What Are Allergies?

Just like people, dogs can show allergic symptoms when their immune systems begin to recognize certain everyday substances—or allergens— as dangerous. Even though these allergens are common in most environments and harmless to most animals, a dog with allergies will have an extreme reaction to them. Allergens can be problematic when inhaled, ingested or contact a dog’s skin. As his body tries to rid itself of these substances, a variety of skin, digestive and respiratory symptoms may appear.

What Are the General Symptoms of Allergies in Dogs?

• Itchy, red, moist or scabbed skin
• Increased scratching
• Itchy, runny eyes
• Itchy back or base of tail (most commonly flea allergy)
• Itchy ears and ear infections
• Sneezing
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Snoring caused by an inflamed throat
• Paw chewing/swollen paws
• Constant licking

Allergic dogs may also suffer from secondary bacterial or yeast skin infections, which may cause hair loss, scabs or crusts on the skin.

Which Dogs Are At Risk for Getting Allergies?

Any dog can develop allergies at any time during his life, but allergic reactions seem to be especially common in terriers, setters, retrievers, and flat-faced breeds such as pugs, bulldogs and Boston terriers.

What Substances Can Dogs Be Allergic To?

A few common allergens include:

• Tree, grass and weed pollens
• Mold spores
• Dust and house dust mites
• Dander
• Feathers
• Cigarette smoke
• Food ingredients (e.g. beef, chicken, pork, corn, wheat or soy)
• Prescription drugs
• Fleas and flea-control products (The bite of a single flea can trigger intense itchiness for two to three weeks!)
• Perfumes
• Cleaning products
• Fabrics
• Insecticidal shampoo
• Rubber and plastic materials

Can Dogs Be Allergic to Food?

Yes, but it often takes some detective work to find out what substance is causing the allergic reaction. Dogs with a food allergy will commonly have itchy skin, breathing difficulties or gastrointestinal problems like diarrhea and vomiting, and an elimination diet will most probably be used to determine what food he is allergic to. If your dog is specifically allergic to chicken, for example, you should avoid feeding him any products containing chicken protein or fat.

Please note that food allergies may show up in dogs at any age.

What Should I Do If I Think My Dog Has Allergies?

Visit your veterinarian. After taking a complete history and conducting a physical examination, he or she may be able to determine the source of your dog’s allergic reaction. If not, your vet will most probably recommend skin or blood tests, or a special elimination diet, to find out what's causing the allergic reaction.

How Are Dog Allergies Diagnosed?

If your dog’s itchy, red or irritated skin persists beyond initial treatment by a veterinarian, allergy testing, most often performed by a veterinary dermatologist, is likely warranted. The diagnostic test of choice is an intradermal skin test similar to the one performed on humans.

The only way to diagnose a food allergy is to feed your dog a prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet exclusively for 12 weeks. The importance of not feeding your dog anything but the diet cannot be emphasized enough—that means no treats, table food or flavored medication. This diet will be free of potential allergy-causing ingredients and will ideally have ingredients your dog has never been exposed to. He’ll remain on the diet until his symptoms go away, at which time you’ll begin to reintroduce old foods to see which ones might be causing the allergic reaction.

Please note, many dogs diagnosed with a food allergy will require home-cooked meals—but this must be done in conjunction with your veterinarian, as it requires careful food balancing.

How Can Dog Allergies Be Treated?

The best way to treat allergies is to remove the offending allergens from the environment.

• Prevention is the best treatment for allergies caused by fleas. Start a flea control program for all of your pets before the season starts. Remember, outdoor pets can carry fleas inside to indoor pets. See your veterinarian for advice about the best flea control products for your dog and the environment.
• If dust is the problem, clean your pet's bedding once a week and vacuum at least twice weekly—this includes rugs, curtains and any other materials that gather dust.
• Weekly bathing may help relieve itching and remove environmental allergens and pollens from your dog’s skin. Discuss with your vet what prescription shampoos are best, as frequent bathing with the wrong product can dry out skin.
• If you suspect your dog has a food allergy, she’ll need to be put on an exclusive prescription or hydrolyzed protein diet. Once the allergy is determined, your vet will recommend specific foods or a home-cooked diet.

Are There Allergy Medications for Dogs?

