Itchy and Scratchy Update

As some of you may know I spent last week at the AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) annual meeting in New Orleans. New Orleans is looking great, by the way. Lots of building going on and The French Quarter and Garden District look the same. Bourbon street is still sleazy et les bon temps sont roulant encore.

I got in a little learning between meals, too. I picked up some new information on pruritis or itchy skin. According to a recent survey, 20% of canine patients visiting the veterinary hospital are there for some reason associated with itchy skin. Itchy skin disease can be one of the more difficult forms of disease to manage successfully. The scratching can literally drive both owners, dogs and veterinarians loopy.

The problem is to identify the actual cause or causes accurately in the first place. This can be a tedious process but it's essential for proper management.

Some of the newer information demonstrates that itchy, allergic dogs can be reacting to a number of allergens. They can also have skin infections and parasites that mimic the clinical signs and symptoms of allergy.

On the allergy front we used to think that dogs had either environmental (inhaled), contact or food allergies. Now we know that they can have all three at one time and treating only one cause will leave them vulnerable to the others and still scratching.

Bacterial, yeast and parasitic skin infections must be ruled out and treated first. For instance, sarcoptic mange can cause intense itching and it can look just like food allergy to the naked eye. The good news is that treating these infections can have an immediate impact on the scratching pet.

Once you rule out these culprits and treat any secondary infections you are in the hunt for the actual source of allergy.

The first rule out is food allergy and this typically means a food trial. In most cases and elimination diet that is free of typical food ingredients is used. When I was with Purina we developed the first hydrolyzed protein diet in veterinary medicine for just this purpose.

HA Formula in the Purina Veterinary Diet line uses hydrolyzed soy protein as the key ingredient. Food allergic dogs react to the protein in the diet and it is the large size of the protein molecule that causes the reaction. Hydrolyzed protein is broken down onto smaller protein molecules that contain the amino acids dogs need but are absorbed by the body without triggering an allergic reaction.

Some veterinarians will try food trials with so called limited or novel protein sources. Duck, venison and even alligator protein have been tried with some success. Most dermatologists will tell you that it is getting more and more difficult to find novel protein sources suitable for an elimination trial.

If an allergic dog gets better on an elimination diet you can be pretty sure you are dealing with a food allergy. If not, the next step is allergy testing and at this point is that it's probably time to see a dermatology specialist. Veterinary dermatologists see lots of these cases and are able to store fresh allergens for skin testing.

Assuming you've ruled out all the usual suspects, treated all the secondary problems and have a positive skin test to specific allergens, you are finally on your way to long term relief. Regular bathing to remove allergens and immunotherapy based on the results of the skin testing are often the best long term tools to manage the allergic dog.

Pruritic skin disease can be frustrating and a real source of misery for owners and dogs. An accurate diagnosis can be time consuming and expensive but it's critical to the proper long term therapy. Getting your puppy a pet health insurance policy from PurinaCare™ can help protect you from this condition and the expenses of diagnosis and long term therapy. One more reason to give insurance a close look.

Comments

[Dr Larry]

I have not heard of a relationship between the frequency of vaccinations and pruritic skin disease. There are issues with the duration of immunity being longer than previously thought and that effects our current recommendations on how often to give boosters.
I'd err on the side of protecting your cat from highly contagious upper respiratory diseases that could be transmitted in a veterinary hospital or boarding facility.

[Dee Scherzer]

My male cat had severe itching & scratching going on about 3 years ago. The vet said it wasn't his food because he'd have it all the time. It came & went at intervals. I read on the internet that our animals are over-vaccinated. I dropped all vaccinations except the rabies (my cats live indoors exclusively). Since doing this, his feline acne disappeared & so has his itching! My vet made no comment when I mentioned this fact to him. If my cats need to stay at the vet hospital for treatment, then I go ahead & get their distemper shot updated.

[Dr Larry]

I'd make an appointment with the vet to rule out other more common causes of scratching and itching before I changed diets. Changing diets without knowing what the cat is allergic to can be frustrating.
That being said Purina ONE makes a diet called Sensitive Systems. It contains higher levels of omega 3 fatty acids which can have anti-inflammatory activity which may help with the itching. You can also supplement with fish oil which is high in omega 3 fatty acids. Try squishing a one gram fish oil capsule on top of the dry food for a couple of weeks and see if there is a little relief.

[J Johnson]

Hi,
I have two cats, one who experiencing this itchy, scratchy behavior. Thus far, I have been reluctant to change food products because my other cat has had several urinary track infections. I have switched their diet to Purina Urinary track friendly food, but it's possible my girl cat is experiencing an allergy to the food. Currently, I have dry food available all day for them and treat them at night with a small portion of wet food. If I change foods, I don't know what other food to change to? I'm wondering if you have any suggestions for urinary track friendly food, or any other suggestions that you can offer.