Bacterial allergies in dogs

The final part of my series on dog allergies covers bacterial allergy, which is an over-reaction of the dog's immune system to normal skin bacteria. A bacterial problem usually appears as a secondary infection following another type of skin infection. The most common organism is Staphylococci, which is not contagious to humans or other pets.
Symptoms are red and ulcerated skin, itchy yellow pustules, turning into dry crusty areas as the problem continues, along with hair loss and odor. It can look very much like ringworm, and usually affects the trunk of the dog, but can appear in any area. A bacterial infection is suspected when antibiotics work for a while, but the symptoms return after the antibiotics are stopped, and can be confirmed with an Intradermal Skin Test.
Treatment requires antibiotics to get the disease under control, and following up with desensitization using killed staph bacteria for long term treatment. Washing the dog with antibacterial shampoo such as benzoyl peroxide, and applying antibiotic ointment to dried skin along with antibiotic pills for 3 to 4 weeks is usually prescribed.

Dog inhalant allergies

Part 4 on dog allergies will cover inhalant allergies, also called atopy and is very common. The same allergens that cause allergies in humans can cause inhaled allergies in dogs. However, while a human will sneeze, cough, and have watery eyes, a dog will usually have itching skin, much the same as a food allergy or flea bite allergy.

Cause and symptoms: common allergens are grass, weed, and tree pollen, fabrics, dander, dust mites, and mold. Seasonal itching for an inhalant allergy usually begins at age 1 to 3 years, whereas a flea bite allergy usually begins at age 3 to 5. The inhalant allergy may start out seasonally, but then as the dog ages it can affect him all year long. Atopy causes itching around the eyes and mouth, armpits, belly, legs, around the anus, and can also cause ear infections.

Treatment: Steroids such as Prednisone are often prescribed to block the allergic reaction. Some allergens are believed to absorb through the skin, so hypoallergenic shampoo can help relieve itching, along with fatty acid supplements. Keeping grass or weeds mowed so that they don't pollinate will help somewhat. If your dog requires more than 2 shots annually, or is taking steroid pills every other day for more than 4 months out of the year, consider alternative treatment. Side affects of prolonged use of Prednisone are:
*excessive appetite, thirst and panting
*immune suppression
*inflammation of the pancreas
*urinary incontinence
Alternative treatments are: antihistamines, Omega 3 fatty acid supplements, and herbal topicals such as calendula, comfrey, and chamomile. Using an air cleaner inside the home may also give relief. I would also suggest feeding only a food that has no chemicals and preservatives, since it could be a food allergy.

Dog Flea Allergy Dermatitis

Part 3 on dog allergies will cover flea allergy dermatitis . It is the most common allergy in dogs, caused by the dog's skin having a severe reaction to flea saliva. Some dog breeds are more prone to flea bite allergies, while others have little to no reaction to the bite. In dogs that have the reaction, just one bite can cause them to itch all of the time, and because they groom constantly, you probably won't see any fleas on the dog. Care must be taken to treat the skin irritation so a secondary bacterial infection doesn't develop, which would require antibiotics to treat.

Symptoms of flea allergy dermatitis are:
* extreme itching
* hot spots on the face or hips, caused by the itching
* chewing and biting back legs, rear end, and tail
* loss of hair from intense scratching and chewing
* open sores or scabs on the skin
It can be diagnosed using an intradermal skin test with flea antigen. Some dogs will also develop tapeworm from ingesting the fleas while grooming.

Treatment is the removal of fleas from your dog's world as much as possible. Since the dog's skin is already irritated and broken, don't apply chemical flea products to kill the fleas. Follow these steps:
* Vacuum carpeting, pet bedding and anywhere the dog lays. Pitch the bag from the vacuum when done.
* Wash pet bedding
* clear away any outside vegetation where the dog lays; shaded areas with organic matter should be treated, as well as the lawn.
* This process will need to be repeated every 14 to 21 days to eliminate any new emerging fleas.
* Sooth the dog's skin so it can heal.
There are several products that can be used to sooth the flea bites and irritated skin. Some I recommend are: bathing with oatmeal shampoo, adding neem oil to your dog shampoo, and using a calendula skin spray on the affected areas. These products can be purchased at Botanical Dog and Only Natural Pet Store, links for which are at the left. For more information on killing fleas without chemicals, please refer to my posts dated October 1, 2007 (Chemical Free Flea Control) and October 5, 2007 (Neem oil for flea bites)

