SVH August Newsletter

National Wildlife Centre Inaugural Gala

Invites You All To Attend!

October 1, 2016 at the world famous Devil’s Pulpit Golf Club.

Reception at 5PM, fine foods served from 6PM-9PM

The evening is designed to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges faced by Canadian wildlife.This event hopes to raise funds to support the diagnostic treatment and surgeries for sick and injured wildlife. The National Wildlife Centre is hoping to build a permanent wildlife hospital in the Caledon, Ontario area.

Link To Attend: https://nationalwildlifecentre.tickit.ca

Need help with tickets?

Email: [email protected] or 519-767-8642 if you require assistance.

YOUR PET’S ITCHY SKIN
Itchy skin in the small animal is often more than just a minor annoyance. Red, oozing bald patches, rashes, and large expanses of hair loss are unfortunate markers of very real discomfort for which a cause should be sought and specifically dealt with.

The food allergy is one of the itchiest conditions known to cat and dog. Animals eat a variety of processed food proteins, fillers, and colourings which are further processed inside their bodies. Proteins may be combined or changed into substances recognized by the immune system as foreign invaders to be attacked. The resulting inflammation may target the GI tract or other organ systems but, in dogs and cats, it is the skin that most often suffers from this immunologic activity.

The classic canine food allergy lesion distribution includes signs of:

>Facial itching
>Foot or limb chewing
>Belly itching
>Recurrent ear infections

In the cat, food allergy usually produces scabs and other signs of itching around the face or neck

(NOTE: only some of the above signs are usually present in a given animal; not necessarily all).

Many people erroneously assume itching due to food allergy requires a recent diet change of some sort. In fact, the opposite is true.

Food allergy requires time to develop; most animals have been eating the offending food for years with no trouble.

WHAT KIND OF ALLERGY?
Sarcoptic mange and inhalant allergy (also known as “atopy”) are the two conditions which must be distinguished from food allergy as the treatment approach to each is markedly different. Much time and money can be wasted pursuing the wrong the problem.

Please consider the following clues which contribute to pointing us towards the food allergy as a diagnosis. Your pet demonstrates:
• Your pet has been treated for sarcoptic mange without any positive change
• Your pet’s itchiness is not and has never been a seasonal problem
• Your pet has responded poorly or only partially to cortisone-type
• Your pet has responded poorly or only partially to cortisone-type medications
• Your pet has had a skin biopsy demonstrating changes often associated with allergy or, more specifically, food allergy
• A lesion distribution pattern which is common for food allergy

Any of the above findings or observations warrant pursuit of food allergy.

Please note that three of the above four criteria relate to what you, the owner, observe at home. Trouble results when the veterinarian must speak to different family members about the pet and there is disagreement in their observation of the pet at home. It is best to have one person, preferably the one who has the most contact with the pet, be the spokesperson and make the relevant judgments.

Fortunately, many pet food companies have discerned the need for diets using unusual protein & carbohydrate sources with a minimum of additives. Foods can be obtained based on venison and potato, fish and potato, egg and rice, duck and pea, and even kangaroo. Our hospital generally recommends duck and potato based foods for dogs and duck and pea based foods for cats. We have chosen these products because they are available both as canned as well as dry formulas. (Most pet owners prefer to feed a combination of dry and canned food.)

It is important that during the diet trial no unnecessary medications be given. No edible chew toys (such as rawhides or bones) should be given. Treats must be based on the same food sources as the test diet. (Beware of Rice cakes, though, as wheat is commonly used as a filler.) Chewable heartworm preventives should be replaced with tablets.

Vetoquinol has a wide variety of products to help during allergy season.

We will be offering promotional discounts on these Vetoquinol products and more!

When you purchase any Vetoquinol product you will be given a Loyalty Card which entitles everyone to purchase any 5 Vetoquinol products and receive a 6th Vetoquinol FREE.

Description of 2 in 1 Shampoo for All Skin Types

Vetoquinol Care 2 in 1  Shampoo for All Skin Types is specially formulated to help soften the coat of dogs and cats.
Its formulation adds essential moisture while helping the sheen of the coat, and provides a deep rich lather that gently cleans and perfumes the skin and coat with a pleasant chamomile fragrance.
It doesn’t irritate and is soap-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free.

Description of Shampoo for Sensitive Skin

It doesn’t irritate and is soap-free, paraben-free, and silicone-free.

August 2016

Henry De Santis

Henry is an adorable American Bulldog. Great temperment – super friendly, loves to have his belly rubbed and loves kisses. Unfortunately, he also loves scratching!

Excessive scratching is common in dogs that have allergies or external parasites. Henry has been on flea and mite prevention to reduce the risk of parasites.

Henry has had allergies since he was a young pup [and he is only 2!]. It started out with only some mild bumps on the head but progressed to full blown itchiness across his entire body and ears.

Allergy is a very broad diagnosis and it can be very difficult to identify an exact cause.

Allergies are differentiated into different categories classified on their suspected origin –

>Atopy – similar to what we consider seasonal allergies.

>Food

>Contact

 Allergies in dogs and cats can lead to some pretty intense scratching, and because of their sharp nails they can do a lot of self-trauma. This can lead the way to superficial skin infections [dermatitis], which also makes them itchy. Now they are itchy because of allergy and infection and both problems need to be addressed to ensure a happy and healthy pet.

Once a doctor has a suspicion about a type of allergy they will aim to control that allergy and treat any concurrent infections [e.g. changing the diet, using antihistamines to stop itch, antibiotics, special topical therapies]. Skin cultures can be used to identify troublesome bacteria that is not clearing with standard therapies.

Testing can be done to try and identify specific problem allergens – skin prick tests and serum allergy testing can be performed. If an allergen is identified then immunotherapy can implemented to desensitize the patient, or avoidance of the allergent.

Henry is suspected to have atopy with some food allergy as well. He is currently being managed well with shampoo therapy and a new anti-itch medication called Apoquel! We hope he continues to do well on this therapy and remains happy and itch free!

 The doctors and staff of SVH would like to wish all our clients and fur friends a safe and healthy summer!

smithvt | SVH Blog