Treating skin problems over the years | Pet Peeves
How different it is to treat skin problems now than it was 15 years ago. Fifteen years ago, if your pet came in itching excessively with sores, the causes might be the same, but the treatment options would be very different than they are now.
One thing that never changes in Florida is the ongoing battle with fleas. Fleas are a big cause of skin problems. Our winters are too mild and do not kill the flea population. We also have a lot of sand, which is a good place for fleas to proliferate. How we prevent fleas has changed dramatically. Flea preventatives are safer and more effective than ever. Many of them are included in heartworm medicine that is given once a month, so you can do it all with one chewy or topical treatment.
Just skimming the surface, the oral flea medications that are for fleas and ticks include Bravecto, which only has to be given once every three months, and Nexgard, which is given once a month. The oral flea, tick and heartworm medications include Simparica Trio, Credelio and Nexgard Plus. Topically, we have Advantage II for fleas only, Advantix for fleas and ticks, and Advantage Multi for fleas and heartworms. Revolution is another topical flea and heartworm prevention.
After the fleas, the next big cause of skin problems in Florida is ATOPY. ATOPY is a term used for inhalant allergies. These are allergies to pollens and molds, and include trees, grasses, weeds and even house dust mites. Fifteen years ago, we would recommend antihistamines (and still do) such as Benadryl, Zyrtec and Hydroxyzine. If these did not work and the dog was miserable, we would resort to prednisone (a steroid) given every other day. Some dogs were on steroids most of their lives. Referral for allergy testing was a must for many of these dogs if they were going to get any kind of long-term relief.
And then came Apoquel. Apoquel is a once-a-day pill that stops allergic itching in its tracks. The research showed that the cause of the itching and inflammation was the release of cytokines from the cells when the body was exposed to what it was allergic to. Apoquel targets two to three of those cytokines, binding them and breaking the itch cycle. For pet owners with chronically allergic dogs, Apoquel was revolutionary.
Then, just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, along came Cytopoint. Cytopoint also affects the cytokines. Cytopoint targets one cytokine in the cascade and inactivates it. While Apoquel has to be given daily, Cytopoint is an injection that can last four to eight weeks in the system, depending on the pet. So, now pet owners have the option of Cytopoint or Apoquel to end the itching of allergies. We still use prednisone when necessary. Cytopoint and Apoquel are expensive and not everyone’s cup of tea. I tell owners that, given judiciously, prednisone can be used to treat allergic conditions; we did it for years.
Food allergies complete the trifecta of skin problems in pets. Even the food choices available for food trials have improved considerably. At one time the only hypoallergenic food available was Hills Z/d or D/d. These are still great choices, but every pet’s tastes are different. Royal Canin has Ultamino and Hydrolyzed Protein HP Diet. Purina Pro Plan has Hydrolyzed Protein Diet HA. So, right away, there are three food choices for your pet.
Other improvements include better shampoos and conditioners, which have always been a component of the skin-treatment program. If your pet is dealing with allergies, talk to your veterinarian about your options.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Treating skin problems over the years | Pet Peeves
