which become crusty or may be pus- filled vesicles. This in turn leads to increased skin pigmentation and thickening with associated loss of hair. If the lesion is where the dog can reach, it becomes stained brown due to saliva from the licking.

The specific diagnosis will vary, depending on what type of allergy or skin disease is involved. Your veterinarian will need a detailed medical history of the dog, as well as conduct a complete physical examination, including a full blood count and biochemical profile, a skin scraping for skin cytology, and look for parasites such as mange mites. For a definitive diagnosis, it may be necessary to have intradermal allergy testing and, finally, dietary trials. Fatty acid supplements have proved useful in some cases.

The treatment of allergic dermatitis will vary with the established cause, but basically it consists of avoiding the offending allergen, treating the dog with anti-itch and soothing shampoos, as well as antihistamines or corticosteroid drugs, either orally or topically. In some nonresponsive cases, allergy vaccines have been used, sometimes to good effect. If it is a food allergy, then the appropriate dietary management is important.

Whatever the cause, it is imperative to follow treatment instructions to the letter. Very often, medications need to be continued for some time after the clinical signs have subsided. Allergic dermatitis is difficult to cure, but limiting exposure to the allergen will help alleviate the condition. In the case of flea allergies, it is not sufficient merely to treat the dog in question. Any other animals, the bedding, the house and all its grounds all must be treated. Some dogs are allergic to pollen and to cut grass, so may have to live inside in air conditioning at certain times of the year.

Dogs also can be allergic to carpet fibers, carpet glues, floor finishes and polishes, shampoos and some medicines. In some cases that have persisted for a long time, the skin has become secondarily infected with a bacteria and / or yeast infection. In such cases, antibiotic therapy must be used as well as anti-yeast preparations. If there are obvious skin lesions, then soothing ointments containing aloe, lanolin and local anesthetic components are helpful.

Q: We rescued a dog that we found to be in very sad shape. We took him to the vet for a checkup after the groomers found that he was covered with hot spots that looked like raw hamburger. He was put on prednisone and an antibiotic. We changed his diet to Wellness white fish and sweet potato, both dry and canned, plus roasted chicken and beef. He cleared up nicely except for a couple of trouble spots, and the vet extended the antibiotic. He weighed only 95 pounds when we got him in May, after being forced to eat out of garbage cans and being beaten. He now weighs 125 pounds and his hair is growing beautifully, but now the vet says that a spot in the middle of his back is psoriasis. Can you suggest anything that might help our handsome boy? He is so lovable and really needs help.

A: In psoriasis, the skin cells grow faster than normal. The skin can't shed the old cells fast enough, so parches of thick, raised skin form. It occurs most commonly on the elbow and knee joints, as well as on the trunk. There is no cure for psoriasis, but it does tend to come and go, being more common in the winter. Treatment consists of washing the excess scaly skin with soap and water daily, and applying a cream containing either coal tar or a steroid. I have been told that the following remedy works well, but I do warn you that it is very sticky. The ointment consists of a mixture of honey, olive oil and beeswax applied three times daily.

Studies in the past have shown olive oil and honey have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, decreasing pain and promoting healing. Beeswax also is anti-inflammatory and can be found in therapeutic grade at health food stores.

Melt two tablespoons of beeswax in a small pan over low heat. Once melted, remove from the heat and stir in two tablespoons of raw, unprocessed honey and two tablespoons of cold-pressed olive oil.

Let the mixture cool to body temperature to avoid burning the skin and apply to the affected area. Add a few drops of vitamin E as a preservative and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Warm for the next application.

Please let me know if you decide to try this alternative treatment and how it worked.

Dr. Jill Bowen has practiced veterinary medicine in England and Texas and taught at Texas A&M. She lives with her veterinarian husband, three cats and a chocolate Labrador retriever in Blacksburg. If you have a question, please write to her in care of The Roanoke Times' New River Current, P.O. Box 540, Christiansburg, VA 24068, or send an e-mail to mjbowen@radford.edu. Jill Bowen regrets that she cannot answer readers' letters personally. All sick animals should, of course, be taken to a veterinarian.

Source: Roanoke Times & World News

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