Contact dermatitis in dogs

Part 2 on dog allergies will cover contact dermatitis. It is the least common allergy in dogs and the easiest to cure. Dogs can suffer from two forms of contact dermatitis:
Allergic Contact Dermatitis occurs when a dog's skin over-reacts to specific allergens in the environment, such as carpet detergents and deodorizers, waxes, chemicals from dyes, rubber, wool, metals, certain antibiotics or lotions applied to the skin, and grass and weeds. It only affects dogs with a hypersensitivity to the substance and takes repeated exposure to the substance before it develops, usually after 2 years of age.
Irritant Contact Dermatitis occurs when a dog's skin is exposed to irritating chemicals such as salt from the street, or poison ivy sap. It will affect every dog that is exposed to the irritant, and usually happens when curious young dogs are exploring.
Symptoms of both are lesions on skin without much hair, such as the abdomen, muzzle, lips and paws. It will be very red and itchy, with small bumps or blisters, and with irritant contact dermatitis ulcers may also appear.
Primary treatment of both types of contact dermatitis is to remove your dog's exposure to the allergen. If that is not possible, fatty acid supplements, anti-histamines, biotin, and topical shampoos can be used to control the itching. Prednisone or corticosteroids are often prescribed. Also use glass or stainless steel food and water bowls, hypoallergenic detergent when washing pet bedding, hypoallergenic shampoos to remove allergens, and restrict walking to sidewalks and avoid the grass. Only Natural Pet Store (link at the left) has a full line of hypoallergenic shampoos, chemical-free flea products and food supplements for help with allergies.

The symptoms can be the same as a food allergy, so I would recommend you also change your dog's food to an all-natural formula or raw food diet in case it is being caused by the ingredients in your commercial dog food. For more information on food allergies, see my post from October 22nd below.

Food allergies in dogs

Part 1 on dog allergies will cover food allergies. Over the next few weeks, I will cover all of the allergies that plague dogs: food, contact, inhalant, flea and bacterial allergies.

Food allergies in dogs have become more and more common over the years. Dogs aren't usually born with a food allergy, but develop it after eating the same food for years, and signals an internal reaction your dog is having.

Symptoms of a food allergy can include soft stools, periodic vomiting, itching of the face, licking of the feet and recurrent ear infections. It can also appear to be another kind of allergy. For example, food allergies can cause respiratory distress, so you may think your dog has an inhalant allergy when it actually could be food-related. In the case of my dog Abby, it began seasonally, she itched and licked constantly and I thought she had fleas or a flea bite allergy, but always showed negatively for fleas at the vet, so it was diagnosed as a contact allergy. The prednisone helped relieve her symptoms, but it didn't fix the problem. Eventually her allergies were no longer just seasonal, and the ear infections reared their ugly head. First you need to rule out other causes, such as sarcoptic mange and fleas, and whether the itching is a seasonal problem or occurs year round. A food allergy test can be done by your vet.

If you're feeding a dry kibble formula, a prime candidate is the wheat or corn in his food. Try switching to a different formula: example, if you're feeding a beef and wheat formula, try chicken and rice or lamb and rice, or better yet try a grain-free formula. Grains account for the majority of food allergies in dogs. With all the preservatives and by-products in pet food, dogs are developing allergies at a younger and younger age. Dogs with allergies do best on super-premium, raw, or homecooked diets. The highest quality kibble contain no wheat, corn, gluten, preservatives, or other harmful ingredients or fillers. You don't need an expensive allergy-specific food if you feed an all-natural healthy food. As mentioned in previous posts, supplementing with probiotics and fatty acids can be very helpful in treating a dog's allergies.

Also check out the book "The Allergy Solution for Dogs", available at Amazon.com, link for which is at the right.

Relief for dog's ear infections (otitis)

In a previous post, I talked about my dog Abby's ear infections (otitis), and that I was testing a home remedy. I'm happy to tell you the results are very good after using it for 2 months; her ears look and smell normal, and there hasn't been any itching and digging since I started the treatment.