Since certain substances cannot be removed from the environment, your vet may recommend medications to control the allergic reaction:

• In the case of airborne allergens, your dog may benefit from allergy injections. These will help your pet develop resistance to the offending agent, instead of just masking the itch.
• Antihistamines such as Benadryl can be used, but may only benefit a small percentage of dogs with allergies. Ask your vet first.
• Fatty acid supplements might help relieve your dog’s itchy skin. There are also shampoos that may help prevent skin infection, which occurs commonly in dogs with allergies. Sprays containing oatmeal, aloe and other natural products are also available.
• An immune modulating drug may also be helpful.
• There are several flea-prevention products that can be applied monthly to your dog’s skin.
• If the problem is severe, you may have to resort to cortisone to control the allergy. However these drugs are strong and should be used with caution and only under the guidance of your veterinarian.

Are Allergies and Bronchitis Related?

Chronic exposure to inhaled irritants (including cigarette smoke) may be a cause of bronchitis in the dog. Bronchitis is characterized by a persistent cough due to inflammation of the airway and excessive mucus production. Treatment may include medication to open breathing passages, antibiotics and anti-inflammatory agents. Please remember, your pets should not be exposed to cigarette smoke.

written by the ASPCA

Don't panic. Rapid response is important, but panicking can interfere with the process of helping your pet.

Take 30 to 60 seconds to safely collect and have at hand any material involved. This may be of great benefit to your vet and/or APCC toxicologists, as they determine what poison or poisons are involved. In the event that you need to take your pet to a local veterinarian, be sure to take the product's container with you. Also, collect in a sealable plastic bag any material your pet may have vomited or chewed.

If you witness your pet consuming material that you suspect might be toxic, do not hesitate to seek emergency assistance, even if you do not notice any adverse effects. Sometimes, even if poisoned, an animal may appear normal for several hours or for days after the incident.

Call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

The telephone number is (888) 426-4435. There is a $65 consultation fee for this service.

Be ready with the following information:

• The species, breed, age, sex, weight and number of animals involved.
• The animal's symptoms.
• Information regarding the exposure, including the agent (if known), the amount of the agent involved and the time elapsed since the time of exposure.
• Have the product container/packaging available for reference.

Please note: If your animal is having seizures, losing consciousness, is unconscious or is having difficulty breathing, telephone ahead and bring your pet immediately to your local veterinarian or emergency veterinary clinic. If necessary, he or she may call the APCC.

Be Prepared

Keep the telephone number of the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center—(888) 426-4435—as well as that of your local veterinarian, in a prominent location.

Invest in an emergency first-aid kit for your pet. The kit should contain:

• A fresh bottle of hydrogen peroxide, 3 percent USP (to induce vomiting)
• A turkey baster, bulb syringe or large medicine syringe (to administer peroxide)
• Saline eye solution
• Artificial tear gel (to lubricate eyes after flushing)
• Mild grease-cutting dishwashing liquid (for bathing an animal after skin contamination)
• Forceps (to remove stingers)
• A muzzle (to protect against fear- or excitement-induced biting)
• A can of your pet's favorite wet food
• A pet carrier

Always consult a veterinarian or the APCC for directions on how and when to use any emergency first-aid item.

Become A Guardian

Nearly half of all animals that enter a shelter never make it out. Too many dogs and cats in shelters don't get a second chance simply because there is no one to adopt them. We need your help to get healthy pets out of shelters and into loving homes.

For as little as 60 cents a day, you can help us rescue innocent animals from a lifetime of neglect and suffering. Your monthly donations will make it possible for the ASPCA to find happy homes for America's homeless pets.

Become an ASPCA Guardian today. Make a difference for animals every month of the year. ASPCA Guardians are a group of dedicated friends like you who make regular monthly gifts. This level of support makes it possible for the ASPCA to reach and rescue animals in need. When you decide to donate today, you will help us continue our life-saving programs.

As an ASPCA Guardian, you'll stay updated with ASPCA newsletters as well as gain access to a special Guardians-only website. There's no need to renew each year and you may call to change your monthly gift amount or cancel at any time.

As we begin to prepare for the Fourth of July, burgers will be cooking and the sights and sounds of beautiful fireworks loom in the waiting. Before everyone jumps up and hurries to their local grocery store, there are a few things we must keep in mind to keep our pets safe on celebration day.

Fireworks, though to the average person are a joy to “Ohhh” and “Ahhh” over, our pets don’t necessarily agree. An animal’s interpretation is probably that the world is coming to a very loud end and the bright lights are terrifying. The noise is worse than the vacuum cleaner on its last day of life as it screams, groans and moans around the house.

