Introduction:
Basic Concepts:
It turns out that dogs and cats have mast cells that release histamine and other highly reactive compounds just like humans EXCEPT that humans have more mast cells in their respiratory system while cats and dogs have more in their SKIN.
So, while dogs and cats can have eye irritation, sneezing, and other respiratory allergies to fleas, pollen, dust mites, or certain food types they are more likely to have skin inflammation, itchy paws, and overactive secretions of the anal glands, ears, and over the lower back.
For cats with allergic skin disease, the most common symptom are little scabs and areas of skin inflammation around the face and neck that then progress over the back
Pets with skin, ear, and anal gland allergies tend to be allergic to either the proteins in flea saliva, the proteins in airborn dander and pollens, or to certain proteins in their diet, snacks, or table scraps that they eat. They can also be allergic to ant bites, bee stings, and to straw, bedding, blankets and so on that they come into contact or sleep on.
Often pets are allergic to any combination of the above allergens making these pets especially difficult to make comfortable.
So, if your pet has allergic symptoms, there's a good chance that at least part of their allergic problem is due to their diet. We know this because about 50% of pets that suffer from skin, ear, and anal gland allergies are either cured or greatly improved when we do a food trial.
What's a food trial?
It's a simple, inexpensive test to see if your pet's allergy symptoms go away when we
1. Get you, the owner, to stop giving any table scraps, raw hide chews, dental treats, pet treats, or anything else that MIGHT contain proteins that your pet is allergic to.
2. Choosing a trial replacement diet made from an "exotic" protein(s) that your pet is very UNLIKELY to be allergic to and sticking with it for 3-6 weeks.
3. Choosing a diet without alot of artifical preservatives, coloring agents, artificial flavors and so forth that might cause allergies.
Canine Diets I recommend as a trial or test to see if your pet has food allergies:
Royal Canin Venison & Potato, Rabbit & Potato or Duck & Potato for Cats or Dogs:
The number one veterinary recommended adverse food reaction diet in the world. Limited Ingredients: Each diet is formulated with a unique protein source and a single carbohydrate source (potato).
High digestibility to ensure optimal nutrition absorption.
Enriched with long-chain omega-3 fatty acids from fish oils to help reduce inflammation in the skin and digestive tract.
Available in a low calorie formula too.
If your dog or cat responds really well to the above diets and stops itching, flaking, and shedding, you can continue feeding those diets ...
Or ... you can do "challange testing" where you introduce beef, dairy, soy, wheat, and corn and so forth one at a time for a week or so each to see what ingredients your pet is sensitive too...
OR ... you could try any of the following less expensive, non prescription diets designed for pets with skin problems that may very well work:
For Dogs: Eukanuba's "Naturally Wild" diets are my Number 1 Recommendation.
Your choice of New Zealand Venison & Potato, Wild Salmon & Rice, or Turkey & Multigrain: These are super premium foods that are excellent for general health; excellent for your pet's heart, and kidney as well as for many allergic dogs.
For Cats: Choices that reliably work well are limited to either Royal Canin's skin formulas or Hill's similar diets of Rabbit & Pea or Venison & Pea. They're both excellent and come in dry or canned versions. We don't keep alot in stock but will order you a fresh bag whenever you want it.
Supplements For Pets with Shedding, Body Odor, and Skin Disease due to Allergies:
Omega Fatty Acids: almost always helpful and sometimes responsible for a huge improvement in skin and coat ... especially shedding and flaking. We have several brands that work well. Find one that your dog or cat likes and try it for a month to see if it helps. My favorite brand for taste and results is Allerderm Omegaderm. OmegaDerm is a potent nutritional supplement providing the best essential fatty acids (EFA) from the omega 6 and omega 3 families. Omegaderm is formulated in an ideal 5:1 ratio of omega 6 to omega 3. Omega derm helps in the control of various dermatological conditions in dogs and cats, particulary in allergies. Administration and Dosage: For use with a dermatological condition, give one packet per day mixed with food. For maintaining healthy skin and hair coat, give one packet every other day mixed with food. Ingredients: Sunflower seed oil, cold sea fish oils, evening primrose oil, tocopheryl acetate, butylated hydroxyanisol, retinyl palmitate.
Duralactin for Cats or Dogs: Duralactin is for pain and inflammation and I recommend it for arthritis but also for ear infections, skin infections, bladder infections or other conditions that hurt.
Medicated Shampoos, Cream Rinses, and Zymox Ear Treatment if needed. Managing skin and ear problems usually requires a multi-staged attack.
Click on and of the links below to go to the therapeutic diets we recommend the most because we have found them to work well:
Allergies to fleas, pollens, molds, dust mites, and certain foods are a major cause of skin problems, anal gland problems, and ear infections in dogs and cats.
If your pet has skin, ear, or anal gland allergies, there's a strong possibility that your pet has developed an allergy to one of the proteins in the diet, snacks, or table scraps you've been feeding your pet.
When we do a proper food trial on pets with allergic skin and ear diseases, about 25% of the pets are "cured" and another 25% are greatly improved.
On Other pages we discuss the special diets and supplements use to treat:
Please visit our other Pages on this Site:
Revolution Frontline Plus Comfortis Vectra3D Promeris CapStar
Program 6 Month Injection for Cats Sentinel KnockOut House
KnockOut Premise Advantage Multi PrevenTic Collars
Revolution Advantage Multi TriHeart Plus
ProHeart 6 month injection
Inteceptor Sentinel
Panacur ProFender Pyrantel-50mg Revolution Advantage Multi
Inteceptor Sentinel
TriHeart Plus
And The Very Best Products Available For:
ZymoxHC FoxNest Ear Cleaner Mometamax Acrexx MalOtic
Phytosphingosine Hydroxyzine Tris8 Duralactin OFA's
Exotic Diets
Phytosphingosine FoxNest Medicated Shampoo Relief OFA's Zymox
FoxNest OatMeal Shampoo Hydroxyzine The Furminator Exotic Diets Hylyt Shampoo Genesis Spray BioGroom Natural Scented Shampoos MaloKet
Zymox VBG Cream Nolvasan Malotic DermaGel Bag Balm
Fly Repellent Vet Wrap
Biotene MaxiGuard Oral Gel Greenies TD OraVet Kits Gum Vaccine
ProPectalin DigestRite DiaRobe CatLax DiaBac Pancrazyme
GastriCalm K-Pectin
Duralactin Dasaquin SynoviFlex ChondroFlex for Cats Rimadyl Adequan
Tramadol AntiOxUltra
Special Diets Duralactin AntiOxUltra OFA's
Reconcile/Prozac DAP Collars & Plug-Ins Elimiodor Forbid
OFA's AntiOx SAM-e CranVet MultiVitamins PetTinic Milk Replacer
Bottles & Nipples Slentrol Reducing Diet LeanTreats
Prescription Therapy Diets
Urine Off The Equilizer Eliminodor Pet Candles ThioTrol Skunk
The Furminator Shed Guard OFA's Phytosphingosine
AllerPet for Humans MicroChips Pet Insurance Pet Candles Bag Balm
Dog Appeasing Pheromone Feliway Spray PetGuard