First of all, if your dog's ears are badly infected, with open sores, I recommend you first treat them with a product I've used with good results called Zymox Otic available at Amazon.com for around $10. It contains 3 enzymes derived from milk products, and is highly effective against yeast and bacterial infections, completely safe with no side effects. It is a cleaner as well as a treatment, and is very soothing. As I said previously, Abby's ears were to the point that even antibiotics didn't work long term, and unfortunately neither did Zymox long term. It kept her comfortable, but if I didn't use it every few days, the itching would return. Get your dog's ears in good shape with Zymox, then try the following ear wash to keep the itchies at bay for good. The link to Amazon.com is at the right.

You will need the following ingredients: (If you can't find these locally, they are available at Amazon.com)
16 oz. rubbing alcohol
4 TBSP. Boric Acid
16 drops of Gentian Violet (1% is fine)
The boric acid and gentian violet are both antibacterial and antifungal agents. Just add the boric acid and gentian violet to the alcohol bottle. Then transfer a portion of it into a small squeeze bottle. (I used an empty antibiotic dropper) Then daily squeeze a few drops into the ear and massage. Just a word of warning, the gentian violet in the mixture will stain any surface, including the dog a light tinge of lavender. I used it daily for about 1 week, then went to every 3 days, then once a week, and now we go about 10 days between applications. My dog's ears look very healthy and there is no itching, something I thought Abby would never experience the rest of her life.

p.s. This is also effective for human's itching skin, like mosquito bites. I tried it and got relief instantly.

Update on my dog Abby's skin allergies

My dog Abby has now been on all natural dry kibble and raw meat mixture for 5 months. We have made it through the worst allergy months without needing to give her Prednisone. I also stopped giving her probiotics after about 3 months on the raw diet, because the raw meat contains natural probiotics. She hasn't had any itching and licking episodes since early July, and that is amazing.

Another thing I realized is that her eyes have cleared up. In the past few years, during allergy season, her eyes have progressed from being mattery to very crusty, to the point where I was wiping her eyes every morning so she could open them. They started to improve in July, and have almost completely cleared up now in September.

And then there's her ears. She has had cronic otitus for several years, to the point where nothing really was working anymore. Otitus is a yeast infection that can be very difficult to cure in long-eared dogs because they don't get enough air into the ear canal, making it a perfect breeding ground for the yeast. If otitus isn't dealt with, it can lead to permanent loss of hearing. My vet recommended I give her antibiotic ear drops for the rest of her life. Even the antibiotics got to the point where it wasn't keeping her from itching and scratching entirely, and if I stopped using them her ear problem would return with a vengence. I am currently testing a home remedy I found on the dog forum which seems to be working very well. I've been using it for over a month, and I will give details in a later post if it keeps working. At this point I am very hopeful that the change in diet along with the home remedy ear wash will solve this health issue.

Is your pet food making your dog sick?

The dog food and cat food recall was a scary time for all pet owners, and we'll probably never know just how many beloved pets died or became ill because of it.

About 2 years ago, while researching dog skin allergies, I read about the B.A.R.F. diet (stands for biologically available raw food). It made sense to me, as it follows what the natural diet of a dog living in the wild would be: raw meat, bones, no chemicals, preservatives, or mystery ingredients you'll find listed on commercial pet foods. So I started feeding Abby the BARF diet. Later I spoke to my veterinarian about it, and he had never heard of it. Since he continued to recommend Eukanuba, Iams, Hills Science Diet, and Purina products, I reverted back to her old food until the pet food recall. I've learned since then that nutrition courses are optional and most vets don't take them. So I don't think it's intentional on their part; they don't understand the dietary needs of a dog or cat, and also they are paid to recommend products by the pet food companies. When the pet food recall happened, I remember checking the black-listed brands daily, and praying I wouldn't see my dog and cat foods listed. As pet owners, we place trust in them to provide safe food for our pets, and it's appalling what I learned is allowed in most commercial pet foods.

