Goldens and Allergies Based on lecture given to SEVA GRREAT Member Meeting by Dr. Gram, 11/2000. The speaker at the November membership meeting was Dr. Dunbar Gram, a Board Certified Veterinary Dermatologist. He sees plenty of Goldens in his work and passed on an incredible amount of information to help us understand this common Golden problem. There are three types of dog allergies: flea, food, and atopy (i.e., inhaled). It is not uncommon for a dog to have more than one type. Flea Allergies Many dogs are allergic to fleas but with the improvements in the past five years in flea preventative (such as Frontline), this is not the issue it used to be. In our area, it is recommended that you treat for fleas year round and don't try to stretch out the time between treatments. Signs of flea allergies are intense itching, usually on the rump. The best policy for this type of allergy is avoidance. Treatments typically involve de-fleaing and steroids to stop the itch. Note that your un-treated cats can act as a "Typhoid Mary," bringing in fleas and exposing your dog, family and home to fleas. Food Allergies Food allergies usually come from a reaction to your dog's protein sources. It is obviously a year-round problem but diagnosing it can be tricky since the dog will often have seasonal atopy allergies as well. The best time of the year to test for food allergies in Tidewater starts around Halloween. Dr. Gram also reports that skin or blood testing for food allergies is essentially useless - only a restrictive diet test works. Testing by restricting the diet needs to be done for up to 10 weeks and includes all treats and even heartworm treatment - no cheating allowed! Restrict your dog to one type of protein they don't usually have and then at the end of the test period, re-introduce the suspected protein and see if it triggers allergy symptoms. The best policy for dealing with a food allergy is avoidance as it responds poorly to medication. Atopy Allergies Inhaled airborne allergies are the most common allergy type. In Tidewater, we have an unusually high number of inhaled allergens, so many in fact that we rate our own special "disease" in the vet medical journals - "Tidewater Crud." Our area has a unique mix of the heavy pollens that are found in the north and the light, easily wind-blown pollens found in the south, all mixed together in a highly humid breeding ground for mold, fungus and dustmites, all which occur for an extended season. Tree pollens are most heavy in the spring, then molds and flowers. Grasses peak around July, then weeds. Dustmites are also major problem year round but peak with high humidity. Avoidance is your best way of dealing with atopy. Your dog's bedding should have no natural fibers. (Note: if you must use cedar beds, the cedar should be changed every other week to avoid mold growth.) If your dog is allergic to dustmites, note that cleaning does not help. There are no effective chemicals for dustmites. Hypoallergetic covers, washed in hot water, are your best bet. Dustmite concentrations are highest in the areas of highest use such as couches and bedding. Fungi and mold allergy sources are surprisingly common indoors as well as outdoors. Try to remove anything that is particularly subject to decay such as burlap, wicker, bark and firewood. Restrict your dog from going under decks and playing in woodpiles. Maintenance treatment for a dog with atopy allergies consists of regular daily antihistimines (may only be needed seasonally) and with oral steroids on an every other day basis as needed for itching. For long-term maintenance, rotate the type of steroid. There is some evidence that adding fatty acids, such as Derm Caps, may improve the effectiveness of treatment. Recognizing and Treating Allergies If your Golden is at least a year old, has three of the following signs and they are reoccurring and improve with steroid treatment then you can assume your Golden has treatable allergies. Discharge from eyes (eye "goop") Discharge from nose (runny or crusty nose) Dark brown or black waxy discharge from ears Excessive itching/chewing/scratching especially the feet (toes, nails or hair between) and "armpits" Lick granuloma Rubbing face excessively, especially around mouth and nose Skin and/or ear infections Yeast infections of ears or feet Darkened skin, especially on belly Scaly skin, bumps or rashes White roots Symptoms may be seasonal or year-round. If symptoms are seasonal, lasting three months a year, consider treating with antihistimines and oral steroids just for that period. First, make sure that your Golden is protected from fleas. If you still have symptoms then try restricting their diet to a single new protein source for 10 weeks. If symptoms are gone, re-introduce old food to check for reaction. If flea and food allergies do not seem to be the problem, talk to your vet about determining the source of your Golden's symptoms. Your vet will be able to rule out other conditions that are confused with allergies: contact dermatitis, scabies mange, folliculitis and parasites. If your Golden needs an allergy skin or blood test, be sure that enough time has passed since their last dose of antihistimines, steroids or sedatives so that test results are not thrown off. Allergy shots are an option if you can not avoid the allergen and you are unsuccessful at treating your dog with medication. Shots may be needed 15-30 times a month, may take up to a year to see results, and a maximum of 10-12 specific allergens can be addressed. Reactions to shots are possible but very rare. If after three months on shots, the dog is still suffering, go to the vet and treat symptoms-don't let them suffer. If there is no improvement in a year, re-evaluate.

Return to Support Corner