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July 28, 2011

Shoo flea…don’t bother me!

Did you know that having a flea allergy is one of the most common causes of allergic reactions in cats and dogs?  It’s called flea allergy dermatitis and is a type I and type IV hypersensitivity reaction.  Dogs and cats are actually allergic to a component of the flea saliva, therefore, when the flea bites the animal, they inject the saliva into the skin which initiates the allergic reaction.  This type of allergy can occur at any age. The time of year we most commonly see flea allergy dermatitis in the Mid-Atlantic region is in the warm, rainy seasons.  However, depending on where you live in the country, flea allergy dermatitis may be a year round problem.  If your pet has a flea allergy it does not mean that the pet is infested with fleas.  It only takes a few bites from a single flea to initiate the allergic reaction.

So, how do you know your pet has a flea allergy?  It is actually uncommon to find fleas on your pet since it may only be one or two fleas causing the problem.  Also, a dog or cat’s grooming habits such as scratching or chewing may remove all visible fleas.  The most common areas of the body that can be affected by flea allergy dermatitis is the rump, lower back and tail region, however, any area of the body may be affected, especially in cats.  One of the most common manifestations in flea allergic dogs is the recurrent “hot spot.”  Other clinical signs of a flea allergy in cats and dogs includes moderate to severe itching, chewing, hair loss and a raised red rash.  Flea allergic patients may often have a secondary bacterial skin infection as well.

How is flea allergy diagnosed?
Flea allergy dermatitis is most commonly diagnosed by the patient’s history, clinical signs, and response to treatment.   The absence of fleas does not rule out a flea allergy in your pet and there are specific allergy tests which can definitively diagnose your pet with a flea allergy including serological (blood) allergy testing and intradermal (skin) allergy testing.

How is a pet with flea allergy treated?
The most important treatment for a flea allergic pet is strict, year round flea control.  There are several topical flea products which can be very helpful in preventing fleas from getting on your pet.  However, it is very important to get these products from your veterinarian or veterinary dermatologist or have a specific product recommended by your veterinarian since some over the counter flea products may be less effective or even toxic to your pet.  There are also two oral products which may be added into the treatment protocol for severe flea allergic pets which will kill a flea very quickly if it does bite the pet. Also, limiting your pet’s exposure to possible “flea rich environments” like the dog park, wooded areas, and boarding facilities can help keep your pet’s allergy under control.

Prognosis for a flea allergic pet?
The prognosis is good for these patients as long as they continue with strict flea prevention and avoidance.

If you feel your pet needs a dermatology consultation at CARES, please tell your family veterinarian.  They can provide you with a  referral to see our board certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Noel Radwanski.

June 23, 2011

Two of our Facebook fans recently asked some questions about pets and cancer.   So, our specialists from The Cancer Center at CARES answer these questions in today’s blog.

Katherine wrote:  I’d like to know what to ask my vet about cancer and how often to ask to make sure if my 10 year old dog gets it we catch it as early as possible.

That’s a great question Katherine!  Make annual or semi-annual visits to your veterinarian for a full examination and blood work.  If new lumps or bumps arise in the meantime, bring your pet into the veterinarian to have them evaluate.  Even if your veterinarian assures you they are benign, if they are rapidly growing, ulcerated, or doubling in size, return and ask for cytology or biopsy to be sure.   At home, the most important thing you can do is recognize changes in your dog.  Watch for any new lumps.  Notice weight loss or gain and any changes in appetite or eating habits.  Take your dog on walks and notice whether there is limping or exercise intolerance.  Changes that last for longer than a few days may be due to an underlying disease process.  You’re absolutely correct that early detection is key, so be aware of your dog’s habits and make sure you bring him to your veterinarian for evaluation if something changes, and be persistent if you still have concerns.

Halley wrote to us asking about cancer treatment options and signs and symptoms of the illness in pets.

