Itchy Dogs and Drugs

Natural Treatments are the new wave in veterinary health... and here's why!

Dog owners who have a dog with allergic skin disease are probably on a first name basis with their chosen veterinarian.

 These dogs are always itchy.

 As soon as the course of treatment finishes, it seems like no time at all that the dog is scratching itself again.

 It drives dog owners, dogs and veterinarians crazy.

Corticosteroids such as prednisolone are used to treat allergic skin diseases such as atopy and food allergy in dogs. It works. It stops the itch. It does, however, have potential side effects that can be quite severe and even life threatening.

Long term use of corticosteroids can lead to dependence. Sudden withdrawal can lead to severe vomiting and electrolyte imbalance which can be fatal. This is known as Addisons disease or hypoadrenocorticism. It can be fatal.

Corticosteroids are a stress hormone and when used long term can lead to hair loss, thinning of the skin, brittle bones and liver disease or hepatopathy.

Corticosteroids also compete with insulin at receptor sites and long term corticosteroid use can lead to diabetes. Corticosteroids affect calcium metabolism also which can lead to osteoporosis and pathological fractures.

The changes to calcium metabolism can also lead to a skin disease called calcinosis cutis which is incredibly itchy and paradoxically is an unintended consequence of treating an itchy dog.

Itchy scratching dogs also develop dermatitis due to constant scratching and licking. Veterinarians usually prescribe antibiotics. Long term use of antibiotics can lead to resistant bacteria. A very worrying development in veterinary medicine is the development of methicillin resistant Staph aureus on the skin of our pets. These bacteria are almost impossible to cure.

They will also colonise human skin and are a threat to human health as well. This problem will get rapidly worse.

It is important that we seek new ways of managing allergic skin disease in dogs, for the health of both dog and pet owner.

It is possible to treat the itchy scratching dog with allergic skin disease using natural treatments and therapies.

It is possible to manage allergic skin disease in dogs the natural way or at least to integrate these strategies to reduce reliance and dependence on corticosteroids and antibiotics.

For more information, visit http://www.scratchingdoghelp.com