ELiterally every day, itchy dogs come limping into Elizabeth Falk's veterinary office. Some people can't stop biting their legs or scratching their bellies. Some people may experience red or smelly ears or develop a rash on their skin. All are extremely uncomfortable due to environmental allergies. “They're sitting in the waiting room, and everyone else is backing away for fear of contagion,” she says. “I'm very busy trying to help as many people as I can.” Faulk was most recently a veterinary dermatologist at the Cornell University School of Veterinary Medicine, where she sees about 15 pets with allergies a day. , reservations were filled up to six months in advance. She is in such high demand that she plans to open her own pet dermatology clinic in April.
More and more dogs are suffering from atopic dermatitis, also known as environmental allergies. According to Banner Pet Hospital's 2018 report (the most recent U.S. numbers on this issue), the number of cases has increased by 30% over the past 10 years. In 2021, a teaching hospital in Brazil reported that 25% of dogs examined suffered from allergies. Dog allergies are not consistently tracked, but anecdotally they seem to be on the rise. “Allergic skin disease is probably the one we see the most,” says Erin Tate, vice president of clinical development at his CityVet in Dallas. “I've been doing this for 25 years, and there's definitely been a dramatic increase in the last few years.” Dogs with environmental allergies tend to be “miserable” and sometimes lose their coat. Sometimes they scratch so hard that they end up scratching, she added. Spring is a particularly testing time. “I tell people that if your allergies are getting worse, your dog's allergies are getting worse,” says Tate.
But what causes increased itching? So what can help relieve the suffering of an allergic dog?
Some dogs are prone to allergies
Falk says atopic dermatitis has a strong genetic component. Certain breeds of dogs are more susceptible to this disease, including German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers, French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, West Highland Terriers, Shih Tzus, Pit Bulls, Pugs, and Boxers. Allergies look different depending on the breed. For example, Falk points out that German shepherds tend to develop scabs around their lips, and in labs they tend to develop bumps between their toes.
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Matthew McCarthy, founder of Juniper Valley Animal Hospital in Queens, said environmental allergies usually first appear when dogs are 6 months to 3 years old, but there are outliers. Allergies are the result of skin barrier dysfunction, or a defect in the outer layer that is destroyed by inflammation. “The old school way we used to think about this was that they were inhaling it. [allergens]They then enter the bloodstream and react, causing the release of histamine,” McCarthy says. “We now know that's probably not the case.” Instead, airborne allergens, such as pollen from grass and trees, can be absorbed through your dog's skin. This can lead to symptoms such as excessive itching, which can lead to your dog constantly licking and biting its paws and rubbing its face. In some cases, atopic dermatitis manifests itself as frequent skin or ear infections rather than itching. A particularly unlucky group of dogs experience all of the above.
Climate change plays a role
The main reason why the number of dogs suffering from allergies is increasing has to do with global warming. “Climate change and dramatic changes in temperature have extended allergy season,” Tate says. In the winter when she lives in Texas, there can be a few cold days in the 30's or her 40's, then quickly she's soaring into the 70's or her 80's. “Every time warmth comes during the cold spell, they start blooming again,” she says. “There's no chance of dying for anything.”
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Research suggests that warmer weather and increased carbon dioxide levels are lengthening the growing season for mold spores and plants such as ragweed, while also worsening air pollution. Pollen season in North America now starts 20 days earlier, making it 10 days longer than in 1990. In addition, pollen emissions have increased by an average of 21%. Every allergy season. Cue a frantic call to the puppy's vet. “Climate change is affecting humanity” and It’s a dog,” Tate says.
Dogs in the past were dirtier than they are now.
Early exposure to microorganisms, whether through soil, bacteria, or even dogs, can help protect infants from developing allergies. Matthew Levinson, a veterinary dermatologist who runs Petderm in Chicago, says the same is true for dogs. Research shows that dogs who live in rural environments, go for regular walks outdoors, and have contact with livestock are less likely to develop environmental allergies, while dogs with atopic dermatitis are more likely to develop It has been suggested that it is more prevalent in urban environments where people tend to spend more time. time inside.
