Your pet has an allergic reaction: What is it and what can I do?

To most of us the “breakout” of a reaction in our dog is of great concern, as indeed it should be. Our dogs have an immune system that functions just like ours. From about the age of four weeks our pets are compiling and storing information in their systems that provide a data base for future actions if an interloper is discovered in their bodies. How effectively the interloper is dealt with depends on the condition of the immune system at the time and the level of the interlopers aggression into the system.

So a “reaction” may be item specific or it may also describe a situation where a variety of aggressive agents have overwhelmed the immune system and this will result in a “breakout” or a reaction. The reaction can be varied in scope and intensity from a minor itch, hotspots,ear infections,hair loss,coat dullness and many more. The sum total is that your mate is under extreme stress and very uncomfortable. There may be peripheral issues associated with your mate trying to scratch and lick. these can result in further reactions to a bacterial build up on an already stressed system.

So what can you do?

The first thing to bear in mind is that an allergen (the cause of an allergic reaction) is not finite. It can be an “alright substance” one day and an allergen the next if it triggers an allergic reaction. It can make the switch because your pets immune system has dropped and it is now reacting to the same substance but with a completely different result.

So you need to become a super sleuth to work through what is happening. Allergens can come from five different sources and you need to work through each one to isolate just what is happening whilst at the same time ensuring that your pets immune system is enhanced as much as it possible can be.

We are looking for substances etc that are going to enter into our pets systems and in no particular order of priority they will come from these environments etc.

A. External Parasites. Fleas,Mange,Ticks  etc.

B. Inhaled Allergens (Atopy). Pollen.Dust Mites,Fungal Spores etc.

C. Cont.act Allergens. Grasses (mainly but not exclusively Couch & Kikuyu, Wandering Jew, Grevillia Melaleuca, Household Cleansers etc.

D. Bacterial Allergens. A “foreign bacteria”

F. Food component Allergens. these can be the food (e.g. meat,eggs,milk,grains) or the “presentation” i.e. flavourings,colourings or preservatives.

 Here is a table to show you the scope of the problem…

Now how can we as caring but non-professional owners approach this crisis in our pets life. What can we do to isolate firstly and then eradicate the stress that our pet is under.

We have to work through a process of elimination being absolutely observant and vigilant in our approach.

The first thing we do is commence a diary. Yes you need to do this to record all observed behaviours as you go down the path of resolving the issue. You cannot recall in two weeks time just what it was that happened on a walk with any certainty. Write it down, it commences a great resource for the future.

Secondly ensure that we eliminate the External Parasite potential. Make sure that we do not have fleas, that bedding is washed and cleaned, that our pets are free of mites and/or ticks. Sounds simple and yes it is so let us get this out of the way as soon as we can.

The next source to attack is the food related one. This is a very high contributor to allergic reactions so this is where we are looking for pay-dirt. The pet food industry is not regulated by any more than a voluntary code of behaviour and accordingly can and do make changes to food without specifying just exactly what has changed and why. Natural food is the only food that retains its original form. Freezing the natural food is the least intrusive form of preservative and introduces nothing into the food. Natural food however, is in most instances no longer as natural as it was and most human food sources have been “modified” to suit the growing requirements for fast weight gain, intensive housing and other aesthetic attributes.

In many instances this has removed some of the traditional nutrients from the food and added substances which may trigger an allergic reaction. As an example of the changes linoleic acid has reduced by a factor of 3 to 5 in beef that is grain fed from beef that is grass fed. These changes will in some pets introduce an allergic reaction. Isolating a food source issue is not that difficult, it requires a disciplined approach and a logical process. You need to establish an adequate simple  novel food regime that will provide the nutritional requirements of your pet and at the same time remove any current food in their diet that may be causing the reaction. Bear in mind that it may take 2/3 weeks for reactions to subside after exposure and conversely it may be 3/4 days after exposure for a reaction to breakout. There can be no cheating as you go through a food trial. It may be a simple treat that is causing the problem or a bread crust surreptitiously slipped under the table at meal time. All of these are a no-no if you want to solve the problem.

You need to select a simple food source made up of protein and carbohydrates with some simple supplements. You need to avoid completely Beef, Chicken, Lamb, Pork, Dairy, Soy, Legumes, Cereal, Wheat, Rice, Oats, Gluten, all colourings, flavourings and preservatives. Any of these may be contributing to your pets reactions so they need to be removed along with all treats etc. Don’t worry there is plenty left to choose from

 Has your pet ever suffered from a reaction? What did you do? Tell us in the comments below…