Nutrition and coat care for dogs and cats with an allergy

Symptoms of an allergy

When an allergic dog or cat comes into contact with an allergy-causing substance, the body reacts with an immune response. During this reaction, inflammatory components in the body, such as histamine, are released into the skin. This is intended to ward off the allergenic substance, but unfortunately, it is this immune response that causes the symptoms. This is characterised by intense itching and redness, often on specific parts of the body, such as the chin, between the toes and in the armpits, groin or under the belly. In cats, an allergy often manifests itself on the head, neck and auricles, but it can also be seen on the belly, paws and groin. Allergic animals also often develop an ear infection. In some animals, this is the only symptom of the allergy.

Treatment of an allergy

The best treatment for an allergy is, of course, to prevent your animal from coming into contact with the allergy-provoking substance. Unfortunately, in many cases, it is difficult to determine to which substance your animal is reacting. In general, this is done in two steps. First, we check whether there is a food allergy.In order to find out, your vet will advise you to feed your dog or cat a so-called elimination diet for at least 6 weeks. This is generally done with a hypoallergenic diet. If there is no improvement, it could be that there is no food allergy, but an allergy to something in the environment (atopy) or that the food used is not the right one for your pet. It is then advisable to check with your vet whether a different food, with a different protein and/or carbohydrate source, would offer the desired solution. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a while to find the right food. If none of the food offers an improvement, tests can be done to determine whether your pet is allergic to something in the environment and therefore suffers from atopy. For this, a blood test can be done and an attempt can be made to make your animal less sensitive to this substance in the environment. We call this desensitisation.

Produts to stop itchiness

If the cause of the allergy cannot be found or cannot be removed, your animal will have to be treated symptomatically. Your vet will prescribe remedies that will decrease the itching in your animal. Unfortunately, these drugs also have side effects if used for a long time, so you should try to use the lowest possible dosage.

Why is skincare for an allergic animal so important?

The top layer of the skin is the stratum corneum. This layer is composed of proteins and fatty acids (lipids) and is the first protective layer against chemical, thermal (too cold or too hot) and biological (bacteria, viruses, fungi) stimuli. The epidermis is made up of types of cells called keratinocytes. The keratinocytes contain the following substances:n:

• Keratin: this is a protein that gives the skin its firmness and elasticity
• Ceramides, fatty acids and cholesterol: these are mainly lipids in the skin. These keep the moisture in the body, prevent water loss through the skin and keep the skin hydrated.

Recent studies have shown that dogs with skin allergies also suffer from changes in these lipids and proteins. The skin of these dogs is affected and can become more dehydrated. As a result, the skin dries out and loses its protective function. This can lead to easier infections with bacteria and/or fungi. The use of shampoos with disinfecting and moisturising properties and the regular administration of essential fatty acids can improve the condition of the skin. This can be achieved by direct application to the skin, for example with the Allerderm spot-on, or through food or dietary supplements.

What can we do to improve the skin of allergic pets?

Brushing and washing

Washing with special shampoo can provide great support and cool down allergic skin. In addition, brushing and washing can help remove potentially allergy-provoking substances from the skin. How often you should wash your pet depends on the products used and their properties. In general, we recommend weekly or fortnightly washing for the treatment and care of allergic pets. It is important that the shampoo used is especially suitable for sensitive skin and contains substances that help moisturise and soothe the skin.

Shampoos that decrease itchiness and soothing lotions

These products contain moisturising substances and essential fatty acids with a dual function: to restore the lipid layer of the stratum corneum and to prevent dehydration and reduce inflammation. They also contain substances with a soothing effect that decrease itching, such as oat colloids. An example of this type of shampoo is the Allermyl shampoo.

Antiseptic and/or antifungal shampoo

These contain active substances that prevent the excessive multiplication of bacteria and yeasts in the skin microflora. They often contain one or more of the following ingredients: chlorhexidine, benzoyl peroxide, salicylic acid, triclosan. The substances with antifungal properties include miconazole, chlorhexidine, triclosan. These shampoos should only be used when there is a bacterial or fungal infection of the skin in addition to the allergy. An example of these shampoos is the Pyoderm shampoo.

Antiseborrheic shampoo

Some dogs with allergic skin conditions develop a lot of flakes and produce excess sebum. This is called seborrhoea. This form of allergy is often seen in the English Bulldog. A shampoo that can be used to remove this excess sebum and flakes is the Sebocalm Shampoo.

Food as medicine?

For animals with food allergies, the best medicine is, of course, the right hypoallergenic food, such as Vetality Hypoallergenic Dog Wet. In addition, food or food supplements containing extra omega 3 and 6 fatty acids are often prescribed for allergic animals. These fatty acids support the fatty layer in the skin and inhibit inflammatory processes in the skin. An example of a product with omega fatty acids is Grizzly Wild Fish Oil or the Puur Omega-3. It has been shown that the administration of food or supplements rich in essential fatty acids helps to control allergy symptoms. There is also the food Derm Defence on the market today, which decreases the release of histamine and can therefore also decrease itching symptoms.

Flea and tick prevention

The prevention of fleas, ticks and lice is very important in animals with an allergy. It has been shown that animals with atopy or food allergy are also at greater risk of suffering from a flea allergy. One bite can be enough to cause all the symptoms. Therefore, it helps to ensure that the chance of your dog or cat being bitten by a flea is as small as possible. You can do this by using a flea repellent every 4 weeks for every pet you have, or by wearing an anti-flea collar..

Do you have a question about an allergic skin condition or skin and coat problems in pets? Please contact our veterinarian at telephone number 033 0818 0862 or via e-mail: veterinarian@vetsend.co.uk.