by Ben J. Character, DVM
Does Fido seem to be itching and scratching much more than usual? He may have a syndrome called “atopy”, or as more commonly referred to, allergies. Atopy is an allergic condition similar to allergies in humans, except that our pets do not show the upper respiratory symptoms such as sneezing or coughing. They are instead plagued with severe itching, otherwise known as pruritus.
There are many different allergens (or antigens) that can contribute to atopy. Examples include many varied types of tree and weed pollens, molds, and various insects. As you may know, the most common allergen for dogs and cats are fleas. This allergic reaction is caused by the saliva of the flea, which is deposited at the time of a flea bite.
Much like us, a pet that is allergic will react from a single exposure to the offending allergen for several weeks. This is important to remember, because an allergic pet may show signs of allergies for several weeks, even though the offending allergen has been removed.
A less common cause of atopy is related to allergens in the diet. These allergies are especially frustrating, because it usually takes several weeks of strict diet restriction before any change in the condition can be seen.
In most cases, atopy can be controlled with periodic cortisone injections. This medication calms down the overactive immune response that creates the itching. If used infrequently, cortisone poses no significant health risk, but if chronic/continuous use is required, other methods of treatment should be explored. Allergy testing is usually done for cases where cortisone injections are required very frequently or last only for a short duration. Allergy testing helps identify the specific allergen involved, at which point, solutions can be developed specifically to help with the problem.