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What signs might my
pet show
?
Skin and ear problems are
commonly seen in affected
pets. Signs may be seasonal
initially, eg Spring but tend to
be recurrent or long-lasting
(chronic). Age of onset in dogs
is anything from 6 months to
3 years of age though
occasionally pets may be even
younger when they show
initial signs. Certain breeds are
more commonly affected such
as Labradors, Retrievers,
terriers (especially Westies)
and Boxers, so hereditary
factors are important. Not all
puppies or kittens from
affected parents will show
disease, as environmental
and other factors can act as
triggers for the condition.
How might atopy
affect my pet
?
The main signs you may
notice in an affected pet are
related to itching. Pets may
lick, chew or scratch at
affected areas and initially
you may think your pet is
just trying to clean the skin.
However, with excessive
trauma to these areas, you
may notice staining of the
hair from saliva (particularly
in pale-coated individuals),
loss of fur (alopecia) and
possibly reddening of the skin
(inflammation) which can lead
to infections. Eventually the
skin may thicken and become
darker (pigmentation) though
this generally takes months
to occur. Ear problems are
commonly associated with
atopic dermatitis hence, head
shaking, ear flapping,
scratching at the ear/s, holding
the head to one side, and
discomfort may all be due
to atopy.
How can it be
diagnosed
?
As many conditions can mimic
atopy, it is important that your
vet is able to rule out other
possible causes before making
this diagnosis. With itching
and inflammation of the skin
being a major presentation,
we need to ensure that the
animal has no skin parasites.
Fleas and mites are often
invisible, so it is crucial to
ensure that your pet and any
in-contact dogs or cats in the
household are treated with
safe and effective parasite
control products. Believe me,
it is a fools game to proceed
with tests and treatments for
atopic disease until this step
has been fully dealt with!
The second important ‘rule-
out’ is skin infection. Many
pets with itchy or inflamed
skin and ears have secondary
infections (bacteria or yeast)
and again, failure to recognise
and treat these can lead to
misdiagnosis or unnecessary
tests and treatments. Your vet
will be in the best position to
look for the tell- tale signs of
infection.
Is Atopic dermatitis
curable?
In a word, NO! Allergies tend
to be for life, although you
may notice a waxing and
waning of signs in your pet,
over the seasons or years.
The good news is that this
frustrating condition can now
be effectively managed and
vets have a wide range of
therapies available, including
tablets, lotions, shampoos,
sprays and other oral
supplements which can
effectively prevent or treat
flare-ups in this disease.
Despite the incurable nature
of atopy, I can assure you
that observant owners who
work closely with their
veterinary surgeon can really
make a difference when it
comes to maintaining a
healthy, comfortable and
itch-free pet.
Atopic dermatitis
in dogs and cats
Sadly there is no single test to
diagnose atopy. It is a diagnosis
reached by combining careful
history-taking with appropriate
rule-outs, tests and treatments.