Allergic reactions are something we have in common with our pets. Here are some examples of allergic reactions in pets that we commonly see in practice.
Allergic airway disease:
is a broad spectrum of diseases that are poorly defined yet presented with similar clinical signs and pathologic appearances. It is a disease caused by a response to extrinsic noxious stimulus or reaction to allergens, triggering inflammation of the lung tissues (alveoli and bronchioles), increasing secretions, airway muscle hypertrophy, and airway constriction. Animals usually have an acute onset of clinical signs like coughing, labored, rapid and shallow breathing, and increased expiratory effort. Sometimes these signs are short-lasting and reversible while some may develop into chronic illness at a later stage.
Common allergic airway diseases in dogs and cats might include:
canine allergic bronchitis, feline asthma, parasitic larval migration and pulmonary infiltrates with eosinophils.
Your veterinarian will need to perform basic laboratory testing to rule out other systemic diseases that could cause respiratory distress. Chest radiographs are essential for the initial assessment of respiratory distress. Bronchoscopy will allow direct visualisation of the trachea and bronchial tree, and bronchoalveolar lavage will be needed to detect infectious agents and to diagnose the type of inflammation.
Severe cases might require hospitalization and oxygenation. Treatment will depend on the underlying course with oral medication and sometimes inhalant needed for a variable duration of time. Obviously, it is best to avoid exposure to noxious stimulants and allergens, this might include cigarette smoke, aerosols, perfumes, dusty litter, etc.
Allergic contact dermatitis:
is exposure to dermal allergens that elicit immune responses, this usually takes a few days to weeks to elicit signs and will require repeated exposure of the animal to the same allergen. We usually see the redness of the skins and some red bumps on the body, this might be the neck, the tail, interdigital spaces, the abdomen, and the sternal region. If left untreated, it can progress to hair loss, skin thickening, and pigmentation. Virtually anything can potentially be an allergen to your animal and elicit an allergic response. This might be plants (from pollens, grass, trees, weeds, flowers), home furnishings (fibers, dyes, polishes, cleansers, plastic products, detergents, cat litters, deodorants, cement, metals), and medications (like topical drugs, shampoos, soaps, disinfectants, petrolatum, insecticides).
The best way to diagnose and treat your animal with allergic contact dermatitis is removing the animal from the allergens. This is easier said than done as it can be difficult to identify the allergen responsible. Remove the animal from the existing environment for 2 weeks, bathe the animal to remove any allergens trapped on the coat and skin, and re-expose it to the same surrounding to look for recurrence and worsening of signs. Further testing might then be needed to identify specific allergens involved in the environment
If allergen avoidance or removal cannot be done and the animal has persistent signs, oral and topical treatment might be required.
Irritant contact dermatitis:
is an inflammatory response of the skin following exposure to an irritant. The response is usually rapid, affecting mostly the skin in contact with the irritant. Redness, red bums, scaling, crusting might be seen. Severe cases might develop into pyoderma. Sometimes erosions or ulcerations can be seen, particularly if it involves the paws. The affected regions are usually painful and uncomfortable. Irritants involved usually are strong acidic or alkaline agents, cleansers, disinfectants, solvents, oils, and industrial materials.
If you suspect your animal is in contact with an irritant causing inflammation of the skin, decontaminate with plain water or a mild shampoo. Oily irritants can sometimes be rinsed off with diluted dish soaps. Dry your animal gently but thoroughly and bring it to the vet. Topical treatment and sometimes combined with systemic therapy might be needed.
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