Thanks for asking Halley!  Many treatment options exist these days.  A specific treatment is recommended based on a particular tumor’s behavior.  For example, if a tumor is localized and unlikely to spread to distant sites in the body, surgery may be the only treatment recommended.  If a tumor has spread to multiple organs, surgery is not usually a good idea. The main treatments recommended for cancer patients include medical treatment (also called chemotherapy), surgery, radiation and palliative care.  Palliative care is treatment used to help alleviate pain and improve the quality of life.  These treatments can include anti-nausea medication, appetite stimulants, pain medications, physical therapy, radiation, acupuncture, and even chemotherapy.  As for signs and symptoms of cancer, they often depend on the tumor type.  Symptoms that may indicate cancer include weight loss, exercise intolerance, the presence of masses in the skin or elsewhere, vomiting, diarrhea, decreased appetite,  lethargy, lameness, and fatigue.  Should your pet show progressive, concerning symptoms or have symptoms that last more than a few days, we recommend that you take your pet to your veterinarian for evaluation and diagnostics.

For more information on pet cancer and to learn about The Cancer Center at CARES, visit www.vetcares.com

June 9, 2011

Dogs, cats and even horses, like people, are affected by the pollen season or suffer from allergies.  Our animal patients may have food allergies, environmental allergies (to indoor and outdoor allergens), or insect/ flea allergies. Unlike most people with allergies that have hay-fever signs, our animal patients have itchy skin, hair loss or recurrent skin or ear infections with allergies. Only occasionally do we see pets with allergic symptoms of coughing, sneezing or runny eyes.

Meet Giovanni, a 6 year old male Cock-A-Poo from New Jersey

When CARES board certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Noel Radwanski first met Giovanni, he had a 3 year history of seasonal itching, paw licking and recurrent skin and ear infections.  Giovanni’s itching initially responded to steroids and antihistamines in addition to antibiotics for his secondary skin and ear infections.  However, at five years of age Giovanni’s allergies were becoming more severe.  He also continued to scratch his body, lick his feet and scoot his rear end on the ground into the winter months.  This was unusual since in the past years his allergies seemed to calm down after the pollen season was over.

At this time, Dr. Radwanski suggested allergy testing to determine what Giovanni was allergic to in the environment.  The testing concluded that Giovanni was allergic to almost all types of grass pollens, and two tree pollens (pine and sycamore).  Similar to people, we can formulate allergy vaccines for our canine and feline patients to help decrease their immune response to these types of allergens.   However, Giovanni’s diagnosed pollen allergies did not explain why he continued to be uncomfortable and lick or scratch in the winter.

Therefore, based on his age and non-seasonal clinical signs, Dr. Radwanski was suspicious that Giovanni had a concurrent food allergy.  Food allergy in canine and feline patients can either occur very early in life (less than 6 months of age) or as an adult (older than 5 years of age).  Like environmental allergies, patients with food allergies may also have itching of the skin and recurrent skin and/or ear infections.

How Giovanni was treated

Giovanni’s parents were shown how to give his customized allergy vaccines at home. Giovanni was also started on a hypoallergenic diet trial and was found to be severely allergic to chicken and duck.   Today, Giovanni’s itching, licking and recurrent skin infections have been well maintained with his allergy vaccine which are given every 21 days, daily antihistamines and a strict diet.

Update on Giovanni

Within the first six months of the allergy vaccines Giovanni’s allergies became much more manageable.  His itching steadily improved with every pollen season. Today, Giovanni’s seasonal allergies are very well controlled with his allergy vaccine and daily antihistamines.  His food allergies are well controlled on a diet free of chicken and other types of poultry.  Giovanni is a very happy patient who swims frequently in his family’s pool and enjoys long walks on the bike trails, even during the pollen season.

The steps Giovanni’s parents took to get him care

Giovanni’s parents have done a wonderful job keeping up with his care.  They understood that Giovanni’s immune system was better controlled with the use of allergy vaccines.  They also understood that many allergic dogs may have more than one type of allergy, as in Giovanni’s case with both environmental allergies and food allergies. In order to fully control an allergic patient, we must control or avoid all the possible allergens causing the patients symptoms.  Although it does take some time, patience and persistence, there is a lot that we can do for our animal patients to help improve their comfort and control their skin allergies with the aid of your local veterinarian and veterinary dermatologist.

Dermatology at CARES

Dr. Noel Radwanski of CARES

If you feel your pet needs a dermatology consultation at CARES, please tell your family veterinarian.  They can provide you with a  referral to see our board certified veterinary dermatologist, Dr. Noel Radwanski.