I want to know for sure what my dog is eating, so I switched her to an all natural dog food, supplemented by raw food. I only wish I had switched her food years ago; it would have eliminated her suffering. Decide for yourself after you read this article on what bad things are allowed to be in commercial pet food, and find out if your pet food is on the safe list. My old dog food wasn't. For the link, GO HERE

Pumpkin helps dog's stomach upsets

Here's a tip I learned from Forum.Dog.Com. If your dog has an upset stomach, diarrhea or constipation, try feeding a teaspoon of pumpkin, either alone or add it to their food. It must be canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling. I tried this with our new family member Rosie recently. We adopted her from a rescue organization, and she was very nervous about everything, new home, new food, meeting new people, etc. There were a few days when she refused her food, but I could hear her stomach churning and she obviously didn't feel well. I tried giving her a mixture of pumpkin and yogurt, and she ate it right up. I mixed in the yogurt because she will always eat that and I wasn't sure if she would eat the pumpkin alone). Very soon after, she went to her bowl and ate all her food and was ready for her walk.

For diarrhea, the fiber in pumpkin absorbs water and can help in just a few hours. For constipation, pumpkin is rich in fiber, and just takes 1 or 2 teaspoons to get things moving again.

If diarrhea or constipation lasts more than 24 to 48 hours, call your vet.

Improve dog's health with fatty acids and probiotics

If your dog suffers from skin allergies, supplementing the diet with fatty acids (a balanced Omega 3 / EPA/ DHA formula) can relieve the itching while the all natural diet takes hold. I used Nature's Logic North Atlantic Sardine Oil, from Only Natural Pet Store; a link to Only Natural Pet Store is on the right.

In addition, dogs need essential friendly bacteria in their digestive tract to remain healthy. The digestive system balance can be thrown off by any of the following:
*antibiotics
*diarrea
*overgrowth of fungus (yeast) after illness
*dietary imbalance from foods lacking proper nutrients
*required amount of friendly bacteria or flora wasn't produced after birth

The addition of yogurt to the diet can help, but it may not be enough. The addition of probiotic supplements can increase energy and stamina, disease resistance, and overall health, and is especially helpful with allergies. Pet-strength probiotics can be purchased at Only Natural Pet Store or Botanical Dog; links at the left.

Years of eating cooked dry kibble can leave your dog's immune system depleted of probiotics. A raw meat diet is a great source of natural probiotics.

Grains in a dog's raw food diet

Opinions vary whether dogs are omnivores or true carnivores like cats, but most seem to feel they are carnivores, requiring no grains in their diet. Wheat and corn cause the majority of allergies in dogs. If you want to add grains to your dog's raw food diet, try barley or whole grain brown rice. Due to Abby's allergies to wheat, etc., I feed her only grain-free kibble, and I don't add any grains to the raw meat mixture.

Your dog's health depends on their diet

My 9 year old cocker spaniel Abby suffered from skin allergies and took Prednisone for 5 years to curb continuous itching and licking of her hind quarters. Due to side affects of the medication, such as adrenal failure and weight gain, I researched allergies, and soon realized her diet could be the problem. I read about how chemicals, preservatives and by-products in commercial pet foods affect a dog's immune system. When the immune system is compromised, it can lead to illness, including allergies. Major organs will rob nutrients from less vital organs, such as the skin, in order to sustain life. When there isn't enough good bacteria or flora in the digestive tract, there is an overgrowth of yeast, which causes the skin allergy.

Ingredients in commercial pet food that cause allergies include grains, preservatives, meat by-products, and the chemicals found in them. Since Abby was a puppy, I've fed her what I thought was the best dog food. The pet food recall caused me to look closer at the ingredients. My dry kibble wasn't involved, but the canned variety was, as well as many other trusted brands, and that was just too close for comfort. I changed to an all natural, grain-free formula once a day. For her other meal, I give her a raw meat mixture. I added raw food to her diet because natural probiotics found in raw meat boost the immune system. Cooking meat decreases the affect of natural probiotics. Her dog biscuits were replaced with all natural or organic treats.

The new diet was a success! After 2 months I started weening her off medication, and after 3 months she no longer needed it at all. She has lost weight, and her coat is shinier and softer than ever. I'm convinced an all natural diet can greatly improve a dog's skin allergies and overall health.