Allergy Season is Coming!
Spring is fast approaching, and that means allergy season will be here before we know it! If you have a pet with allergies you know the signs – licking paws, constantly scratching, ear infections, scooting, hot spots, and many trips to the vet.
Here are some actionable steps you can do at home to prevent a huge flare up, plus information on prescription medications to help you understand how to combat allergies.
Wipe off your dog’s coat, paws, and belly after being outside to remove pollens and allergens. There are great canine wipes out there, but I recommend: Pogi’s Grooming Wipes, Earthbath, Burt’s Bees for Dogs, or other hypoallergenic wipes.
If the areas are getting red and irritated, especially facial folds and between the paws, I use Douxo Chlorhexidine Pads.
2. Bathe with a skin soothing shampoo. I suggest Earthbath Oatmeal & Aloe shampoo, Mika Pets Oatmeal & Aloe Vera, Pure & Good Moisturizing Shampoo, Kin + Kind products. You can also mix a solution of 1 part Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to 3 parts water and rinse your dog’s coat after bathing with the previously mentioned shampoo.
You can also make your own skin soothing shampoo with: 3oz Castile Soap, 2oz Apple Cider Vinegar, 1oz Vegetable Glycerin, 2oz Water, 3 drops Lavender Essential oil, 3 drops Chamomile EO, 1 tsp gound oatmeal. Lather and rise thoroughly.
For more severe itching, Douxo Chlorhexidine Shampoo is great.
3. Topical Ointment can be applied to paws, skin folds, and other areas of concern. For mild irritation use Natural Dog Company products, Zymox Topical Spray, Kin + Kind Balms and Sticks. You can also spray a solution of 1 part ACV to 3 parts water on paws, or soak the paws
for 5-10 minutes.For severe or chronic skin conditions and open sores, discuss with your vet about medicated creams, sprays, and ointments!
4. Oral Antihistamines stop the itch! I use “natures benadryl” Quercetin (natural flavonoid with antioxidant properties) for my dogs, at 6-8mg per pound of body weight once a day. I like Pure Encapsulations, Thorne Research, or Petipet products. If you have OTC Diphenhydramine (Benadryl), that can be given at 1mg per pound 2-3 times a day, or Loratadine (Claritin, but NOT Claratin-D!) 5mg once a day for small dogs, 10mg once a day for medium sized dogs, and 10mg twice a day for large breeds. This is also very helpful for minimizing reverse sneezing!
5. Supplements should be used year-round, or incorporated at least 6-8 weeks before allergy season starts! Vitamin E at a dose of 5 IU per pound has been proven to help dogs with Atopic Dermatitis (itchy, allergic skin). Vit E oil can also be applied topically to skin irritations (non-open wounds). Fish Oil helps decrease inflammation (skin allergy flare ups) and improves coat health. Welactin, Nordic Naturals, Rx EFA, or anchovies are great sources! Probiotics help digestion, immune health, and systemic health. Olive Leaf Extract enhances better immune reactions to infections (such as ear infections, yeast or bacteria) at about 8mg per pound of body weight. Just Food For Dogs Skin & Allergy Care, Mountain Rose Herbs, Nature’s Way, Pure Encapsulations or Thorne are good brands.6. Add in some energetically Cooling Foods to your pet’s diet. In Chinese medicine, cooling foods can help dampen the heat (itch) so I always add some of the following into meals or feed as snacks: cucumber, watermelon, spinach, strawberries, mangos, celery, broccoli, pears, bananas, turkey, cod, duck, quinoa, brown rice, tofu, flaxseed oil, green tea, and barley to name a few.
7. I see a lot of Anxiety surrounding the discomfort of constant itching, so adding in Canine Rescue Remedy, Zylkene, L-Theanine, CBD, Adaptil, or diffusing Lavender Essential Oil can help with their wellbeing!
8. Allergy testing at the Veterinary Dermatologist (not home test kits) can get to the root of allergens with allergy injections specific to your pet’s needs. There are blood tests and intradermal allergy testing (skin tests) – the skin testing is the gold standard, but this requires shaving part of your pet’s trunk, which is more of an aesthetic issue for owners. This really pinpoints the causes of your pet’s allergic reactions, so I highly recommend clients to go this route for intense allergies.
9. Prescription Medications have a place in allergy season as well. If the above preventative measures don’t control your pet’s itch, then they may need some extra help. Hot spots and ear infections can get so bad that topical and/or oral antibiotics and antifungals are needed to help combat the infection. Please discuss with your vet, as each case is different, but see below for my process for prescribing for certain meds. With all of these medications, I advise checking blood work first, and continued monitoring if they are on them long term.
Steroids – I mainly reach for these when ear canals are so inflamed that no topical wash or medication can get through, and therefore we’re unable to properly treat the infection.
Atopica (Cyclosporin) – this is an immunosuppressor agent that helps decrease pruritis (itch) in dogs, but takes longer to see the positive effects. I rarely reach for this medication for dermatitis, but some chronic cases can benefit.
Apoquel – this is an oral tablet that stops their body’s itch by inhibiting specific cytokines involved in inflammation and itch mechanisms. Its fast acting (within 12-24 hours) and gives us time to really treat the patient. I’ll use this in the short term (2-4 weeks), but it can prohibit other immune functions, so the sooner I can get them off of this, the better.
Cytopoint – monoclonal antibody that targets only the pruritogenic (itchy) cytokine, but none of the inflammatory ones, so less effects on the immune system. It is an injection that last about 4-8 weeks, and starts to work within 12 hours! I reach for this injection when the scratching is constant for much needed relief.
As Always, talk to your veterinarian before starting any of these regimens so you know its a good fit for your pet!
XO,
Dr. Tori