40 BONDED CLIENT / Allergic Reactions
a dog to be symptomatic,” said Bloom, who is also assistant adjunct professor in dermatology at Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine. Because there are many triggers for
atopic dermatitis, check for infection, scabies, mites and fleas, and include questions that would help determine a seasonal or environmental allergy. Stress can intensify pruritic signs. Also, some dogs experience gastrointestinal (GI) signs from food allergy. These GI effects can be the sole manifestation, or they can appear with skin disease. “Finding food allergy is a process of elimination,” explained Rosanna Mar- sella, DVM, DACVD, professor of der- matology in the department of small animal clinical sciences at the Univer- sity of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine. If all the differentials have been eliminated or managed and the dog still has clinical signs, then consider a food-elimination trial. Educate the client so that he or she is committed to a food-elimination trial if it is needed. Remember that clients bring many ideas about food allergies with them, and not all of them are accurate. “Owners tend to apply their own
experiences and knowledge of food issues in people to their dogs,” Marsella said. “That is why canine diets that are grain-free or gluten-free are so popular right now. In people, there is a lot of pressure to eat foods that are gluten- free. Yet, there are very few people who have true gluten allergies. And for dogs, well, when they get a food allergy, they tend to be allergic to the meat com- ponent in the diet. We don’t worry so much about the carbohydrate compo- nent of the diet.” You or your technician might have
to educate owners and dispel several myths about food allergy before you can get to the root of the problem. Because food allergy is a specific immune-medi- ated condition, it might be a good idea to use the term “adverse food reaction” instead of food allergy unless the animal
Trends magazine, May 2013
has completed a food-elimination trial, Bloom suggested.
10 Allergy Myths Here are 10 common myths about
food allergy and suggestions for educat- ing clients about them.
1. Food allergy is common among dogs. Not every reaction to a food is caused
by an allergy, which is an immune-medi- ated response. Confirmed cases of food allergy are actually pretty rare; only about 5% to 10% of dogs with an allergy have a confirmed food allergy, said Marsella.
2. Dogs are allergic to corn and other grains. Although they can develop an allergy
to any component in a diet, corn and grain allergies in dogs are rare. Dogs typically are allergic to meat proteins. “I see dogs all the time that are on a grain- free diet and they are still symptomatic,” Bloom said. “That is because it is not
Treat the Skin Whenever the dog has atopic dermatitis, regardless of the cause, there is a problem with the skin barrier, according to dermatologist Paul Bloom, DVM, DACVD, DABVP (canine and feline). “When treating any allergy, a big challenge is understanding
that the problem is not just allergy. It is allergy, plus the animal’s skin barrier function is defective,” he said. “Dogs with atopic derma- titis have a condition that is similar to human eczema. People with eczema have a problem with their skin barrier function, too.” Just as a person with eczema must take care of his or her skin,
an owner must take care of the skin of a dog with allergies—any kind of allergy. Shaving long-haired dogs can help prevent allergens and irri-
tants from being trapped in the hair and having constant contact with the abnormal skin. Wearing T-shirts can help protect the dog. Frequent bathing can be helpful, but a harsh shampoo
shouldn’t be used. Make sure the owner dries the dog thoroughly. Recommend a skin moisturizer as an after-bath rinse. “People have to realize that they have to provide better skin
care,” he said.
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