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Managing Health Problems of the Dog Pt 1 |
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Written by John Burns
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 ECZEMA/ITCHY SKIN/EARS
Skin disease in its various forms is probably the commonest problem affecting the dog. This can vary from general itchiness which many owners accept as normal to severe widespread inflammation with reddening, blisters, eruptions, weeping clear fluid or pus. The appearance, frequency and distribution of lesions (areas of damage) varies tremendously. Perhaps only one ear or one small patch of skin will be affected. Some dogs will be affected over wide areas of the body and limbs.
In many dogs self-mutilation by scratching, licking, chewing and biting affected areas serve to aggravate the problem (See diagram right)
Some dogs are only affected seasonally, usually in spring and summer. In others the problem is persistent and can last for several months. Occasionally the problem will surface when the bitch comes in to season or has puppies. Some breeds are affected more than others (West Highland Terriers seem particularly prone) so there is clearly some genetic susceptibility.
Skin disease can be caused in various ways. I. Allergy ( also called hypersensitivity) Allergy is an abnormal, excessive response by the immune system to some external substance which is described as the allergen. The allergen may be in the food or in the external environment.
A food allergen is usually a protein or part of a protein. Foods that are often suspected of causing allergy include wheat, soya, dairy, beef, egg, chicken, yeast. Generally, a food allergy will only develop after an offending food has been consumed for a long period of time Possible external environmental allergens include fleas, house dust mites, wool, carpets, synthetic furnishings, cleaning materials, chemicals in the diet, foodstuffs. When the allergen enters the system by inhalation this is called "atopy" Allergic reactions can cause a variety of symptoms involving the digestive and respiratory systems and behaviour as well as skin disease.
Food intolerance is an abnormal response that does not involve the immune system. Intolerance is probably a more frequent cause of illness than allergy but the symptoms may be indistinguishable. Food allergy and food intolerance are usually treated in the same way
A healthy gastro-intestinal wall should act as a barrier to the absorption of food allergens so any damage or loss of integrity of the gut may aid the development of skin disease.
Skin inflammation in some form is the commonest reason for consulting a veterinary surgeon.
Diagnosis of skin disease can be extremely complicated and expensive. Skin and blood tests for allergies have to be regarded with caution because false positive and false negative results are common.
Treatment of skin irritation usually takes the form of anti-inflammatory drugs ( steroids ), antibiotics, de-sensitising vaccines tailored specifically to the individual dog. These approaches treat the symptoms but not the build-up of toxins in the dog's system. which is often the underlying cause of the problem. It is often impossible to prevent the dog encountering those things to which it is sensitive/allergic (grass, house dust etc) but it is possible to treat the dog by changing the dog's system so that it does not over-react to its normal environment.
One of the best methods of treating skin disease in the dog is by careful attention to the diet.
Objectives and benefits of correct diet
Avoids food ingredients to which the dog is sensitive
Allows the body to rid itself of toxic waste matter in the system Improves overall general health
Aids normal function of the organs and systems including treatment of sub-clinical disease.
Ideally, a dietary trial to determine the suitability of foods must be carefully planned and followed meticulously over many weeks in order to make an accurate diagnosis. It involves the elimination of a suspect food. If symptoms disappear the food is re-introduced to see if the symptoms return. This is impractical for most owners who prefer to use trial and error and are content to see improvement in the symptoms.
Burns Pet Nutrition has a leaflet on the use of diet in the Management of Eczema and Skin Disease of the dog.
Advice is available from John Burns BVMS MRCVS or Rebecca Harrison Tel 0800 0181 890 or 01554 89082
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