Help your pets understand that there is nothing to fear by sitting with them, or if you can’t do that, put them in a familiar room and play a radio to help drown out the noise. Shut the blinds or put heavier blinds over the windows to also help block out the array of sparkling lights shining in.

Fluffy and Max will be much happier when the festivities are over and they can resume their regular places to sleep and play.

In the Valley of the Sun we cherish our pools, but let’s not forget about Fluffy and Max who are wandering through the crowd of children and adults. It is our responsibility as pet owners to ensure that they have a safe way to escape the possible dangers of the pool.

Many dogs and cats can be taught, through repetition and training, where the pool steps are. Yes, cats can also fall victim to pool drowning, so if you have an outdoor cat pool steps can save their life, too.

There are pool steps and ramps made especially for your pet that attach to the side of the pool deck. The beauty of the Internet is there aare multiple websites dedicated to selling these products, such as www.amazon.com, www.discountramps.com and doggyramps.com.

As a suggestion I would recommend purchasing two of them, one for either side of the pool. Your pet won’t generally swim around the entire ledge in search of their steps. They instead will swim for what is in their line of vision and having two will ensure your pet’s safety all the more.

Food and alcohol consumption is fine for us humans, in moderation of course, but for Fluffy and Max they can be very deadly. Alcohol can cause coma and/or death for both dogs and cats. Please refrain from letting Max have just a sip of your adult beverage, he will thank you later.

A detailed list of all toxic food and beverages with symptoms can be found on the net as well at www.humanesociety.org.

Onions are highly toxic in all forms: Cooked and raw. After eating an onion it can take up to a few days to see the symptoms. Keep those onions far away from your counter surfers. A half-foot away from your counter top ledge is still within reach for the best counter surfers, trust me, I’ve met my fair share of professionals.

Fat trimmings, if you don’t want to put that in your body, don’t put it in your pet. Fat trimmings can cause pancreatitis in your pet, which can also be lethal if acute. These are just a couple of examples that may be toxic or cause gastrointestinal upset in your pet, but there are many more including avocado, grapes, chocolate (darker is more toxic), caffeine, mushrooms, dairy products and salt.

If your pet is part of your festivities try to keep them away from where food is being consumed and prepared. Children can be careless and drop food without realizing it and Max and Fluffy are following them around just waiting for a morsel to fall on the ground.

A little knowledge and precaution can ensure that our animal and human friends have a safe and enjoyable day.

Cara E. Gettings

“Your 24 hr Neighborhood Vet!

Open 24 hr a day, 7 days a week. Open all weekends and holidays. 

Animal Health Services 24/7 Pet Urgent & Critical Care Center

37555 N. Cave Creek. Rd.

Cave Creek, AZ 85331

480-488-6181

www.ahsvet.com

Just minutes from Scottsdale, North Phoenix, Anthem, Cave Creek, Carefree

We still offer routine and medical services Mon-Sat.

WellPet found through product quality testing that specific product runs of Wellness canned cat food might contain less than adequate levels of thiamine (also known as Vitamin B1), they have decided to voluntarily recall them.

Please know, the vast majority of products tested had the appropriate levels of thiamine; however, with the number of recipes they offer, they did not want to make this more confusing. Therefore to avoid confusion and in an abundance of caution, they have decided to recall all canned cat products with the specific date codes noted below. Cats fed only product with inadequate levels of thiamine for several weeks may be at risk for developing a thiamine deficiency. If treated promptly, thiamine deficiency is typically reversible.

Though the chance of developing this deficiency is remote, withdrawing these products is the right thing to do and they are removing it from retailers' shelves.

The lots involved in this voluntary recall are:

Wellness Canned Cat (all flavors and sizes) with best by dates from 14APR 13 through 30SEP13;

Wellness Canned Cat Chicken & Herring (all sizes) with best by date of 10NOV13 and 17NOV13.

If you have cat food from these lots, you should stop feeding it to your cats. You may call WellPet at 1-877-227-9587 to arrange for return of the product and reimbursement.

