Allergic dermatitis, also known as Atopic Dermatitis refers to inflammation of the skin which is often triggered by environmental allergens. An allergen is a substance which may cause an allergic reaction such as grasses and pollen. Atopic dermatitis has a similar mechanism to eczema in people. It is believed that environmental allergens come into contact with the skin thereby causing an allergic reaction.
Common environmental causes include;
- Pollens
- Grasses
- Dust
- Moulds
Commonly Effected areas
- Face
- Ears
- Feet
- Under arms
- Belly
Why are some pets more prone to developing Atopic Dermatitis?
Pets who suffer from Atopic Dermatitis tend to have predisposition due to how their skin responds to contact with allergens in their environment. Most have a defective skin barrier defense system. The skin barrier is made up of several layers which form a defense system, aimed at stopping allergens like pollen/grass pollen from getting through. When this barrier is dysfunctional, the skin tends to dry out quickly and is unable to stop allergens getting through.
Once the allergen penetrates the skin it sets off a cascade of events with the skin that release inflammatory mediators and histamine. As a result of this inflammation, our pets often suffer from intense itchiness of the skin and will scratch, bite, lick, chew or rub at the affected areas. If left untreated or managed the ongoing skin/ear inflammation and infections can lead to chronic skin damage and secondary skin infections.
Common Symptoms include;
- Foot chewing with brown or reddish staining of the fur between the toes
- Inflamed or red areas of the webbing between toes or the skin in between the pads on the underside of the foot
- Inflammation or increased discharge from the ears
- Shaking the head or scratching the ears
- Recurrent Ear infections
- Red and inflamed areas of skin on the belly, groin and under arms
- Sometimes the skin can become dark and pigmented, as well as as rough and thickened
- Itchy bottoms or inflamed skin around the perineum
- A greasy or smelly coat with increased dandruff
- Thinning of the hair particularly on the lower limbs
- Patchy areas with hair loss
Can I find out what my pet is allergic to?
We often get asked can I allergy test my pet to find out what they are allergic to. Yes allergy testing can be done, but often interpreting the results may not always change the treatment plan. In most cases pets may return a positive allergy test to many common environmental allergens such as several grasses, which can be impossible to remove from a pet’s environment.
Allergy testing may be useful if the intention is to seek help from a specialist dermatologist with the view to undergoing a desensitization program with allergy vaccines
