Thursday 1 ˜ April °˛°˜ 2021
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The Weekend Sun
Skin allergies in dogs
tauranga papamoa village katikati te puna
Is your dog scratching all of the time or chewing at their feet? If so, your dog could have a skin allergy.
Tauranga Vets
Of all the major organs in our dogs the skin is one of the most important, and because we can see it, skin problems are some of the most common that we see as vets. One of the most common problems that we see is due to allergies. Canine allergic dermatitis is a complex, chronic, frustrating disease that can be hard to fully diagnose and difficult to treat. Canine allergies are often seasonal, but not always. The most common causes of allergic dermatitis include dust mites, pollens, plants, fleas and flies, mites and ticks. Even food can be a cause. The main symptoms that we see are scratching, licking and chewing, with erythema or redness of the skin. The most commonly affected areas are the feet and legs, ears, neck and axillae (or armpits).
These symptoms result is an uncomfortable, irritated dog (with an owner that’s also getting irritated!). So what can we do for these dogs? Firstly, we will get a history: when did the problems first start? Are they worse at any particular time of the year? Did they happen when they went for a walk in a certain place? We will look at the type and pattern of the skin lesions, test for parasites like fleas and mites, and check for infections that frequently make itching worse, like bacteria or yeast. Having determined that your dog has an allergy, we then need to look at treatment. Therapy is aimed at making them more comfortable, reducing itches and inflammations and improving the damaged skin barrier. There are various treatment options available. If your dog is itching and scratching more than usual, we recommend that you see your veterinarian. Call Tauranga, Te Puna, Katikati or Papamoa Village Vets on: 0800 838 7267.
Treating arthritis in our pets
As our pets age, they may begin to suffer from arthritis. It can be a painful condition and is usually noticeable as a stiff gait first thing in the morning, which improves with a bit of exercise or movement. This can often be worse in cold weather, and we diagnose this condition with an examination and radiographs or x-rays. There are many strategies to help animals with arthritis. Firstly, there’s joint support and pain management, which go hand in hand. Although medication can be invaluable to reduce pain, there are so many innovative and practical options to reduce the need for medication and improve quality of life. They include therapies such as acupuncture, herbal medicines like turmeric and epitalis, nutraceuticals like proanthocyanidins
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and glucosamine, magnetic therapies, regenerative medicine and many more. Ensuring that your pet is not overweight and that they do regular, controlled and low-impact exercise to help strengthen their muscles and maintain mobility is very important. Also consider their environment and what obstacles they have to navigate, like slippery floors, stairs and even pet doors which can be challenging. The right strategy depends on the severity of the disease, the needs of your pet, your needs and preferences and which treatment options your vet considers will give the best result. With a comprehensive treatment plan, a great deal of quality can be added to your pet’s life, and often quantity too.