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SkinVet Clinic e-News
Greetings!
We are pleased to introduce a concise and informative monthly email newsletter, written with the needs of SkinVet Clinic patients and clients in mind. We think that you'll find the information useful, even if your pet doesn't currently have a skin or ear problem. We'll offer information on skin diseases of pets, pet products, Portland-area veterinarians, pet organizations, and special offers only available to newsletter subscribers. If you find the information useful, please forward this email to several of your pet-loving friends! We'd love it if you would also like our Facebook page! Our Facebook page followers gain access to a coupon for $10 off their pet's next examination.  Dr. Jon Plant, Lily, Heather, and Brittany |
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Answers to some common questions about allergies to foods in itchy pets
Jon Plant, DVM, board-certified veterinary dermatologist
 | | Cats often scratch their faces with food allergy. |
How common are food allergies? There is quite a range in the percentages reported, but it is probably lower than you would think based on the attention food allergy receives, especially from pet food retailers. Why? The pet food industry is huge; US sales are projected to be over $20 billion in 2012, about 50% higher than all veterinary care. Around 600 new pet food products are introduced into the US each year. There is a lot of incentive on the part of pet food manufacturers and retailers to attribute skin problems to food allergy. Sometimes food allergy is the issue, but more often it's not. Here are the numbers for dogs: 9-36% of all dogs with allergic skin diseases and 8-12% of those dogs seen in dermatology referral practices turn out to have food allergy. In my estimation, the numbers may be somewhat higher for cats.
What are the most common food ingredients that cause problems? Considering the amount of money spent on diets marketed as hypoallergenic, relatively little is known about the relative importance of various food ingredients as causes of food allergy. A recent textbook summarized fifteen reports in the veterinary literature documenting only 278 dogs with confirmed food allergy. Beef, dairy products, and wheat were the most commonly implicated allergens followed by lamb, chicken egg, chicken and soy. Multiple sensitivities are common when food allergy is diagnosed. In one study, 64% of food allergic dogs were allergic to two or more proteins.
In cats, only 56 well-documented cases were found in 10 reports. Beef, dairy and fish were the most often implicated allergens.
What are the signs? The signs of food allergy are nearly identical to atopic dermatitis, a much more common disease which is triggered by environmental allergens (pollens, dust mites, etc.) Pets with food allergy tend to be a little younger than those with atopic dermatitis, but there is a lot of overlap.
In cats, the common signs are:
- Itchy head, face and ears
- Excessive grooming, especially on the abdomen
- Variable degrees of self trauma (from hair loss to angry wounds)
In dogs, we most often see:  | | A dog with atopic dermatitis |
- Paw licking and chewing
- Ear infections
- Itchy face, armpits and abdomen
We may also see recurrent skin infections, hives, and seborrhea.
How do we diagnose food allergy? Although several companies offer blood testing for food allergy in pets, they have not proven reliable. They are poor at predicting whether a pet is, or isn't allergic to a particular food item. The only way to diagnose food allergy is with a strict diet change. Depending on the pet's dietary history, we may recommend feeding either a limited ingredient, or hydrolyzed protein diet for 6 weeks. The rationale of a limited ingredient diet is to feed a few unique ingredients so as to avoid any other protein sources that the pet has previously eaten. The hydrolyzed diets rely on the fact that proteins of a small size (molecular weight) are much less likely to cause allergic reactions.
If a response is seen during the diet trial, there are still a several possibilities. They may have improved because 1) the diet change, 2) we've treated for itching or infections, or 3) the environment has changed. So to really be sure the food made the difference, one needs to introduce either the original food or individual ingredients to see if there is a flare up of signs. Without this provocation test, which nobody really enjoys doing when your pet is feeling better, the diagnosis of food allergy is still uncertain.
Is it helpful for food allergies if I make my pet's food myself?
Home-prepared diets can be useful if you do it well and can stick with it for 6 weeks (as a test diet). That means closely following a recipe prepared by a veterinary or animal nutritionist. We can refer you to some resources to help with this. Our favorite is BalanceIT.com. Food additives have rarely been documented as causing food allergy in pets, although it is entirely possible.
It is frustrating and sad when your pet is uncomfortable. If your pet suffers from allergies, remember that we are here to help.
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Spotlight: Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon  I have had the pleasure of working with this fine organization over the past year on some of their rescued dogs that have come to them with skin problems. In most cases, a lot of TLC and flea control is a big part of their road to recovery. Golden Bond Rescue of Oregon, Inc. is a volunteer run, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of Golden Retrievers. Their mission is to find caring, adoptive homes for Goldens in need and to educate the public to prevent the homelessness of Goldens of the future. Each time I consult on one of their Goldens I am impressed by the level of care that this organization provides to them. And it may not be true of every one, but all the dogs they have brought in so far have been sweethearts. Keep up the good work, Golden Bond! Dr. Plant |
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Home Delivery Available!
Comfortis for Dogs
Make sure that your pets are protected from fleas this spring. It is easy to get complacent with flea control during the winter, but it is doubly important to resume before fleas have a chance to infest your environment.
Comfortis, or the companion product Trifexis, are once-monthly tablets that are our first choice for flea control for most dogs. The active ingredient kills fleas quicker than topical products and it isn't washed off. They are prescription products that require a doctor-client-patient relationship in order to dispense. We can ship right to your home!
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 | Pet of the Month
Yeager, 7 years old and very handsome!
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Jon Plant, DVM, DACVD
SkinVet Clinic
Lake Oswego, OR 97035
503-352-3376
info@skinvetclinic.com
Monday-Thursday, 8 am - 6 pm
Copyright 2012 SkinVet Clinic
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Give a friend $20 off our Initial Consultation
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Do you have a friend with a pet that needs a dermatologist? Forward this coupon to them and they can save $20 on our initial consultation. If you have a second pet with skin or ear issues, you can use it for their first appointment!
Call 503-352-3376 before our April slots book up!
| Offer Expires: April 30, 2012. Cannot be combined with other offers. Present coupon for discount.
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