“We're cleaner and more sanitary. Dogs don't spend as much time outside anymore,” Levinson says. “It’s not like the old days when you had a dog house in your backyard and your dog spent most of the day in the garden.”
On the other hand, dogs that live with other dogs also seem to benefit from the protective effect. But that doesn't necessarily mean you need to adopt another dog or expose your pet to more germs. Levinson says it's difficult to separate out all the genetic and environmental factors that cause allergies. However, he says it is difficult to make general recommendations because “there are so many individual differences between individual dogs that there are many subjective aspects.”
A ray of hope: Better treatment options than ever before
Levinson treats 14 to 17 allergic dogs each day. Additionally, he says, when he learns that many people are suffering, he feels guilty and often ends up double-booking appointments. When an itchy dog arrives at the office, he first takes a detailed medical history. That is, which parts of the body are itchy, and at what time of the year it is more itchy. He will perform a physical exam, check for redness in your legs or groin, and may suggest an elimination diet to rule out food allergies. Once we are certain that your dog has an environmental allergy, we will usually recommend allergy testing. This means injecting small amounts of dozens of different allergens under the dog's skin, and if the pup has an allergy, hives will form in the area, indicating the culprit.
Levinson emphasizes that allergy management is “a marathon, not a sprint,” and most dogs require lifelong treatment. There is no cure, but treatment options are much better than they were 10 years ago. Most dogs respond well to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a customized injection that trains the immune system to reduce sensitization to a specific allergen, similar to the allergy shots that humans receive. However, it may take more than a year to see results.
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There are other options as well. In 2013, an oral drug called Apoquel was approved to reduce itching and inflammation in dogs with allergies. “It was like a miracle,” Falk says. “We've been waiting for it for a long time.” She added that it is safe, well-tolerated and a “reasonable long-term drug” for dogs with skin infections and itching.
A few years later, in 2016, another treatment option emerged. It's Cytopoint, a targeted therapy given by injection every four to eight weeks. It's a monoclonal antibody against an itch signal called interleukin (IL)-31, Falk explains. “It binds to the itch signal,” she says. “It has no effect on the rest of the immune system, so it's very safe.” The downside is that it's only intended to suppress itching, so dogs with allergies that are prone to infections due to inflammation could get infected. , she added. That's why it's important to choose medications based on how your dog's allergies manifest. Cytopoint is usually most effective for dogs with itching that have not had an infection, but Falk recommends prescribing Apoquel for dogs that have developed an infection because it is a good anti-inflammatory. is common.
However, canine dermatology isn't cheap, and pet insurance typically only covers treatment if your dog is insured before symptoms appear. The out-of-pocket cost for allergy testing is more than $1,000 for him, Apoquel is about $90 for 30 tablets, and Cytopoint injections range from $50 to $200 depending on the size of the dog.
Is there a way to prevent allergies?
Owning a dog with allergies ultimately comes down to bad luck. If your dog is born with itchy skin, he or she will experience itching. However, if you're considering purchasing a puppy from a breeder, it may be helpful to ask the breeder if any dogs in your potential pet's bloodline have allergies, Falk advises. Research suggests that when two dogs with atopic dermatitis are bred, 65% of their offspring will have environmental allergies. If only one parent has this condition, the percentage drops to 21% to 57% of her. And if neither parent has allergies, 11% will continue to have problems.
If your dog has allergies (and even if you don't), make sure to give them regular baths (about once a month) to remove potential allergens from their skin, Tate advises. To do. She thinks of dogs as “little dust mops” that pick up a lot of things when they're briskly roaming outside. Some people prefer wiping their pets with unscented baby wipes to remove pollen, she added.
And most importantly, if your dog suddenly starts scratching more often than usual, take him to the vet. Depending on the severity of the situation, your veterinarian may refer you to a specialist, but in most cases your veterinarian can help. “The sooner immunotherapy is started, the higher the success rate,” Levinson says. “If your dog is young, it's much easier to develop an immune system than if your dog has had allergy symptoms for several years.” The sooner you improve your dog's health, the happier you'll both be. he emphasizes.