As the temperatures start to drop, and the Valley heads into autumn, the concerned pet owner must start planning for the holidays.  While the fall and winter season is full of fun and merriment for humans, it can be full of danger and fear for our pets.  Halloween is a particularly frightening holiday for our furred friends.  There are many urban legends about cats being used for satanic rituals, but there is actually little evidence that the incidence of animal mutilation or abduction increases significantly at Halloween.  There are, occasionally, incidents in October that seem to fuel the veracity of the urban legends.  For instance, there was a widely publicized case last October involving the stabbing of at least 14 cats in the East Valley.  According to a press release by the Humane Society of the United States, these cases were not linked to satanic rituals or to Halloween.  They were simply horrible atrocities perpetrated by a sick individual, and could have occurred at any time of year.

Instead, pet owners should be worried about more mundane occurrences and objects that can cause fear, illness or even death for our pets.  Candy is every child’s favorite part of Halloween, but it can be extremely dangerous for your pets.  Most people know that chocolate is toxic for pets, but many do not know that the artificial sweetener xylitol (an ingredient in some types of candy) is also poisonous for our four-legged family members.  In addition, the cellophane, tin foil, and paper used to wrap candy can be harmful if ingested by your pets, causing choking or intestinal blockages.   If you believe that your pet has eaten candy containing a toxic substance, immediately call the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

Decorations can also be dangerous for your animals.  Many people have pets that will eat anything, including decorations, and could choke or end up with an intestinal blockage as a result.  Other pets can get tangled in hanging decorations; and candles can cause burn injuries or house fires if knocked over by an excited or curious pet.

While you may enjoy meeting all of the trick-or-treaters who come to your door, your pets may not be as welcoming.  The constantly ringing doorbell, shouting, and unfamiliar costumes and people can be very frightening for pets.  While your pets may normally enjoy greeting visitors at the door, they may become frightened by the chaos on Halloween, and could become aggressive or attempt to run away.  Keeping your pets in a secure room, with a TV or radio on to drown out the noise, and away from the hustle and bustle is the best way to keep them calm and safe on Halloween if you plan to welcome trick-or-treaters to your door.

Even though costumes look cute, they can make your pets very uncomfortable and can even injure them, so make sure to keep a close eye on your pets if you plan to dress them in a costume.  Last but not least, please remember to keep updated tags on your pets, or get them micro chipped, just in case they do get lost during the festivities.  For more information on how to keep your pets safe, both humanesociety.org and aspca.org offer a wealth of safety tips or check out or website at www.theanimalskingdom.com

Written by Keely Walsh and Jennifer Cignoni, The Animal’s Kingdom Pet Sitting Service

Please share this with all the pet owners you know and ask them to do the same - the information you take a few minutes to share might prevent the senseless loss of other pets.

        
Please   tell  every dog or cat owner you know.. Even if   you don't have a pet,  please pass this to those   who do.
Over the weekend,   the doting  owner of two young lab mixes  purchased Cocoa Mulch   from Target to  use in their  garden. The dogs loved the way   it smelled and it  was advertised to  keep cats away from  their garden.  Their dog  (Calypso) decided the mulch smelled good   enough  to eat and devoured a large  helping.   She vomited a few  times which was typical  when  she eats something  new but wasn't acting lethargic in any  way.  The  next day, Mom woke up and took    Calypso out for her morning  walk . Half way   through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.   

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the  label,   upon further investigation on the company's web  site,  

 this product is HIGHLY toxic to   dogs  and cats

Cocoa Mulch is  manufactured by Hershey's,  and they claim that "It is true  that studies have shown that 50%  of the dogs that eat Cocoa  Mulch can suffer  physical  harm  to a variety of   degrees (depending on each individual dog).    However, 98% of all dogs won't eat    it."
*Snopes site gives  the following   information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp *   

Cocoa Mulch,  which is sold by Home  Depot, Foreman's   Garden Supply and other Garden supply   stores contains a  lethal ingredient called  'Theobromine'. It  is lethal to dogs and  cats. It  smells li ke  chocolate and it really  attracts dogs.  They will ingest this stuff  and  die. Several deaths  already occurred in the last  2-3   weeks.

Theobromine is in   all chocolate,  especially dark or baker's  chocolate which is  toxic to  dogs. Cocoa bean  shells contain potentially toxic   quantities of theobromine,   a xanthine compound    similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline.   A dog that  ingested a lethal quantity of garden   mulch made from cacao bean  shells  developed  severe convulsions   and died 17 hours later. Analysis  of the stomach  contents and  the ingested cacao bean  shells  revealed the presence of lethal  amounts of  theobromine.