Seasonal Allergies

Every Year Around the Same Time My Dog Gets Itchy.

By: Dr. Tony Luchetti

  Many pets, like people, can get seasonal allergies. These allergies usually occur in the warmer months when grasses, trees, and sagebrush are blooming. Some signs of seasonal allergies are: red/inflammed skin, scratching and even excessive paw licking.

Dealing with seasonal allergies can be a frustrating endeavor for the pet, the owner, and also the veterinarian.  There are multiple treatments for seasonal allergies, and as the old adage goes, when there are multiple ways to treat something, there isn’t a great way to treat it. Certain antihistamines can be used orally to try and decrease the itchiness.  However, unfortunately only 30% of pets respond to antihistamines. The nice thing about antihistamines are their side effects are minimal with drowsiness being the most common.

The most common treatment for seasonal allergies are corticosteroids. These medications are relatively inexpensive and highly effective. The major disadvantage to corticosteroids are their side effects. The side effects are directly proportional to the dose needed to control the allergies, and include: increased water consumption and urination, increased appetite, and increased panting.  Long term, high dosage treatment can cause ligament and muscle weakening, skin and liver changes.  When using corticosteroids we always try to use the lowest effective dose which controls the allergies in order to minimize these side effects.

Another treatment for seasonal allergies in dogs is hyposensitization therapy. With this therapy we try to find out what the dog is allergic to by either a blood test or by injecting different allergens under the skin in small amounts to see if they form a welt (this is done by a veterinary dermatologist).  Once we know what the dog is allergic to, a company formulates allergy injections to these allergens. We then teach the owner how to give these injections (in small amounts) at home in the hope of desensitizing the dog’s immune system to what they are allergic to. Unfortunately these injections don’t work all the time, and the testing and injections can be somewhat expensive. Approximately 25% of patients see no improvement, 50% see some improvement, and the remaining 25% can see complete improvement.

There are currently two additional medications which help to minimize the immune systems response to allergens.  These medications are Atopica and Apoquel.  Atopica is usually effective, but has the disadvantage of being expensive for larger dogs.  Apoquel has just recently come on the market and appears to be very effective and relatively inexpensive with minimal side effects.  We are hopeful that Apoquel will replace corticosteroids as the most common treatment for seasonal allergies.  The biggest hurdle to Apoquel currently, is it is very difficult to get ahold of.

If you think your pet is having seasonal allergies, please give us a call and schedule an appointment with us, and we can help you determine which treatment is the best fit for your situation.